# I want my money **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 9, 2000, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-money/28725 "2000-08-09T18:14:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SaxFace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SaxFace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaxFace)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-money/28725/1 "2000-08-09T18:14:53Z")
A year ago, I sold an expensive musical instrument to a friend. We agreed on $2500 - however, since he was strapped for cash I told him he could pay me in installments. So far, I’ve only received $400. Yesterday, I sent his girlfriend (who was giving me the money in the first place) an instant message saying that I needed the money (which is true). She was rather short, but told me to talk to him. So today I instant message him and ask him for the money. He tells me how broke he is, but that he can give me some money this Friday, some in a month and the rest the next month. The problem is that I have to find a new apartment, and I don’t really want to wait until October to do so. He told me I didn’t have an option, etc. and now he and his girlfriend are mad at me. I wouldn’t even pester them, but I need the money and I couldn’t help but notice their brand new piano and that they had a nice week long vacation on St. Croix last month (I babysat their 2 dogs for nothing, I might add). Ok, so obviously I didn’t handle this the way I should have. How does one ask for owed money from friends? Anyone want to share a personal story? How do I rectify the situation? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-money/28725/2 "2000-08-09T18:21:03Z")
Tell him to give you the money now, or to give back the instrument. They’re jerking you around, unlike friends would. ---
**Author:** ![winky99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/71c47a/32.png) [@winky99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/winky99)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-money/28725/3 "2000-08-09T18:22:35Z")
Two words: Peoples Court Do you have anything in writing? You could try kidnapping the dogs. Money and friends never mixes. I say keep asking everyday until they get really annoyed and pay you back or move. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-money/28725/4 "2000-08-09T18:23:22Z")
The one and only time I lent major money to a friend (about $1000), I pretty much decided at the time to write it off. I was fairly certain I’d never see it again, despite his oaths of payment. He paid me maybe $400, then the checks just stopped coming. Basically, SaxFace, you have to decide if the remaining $$ is worth your friendship. If it’s not, go ahead and pester him for either the instrument back, or the rest of the money. If it is, well, you just have to forgive and forget, and assume you’ll never get the money. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-money/28725/5 "2000-08-09T20:53:46Z")
Yeah, I agree that you should ask for the instrument back. (Whether you’ll get it, I don’t know.) Then you can sell it and get the money that you need. The question is, will he ask you for a refund of the money he’s already given you? If he doesn’t, then that’s good. If he does, tell him you’ll pay him in installments. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-money/28725/6 "2000-08-09T21:00:41Z")
Jesus, how embarrassing. Okay, OKAY already, I’ll give you the damn instrument back. My girlfriend hates it when I play the bagpipes, anyway. And we got that piano **used.** And it wasn’t St. Croix, it was St. _Paul._ And my dogs did nothing but complain about you when they came home. ---
**Author:** ![SaxFace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SaxFace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaxFace)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-money/28725/7 "2000-08-09T21:15:47Z")
Thanks for the replies, guys. I thought about asking for the instrument back. Unfortunetly, it’s a heavy ass 3/4 size upright bass and I don’t have room or transport. I haven’t played it in 2 years and don’t have the energy or resources to try to sell it again. If all else fails, I’ll ask for it back though. **Athena** , I really am scared to write off that much money (with nothing to show for). I think the friendship might be ruined anyway (what a bummer), so I’ll just go for the gold. **Winky** , I thought about People’s Court, but I don’t have anything in writing. Hilariously, my mother adopted one of the dogs so now they only have one. I don’t want to kidnap him - too much work. **Mr. Cynical** , it’s true, I’m starting to feel like they are no longer friends. It’s a shame, too. ---
**Author:** ![SaxFace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SaxFace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaxFace)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-money/28725/8 "2000-08-09T21:26:46Z")
**Green Bean** Yeah, ha ha - that would be hilarious. I’m thinking more and more about getting it back at this point and make it clear that the money he paid was for rent. Wanna buy a bass? **Uke** , so convincing, but no dice. Bagpipes, sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2000, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-money/28725/9 "2000-08-10T01:43:31Z")
**Saxy:** Okay, c’mon over and I’ll have the (wink) **3/4 size upright bass** ready. I’ll even dust and clean the (wink) \*\*3/4 size upright bass. \*\* Just let me play one more rendition of “The Campbells are Coming, Yo Ho, Yo Ho” on the (wink) **3/4 size upright bass** before you take it back. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2000, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-money/28725/10 "2000-08-10T02:41:53Z")
Sax–If all goes well in the next couple of days, I’ll be happy to help you transport it. (I am waiting to see if I can purchase my dream vehicle–which is plenty big enough to carry a bass)