Friends stole money from me

[MeganBoo]

I’m really not sure what to do and the situation is making my depression worse. I’m 23, I have a friend two years younger then me, been friends just under a year, we’ve only met once but we talk every day we both have children similar ages and we seemed to get along a lot and have lots in common. At the end of last year this friend wanted to use klarna to buy a new bed in the Black Friday sales but she said hers dosent work as she owes klarna money so they’ve stopped her using her account (I believed and still believe this is true as I previously owed klarna money and they stopped me accessing my account) she asked if I could use my klarna account to order the bed for her and then she’d pay me the money when the instalments are due once a month for 3 months. The bed cost £500 me being gullible, stupid and too nice I agreed and ordered it on my account she sent me the first instalment straight away of around £170 but I told her it’s not due yet so I sent it back to her and told her to give it to me when it’s due (which would be once the beds delivered) the bed was delivered Friday and klarna tried to take the first instalment out my account (Im a single mum and don’t work due to mental health) I didn’t have the funds for it I contacted the friend and told her she said the beds a different colour to the pictures and she’s gonna return it and that people would come Wednesday 10th to collect the bed so I thought ok once the beds returned on Wednesday klarna will process it and stop asking for money but I’m now getting suspicious as this friend has now blocked me on two of her social media accounts she’s kept me on our main socials but hasn’t replied since Friday it’s raising red flags I’m now getting anxious that the bed won’t be returned tomorrow and she’s trying to scam me I know stupid of me to do it in the first place. It hurts as we’re both Muslim that’s what we bonded on and as a Muslim it’s sinful to do something like this I never thought she’d try to scam me I still don’t want to think it’s a possibility I’m too naive and nice, it’s the fact she’s blocked me on certain socials and isn’t responding that’s now getting me worried I can’t afford to pay £500 for a bed that’s not even mine I have her address but don’t want to show up at hers and cause a scene I’m really stuck I’m gonna wait till tomorrow and see if it’s returned or was thinking to contact the company and see if there’s a return in process please no hate as I’m already hating on myself a lot and feel so depressed I don’t have friends and this was the only person I considered as a friend she works part time so she has a bit of money coming in where as I don’t so there’s no way I can afford this and I don’t want to pay for something that’s for her I’m really stuck and feeling hopeless.

I would call klana in the first instance

Screen shot the message. Still not convinced but will be pleased to be proved wrong.

She might have smashed her phone but she's still blocked you on socials, that's not explained still.

@NotInvisible

normally klarna takes the first installment straight away that’s why she sent me the money but when I tried to pay on klarna it said the orders processing and I wasn’t able to make a payment I contacted them and the bed company and they said once the orders received then the payment will be due. I gave my “friend” the money back as I have bills etc didn’t want the money being put towards that instead of the bed

That doesn't really make sense OP but it's done now. Don't waste your time contacting Klarna, they can't help. If you went to the bank and withdrew £10 for your friend to borrow and she didn't pay you it back, you couldn't go into the bank and ask them for another tenner as your friend didn't give you yours back.
The only advice which is going to work is keep putting the pressure on your 'friend'. Be a pain in her arse until it's no longer worth it for her to hold on to the money, if it comes to it.

(But defo try to request a refund in the first instance)

Your issue isn’t “resolved” OP.

(waiting to be proved wrong)

They will take you to court. She’s purchased it with your details. You are legally responsible for the bed.

You need to report her to the police.

How do you know her?

Give her 24 hours to pay and if she doesn't then go through the Small Claims Court.

@fatphalange has given you the best explanation of the situation you’re in. Your friend has not commited fraud, so you cannot contact the police.

You should contact Klarna if she doesn’t complete the return and then set up a payment plan with them, or speak to citizens advice about your financial issues. Or contact stepchange or national debt line etc for advice on managing your finances.

I hope it works out for you but please never lend anyone money again. This is money that you clearly cannot afford to lose. Money that you need. Your friend should have waited 3 months till she could pay for the bed outright. It’s not ideal being without a bed but it’s not work bailiffs coming to your door!

Now that she’s told you she intends to pay, you have enough evidence if you need to go to small claims. I hope it’s resolved tomorrow.

Are you getting any help for your mental health? Could you ask for advice on money management? Because beyond the buying friends with money element, lending money to friends with a bad financial history is not a wise decision.

Police are not relevant. You willingly paid. Civil case nown

Yep she’s still not given me the money and has now blocked my number she kept making excuses saying her sisters gonna buy the bed off her and that she’ll send the money by today but she’s now blocked my number I’m shaking I’m so angry I can’t afford to pay this at all and I don’t want to pay for something that she has while she’s sitting there laughing my mental health is all over the place I’m so angry

I hope you did screenshot her acknowledgement of the debt and promise to pay. You can now take it to small claims court.

If you can’t prove she said she’d pay you back then surely she can’t prove you said you’d pay in the first place? I’d say you didn’t place the order and she must have stolen your card details.

This update was sooooo predictable. OP, you now have to pursue it via small claims court, or chalk it up to experience and pay it off. It’s as simple as that. Don’t put yourself in this situation again.

I’d pursue her through no claims court now.

https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money

Make a claim, safe in the knowledge that you have the moral high ground.

You poor love. I'm really sorry but the agreement is between you and Klarna and will need repaying. They will credit score you and they will send it to a collection agency. My advice, you wait until it goes to the collection agency and make an offer to pay off as much as you can afford a month and stick to it.

As for her- she'll have done this before. These types of people are around all over and you won't see your money as she hasn't got it. The best you could do is send your dad, brothers, partner, male friend, community leader round to collect the bed.

I'd be very wary about believing that, are you sure she's not trying to do you off? It all sounds a bit convenient

I am sorry OP but you have not been to her house. I think she is a con and please check she did not use your account for something else. What a horrible person she is. They pray on vulnerable lonely people. This is a big lesson so never again. I do not trust anybody and not even my closest friends or family for money matters. It is disgusting that people do this but they are out in big numbers.

How come you didn't arrange a collection for it to be returned? It was your order. Arrange the return and let her know which day and time the courier will be going to her house to pick it up and tell her she will need to have it ready by the door and in its box.

Who exactly placed the order? Was it you with delivery to this person or was it this person using your card details. (There is no point in pretending they were ever a friend).