# Got a call from HS friend and he wants money... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 19, 2005, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-call-from-hs-friend-and-he-wants-money/336323 "2005-12-19T18:54:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Brainiac4](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brainiac4/32/3534_2.png) [@Brainiac4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac4)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-call-from-hs-friend-and-he-wants-money/336323/21 "2005-12-19T22:02:34Z")
The problem is not that it would be more logical to get it from his parents, it’s that he tried the exact same story on someone else previously. There is something going on here that is not about dental work. Do not loan the money, unless you are comfortable with never seeing it again. If you feel you must, then find out the dentist, go to the office and pay the bill there. ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-call-from-hs-friend-and-he-wants-money/336323/22 "2005-12-19T22:52:03Z")
Just to clarify… I’m not loaning him any money. The lifespan of my even considering it can be measured in seconds. ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-call-from-hs-friend-and-he-wants-money/336323/23 "2005-12-19T23:27:19Z")
That’s really bizarre. As others have said, I’d bet on it being an addiction problem of some kind. It sounds like the sort of story my alcoholic, junkie ex-uncle would come up with. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-call-from-hs-friend-and-he-wants-money/336323/24 "2005-12-20T00:20:23Z")
> [@Hey you!](#): > > 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.” He was asking his students to pay for his dental work too? ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-call-from-hs-friend-and-he-wants-money/336323/25 "2005-12-20T06:31:42Z")
> [@Hey 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!!! This is what strikes me as odd. He can’t wait a month to get teeth fixed? Years ago when my wife and I didn’t have dental coverage my wife broke a tooth. It was a few thousand to get it fixed. The doctor put w temp tooth in for her and she had a crowned later when we could swing the bill. Something tells me your old friend isn’t looking for dental work. The only people I know that say they’d “appreciate it if I didn’t spread this around to anyone” are getting money for drugs. They don’t want other people to know they’re leeching money off everyone they know. What I would do is make a few phone calls to dentists and see if any will arrange payments with a small down payment (like a $100 or so). Then, next time you talk with your old friend let him know you worked out an arrangement with a dentist for him and you’d be willing to pay the dentist _directly_ the $100 down payment for the work that needs done. If he really needs work done to get rid of pain (like some seriously impacted teeth) you’ve helped and old pal get moving in the right direction. Something tells me he won’t take you up on the offer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-call-from-hs-friend-and-he-wants-money/336323.md?page=1)