CF asking to borrow money

[Bridgetjonesheart]

So, someone who I knew in passing at school (in same year but barely spoke at school) went on to have a long term relationship with my sibling’s cousin. I can’t say an awful lot more as don’t want to reveal myself but let’s just say this person is someone I wouldn’t even consider an acquaintance. Yes we’ve exchanged pleasantry’s as adults, and have a family member in common but we are by no stretch of the imagination family or friends with each other. Which is why it totally and utterly baffles me that this person has started messaging me sporadically asking me to lend them 30-40 quid here and there. Out of confusion and also genuinely wanting to help, once or twice I have, and have had money returned on time however I find it extremely bizarre that I’m being asked. Of all the people. I’ve said no a few times too. I’m just really confused as we’re virtual strangers as far as I’m concerned. I don’t mind helping someone in need at all, I’m just confused by it and finding it hard to know when to cut and just admit this person is being a CF. What do you think?

In my experience if you're being paid back it's probably because you're unwittingly part of a borrowing chain, and at some point that'll fall through!
Eg this person borrows twenty quid off several people close to them. One of them starts putting the pressure on about being paid back and they don't have it, so the person asks more distant people to for money to cover the debt and asks for a bit extra on top. Each time they pay someone back its with borrowed money and just enough to keep you sweet so they can ask again in a few weeks, and so on it goes...

I am baffled that you lent a virtual stranger money multiple times. I suspect that they will gradually ask for more money and the payback time will become longer and longer.

Tell them no and tell them you will not be lending money in the future.

I had this. Started off as small favours then a big one e.g. can you be guarantor? (Even though I don't have a job and don't know how I'm going to pay?!) As soon as I said no, she became quite horrible, completely forgot the other times I'd helped her! She has clearly been cut off from those close to her, she's hitting up people she barely knows!!!

Start saying no every time.

I suspect the amounts will start to get bigger.

you’re really detracting from the question in hand. Fixating on the wrong part entirely. Do you do this a lot in your life? As it’s a bit distracting and irritating.

No, not at all, I was replying to a previous poster.

I find you irritating. If you don’t want to lend a stranger money, don’t do it.

Another excellent and enlightening contribution from @IceColdChardonayPls everyone.

@BridgetjonesheartThank you

Some people have an embarrassment bypass. An old friend of mine has a phrase "shy babies get no sweets". She has absolutely no qualms in asking anyone for anything. A lot of people say yes surprisingly, most of them get burnt though.

Your person is a complete CF, time for your bank to close.

Either nobody else will lend to them or they chose you because you are distant from people closer to them and they don’t want them to know they are loaning money. I’d be more suspicious of what they want the money for because that could be a clue as to why nobody else will lend to them. Gambling? Drugs?