Got a call from HS friend and he wants money...

So there was this guy I used to hang around with a bit in high school. Let’s call him Bill. A few years ahead of me, he was a little unusual but pretty entertaining. He was a really good wrestler back in HS (file that little tidbit away for later). The last time we really crossed paths was back around 1990.

Not too long ago, he encounters my folks who live back in the hometown and he asks for my number to reconnect and they do. Old friend from high school, why wouldn’t they?

So I get a call the other night – ID said “Private Number” – and it was Bill. Now granted, though I recall him being a little odd, it was kind of nice to reconnect with the character and we chatted about the old days for a bit. And then he comes to “I got a proposition for you…”

The proposition was that he wanted to borrow $2,500. But! He’s got a construction job coming in next month and will be able to pay me back $2,600!!! Apparently, he needs some dental work done and doesn’t feel comfortable asking his parents for it because they’ll just rag on him for it (or something… didn’t quite catch those details). He called me because we were always such good friends and we’ve always done right by one another and never had any bad blood between us. I shouldn’t feel pressured… but he’d appreciate it if I didn’t spread this around to anyone… that it’s a little embarrassing.

Me: stunned, “Sure… ah… this is… um… can I get back to you on this? I’m finishing up dinner with a photo crew right now (I was… whole different story). I’ll be back in our home town next weekend for Christmas, can we hook up then?”

Bill: “Sure, sure” Some more blah-blahing, we hang up.

Me: to self, " 'The hell?" I mean, this is just a whole new level of “odd” for him. And he’s already climbed a few levels.

Now granted, I just paid off all my debt and am currently doing all right for myself, but I really don’t have a couple grand lying around to lend out to people, much less people who only call after over a decade specifically to ask for money.

If it was me who needed quick cash, I would first go to the credit cards, then to bank, then to family and then to CLOSE in-regular-contact friends. Again, I ask: “the hell?”

I ponder this weird little event for a couple days and think that I CAN’T have been the first person on his lending tree. And then I think of a good friend of mine (let’s call him Joe) who (1) still lives in town, (2) has done very well for himself, and (3) was an excellent wrestler. BINGO!

So I give Joe a call and ask him if he’s kept in touch with this guy at all or if he has heard anything weird about Bill, not mentioning any of the details Bill’s call to me a couple days prior. He mentioned that he heard that Bill used to do some assistant coaching and that he was asked to leave the program after some “odd, inappropriate calls to some of the students.” That’s just what he heard.

Oh, and about 2-3 months ago Bill left a weird message on Joe’s phone about needing to borrow a couple thousand dollars for some emergency dental work… and goes on to describe a story identical to the call I got a couple days prior.

:smack:

So I tell Joe about my call and we’re stunned about what’s going on with this guy. How many other people has he called with this story? Joe’s going to do a little more checking around and get back to me.

Again, I left it with Bill to give me a call back when I get back to town over Christmas break, which is this weekend. My gut has always said this was a bad idea and I have no problem denying him the dough. I’m just wondering if this guy needs mental help more than money help.

Wow. That’s pretty ballsy. Let us know if he calls back.

Yes that is weird and downright rude.

I have received calls from a few old “friends” and after a few minutes of reminiscing, the conversation turns to “and just how carefully have you considered all your long distance calling options; life insurance; retiremet plans; etc”.

But your phone call is a lot weirder.

Hey, auntie em and I are free tomorrow evening. How 'bout we all three go to a movie? I’ll need some entertainment, see, after having gone to the dentist earlier that day.

Which reminds me that I’ve go to talk to ya’ about sumtin’ that night. No pressures, though.

auntie em free on Gilmore Girls night? Yeah, right; nice try Skipper. :smiley:

In the event you’re not kidding, shoot me an IM.

Hint.

Never loan money you can’t afford to lose.

<Personal experience>
A long time friend came to town a while back and visited (wore out his welcome at multiple apartments), “borrowing” money as he went.

He departed town, with all the money, and a host of “former friends”.
</PE>

If you’ve not been in contact with him regularly, I’d not loan him a dime. Even if you were in contact with him regularly, this is no $20 loan “till friday” that he’s asking for.

I’d run, hide, and avoid the hassle. Nothing good can come of it.

Hey! You’re in Orlando? That’s where we were shooting! At Discovery Cove!

Small board.

If someone who doesn’t regularly talk to you calls up out of the blue and asks for money, that’s a pretty big red flag.

That, combined with the fact that he sounds one apple short of a bushel, is not good at all. Don’t give him a cent. If he calls back, tell him you thought you could help him but it turns out you’re totally broke. If you did lend him money, I wouldn’t be surprised if he never paid you back.

I work in an office park just down the road from Sea World. How did you like the dolphins? Was the water cold?

One of the hallmarks of Meth addiction is dental problems. Just sayin’…

The water was warmer than the air. They let us spend over half a day at the park just enjoying it and doing the dolphin interaction before our pre-pro meeting. Quite nice! Best perks I’ve had from any job.

Drugs? Gambling?

Do you know his parents well enough to give them a call to ask how he’s doing - not mentioning the money, of course.

You will never see your money again. Ever. Period.

Construct a real world scenario in which it is less embarassing to call old acquaintances you haven’t spoken with for years out of the blue, and essentially beg them for a loan rather than deal with your parents because, “They will rag on you”. Even the lie doesn’t make sense.

He may or may not actaully need dental work, but I also vote for a drug problem as the root driver here…

Did you get to go on any rides? I’m not one for Kraken, but I like Wild Arctic. I love the dolphins, too.

We stayed at Discovery Cove for the duration but I do like the offerings at SeaWorld (another one of my clients). Love the coasters, the animal shows and Odyssea.

I do know his folks well enough to call, but Joe and I are going to start with his brothers (whom we also know from HS… both real good on-the-level guys).

You will never see your money again.
Don’t even bother to return the phone call.
Anyone that calls you up after all this time is either selling something or wants something.

He’s probably worn out his welcome with family hitting them up for cash and if you applied a little pressure on him to tell you the reasons why the excuses will become ranting babble and how they are unfair to him…wah wah wah…and how he hasn’t paid them back for X amount loaned all those years ago.

If you give him this money, you will never see or hear from him again.
I’m betting drugs or some kind of addiction problems.

I will mention that dental problens can easily run that much, and beyond, and when you need the work done you’ve got severe pain reminding you of the fact.

If you do loan him the money, get an IOU, notarized, with mention of exactly when you’ll get it paid back. Get proof of his address and phone number. Then when you don’t (not if), take him to court. If you can, take it to Judge Judy. And then tell us when you’re going to be on, because we’ll want to watch.

This occurred to me as well. If everything’s on the up and up, surely his parents would be able to loan him the money. I’d think that would be simpler and less embarrassing than contacting someone after over ten years and asking them for money.

No no, don’t not call him back!

I want to hear what Joe finds out, and what happens when one of you guys call him on it!!

Certainlly the OP knows not to loan the money. Now we want to turn this into a fun Nigerian-scam-with-a-twist thread. :slight_smile: