Friend owes us money (sorry kinda long) - Page 3

[Porcelain Interior]

Originally Posted by bcblondie

Maybe that's an american thing but they don't have my routing number. I've neer heard of that.

There are two sets of numbers along the bottom of the check (in America anyway) and the second one is called a "routing number", perhaps it's called something else where you're at?

Anyway yes I would do something to ensure that she can't tinker with your account. You sound like a really really sweet person, but you just can't give out info like that.

If this woman was going to pay you it'd be a hell of a lot easier to hand you cash/check than try and deposit money into your bank account- which is a bigger hassle.

Don't doubt that she can wipe you out, you've handed her the keys to your account. Check fraud isn't all that complicated.

I'm worried for you....

[beansmama]

Originally Posted by bcblondie

Maybe that's an american thing but they don't have my routing number. I've neer heard of that.

I'm not Canadian, but on the bottom of checks there is typically a routing number. All banks have the same routing number...IE if you bank at "Bank A" and she banks at "BANK A" your routing number is the same.

It wouldn't be hard to figure out what your routing number is...if you guys share a bank, she has it. If she's not good people then she can easily open up an account and get it...

Just saying...

[beansmama]

http://images.vancity.com/faqs_image...sit_number.jpg

This is essentially the same thing as a routing number...and yes, enough info for them to screw you guys over...IF she's like that. I don't know you or these people so I can't say. All i know for me is that I wouldn't hand my info out to people who clearly have money issues.

[Anastasiya]

Originally Posted by beansmama

You can "write" checks online with that info alone.

I pay several bills via internet and phone with my check info - the exact same stuff at the bottom of the check. I agree that the whole situation sounds questionable. I'd be pretty nervous.

[GuildJenn]

I'm Canadian and yes your cheque has your routing number on it.

It could be used for withdrawals; that's how it works when, for example, you give a gym or another company a voided cheque and then they can automatically withdraw payments. It really is all the info they need.

However I think the banks are pretty good about tracing where that money goes, so she would be caught. But that doesn't mean you'd easily get your money back. You might want to call your bank and ask their advice - just say you gave that information to someone who you now believe might not be trustworthy.

[bcblondie]

Well thankfully for me, even if they do have the info they need to rob us blind, i know they won't do it. They are irresponsible and selfish but they aren't criminals. Thank goodness.
I'll call my bank in the morning just to be safe though.

If she DOES hack it, she'll get like 500 bucks. lol. So jokes on her.

[bcblondie]

K so I called the bank and told the guy exactly what has happened and what info I gave S
He laughed and said "No. Otherwise we wouldn't need banks. She would need my signature and official forms before being able to withdraw anything. Don't worry about"

[SunshineJ]

Originally Posted by angelcollector1

If I were you, everytime she writes a check, cash it. What's she is doing is illegal to write a check that will not clear, and the bank will charge her for it. It's called bank fraud and she could get arrested and charged a misdemeanor or felony - depending on the amount of the check.
Why, if she gave you a check would you just tear it up because she spent the $ on something else. I am of the mindset of don't loan $ to friends after getting burned for it, but this person would not be a friend any longer .. and I would tell her the next time she gives you a check and then asks you to not cash it that it's against the law to do so. She might get the wake up call she needs.

We did one better - we moved 11 hrs away. Believe me, the constant "I'm going to lose my house...I'm so broke" and other not so subtle ways of digging for money just never stopped. She's paying a good chunk to an atty in a custody case, but her mtg is less than $600 a month. It didn't add up and I finally called her on it after she said she could only eat 1 meal a day and was living on $100 every 2 weeks after bills. Get this, she's paying almost as much to student loans per month as she is to the attorney and refuses to defer them until the custody case is over (in 3 months), so she's been this broke, for 2+ years BY CHOICE. I was flabbergasted. THAT is what the deferrment option is for. Once she's done with the attorney (and getting child support), she will have the money to pay her student loans, it's not like she's trying to skip out on them or something. I respect that she's wanting to be responsible and pay back her student loans, but her church holds collections for her to pay her mortgage for her! Only reason I even maintain any contact is that my kids are so nuts over her ds and vice versa. Just a trainwreck, but hey, one thing about it - her financial situation makes ours look good? After all that I kinda figured cashing the check isn't going to really teach her anything, kwim?

[Purple*Lotus]

Originally Posted by echospiritwarrior

I had to really work at it, but once I was really able to "let go" I felt so much lighter. Whether the amount is $200, $2K or $200K (as it was in my case) it's just money. I have my wonderful husband and two healthy children they are irreplaceable. We're poor but happy. The money part of things will come down the road. or not.

You are a better person than me 200K would have me seriously pissed. I don't know if I could get over that.

Originally Posted by Porcelain Interior

You gave her your bank info??? I hope you didn't give her your account # and other personal info. These people sound really sound of dubious character- as most grown adults would never dream of scamming (having trouble phrasing it any other way) someone into putting cell phones on their credit. Grown adults don't need this kind of intraveneous financial support from friends- and the fact that they asked your husband says that they knew he was an easy mark.

I'd say "forget it" and not talk to them ever again. They don't really sound like good people to me.

Anyone you write a check to has your bank info. Landlord, daycare center, grocery store, charities, anyone you write a check to has it. I used to work at a bank. It is not like someone can just walk up to the teller and give the OPs account number and make a withdrawel. At least it didn't used to be, maybe it has changed, it has been a long time. But I don't worry about it because I write a lot of checks.

People here at MDC once told me not to worry when a neighbor accidentally got my credit card statement and opened it. I was worried about that. It surprised me how many people wouldn't worry. But in the end I did nothing and nothing has happened thus far.

Anyhow, OP... that is a lot of money. I don't know that I would go to court over it though. But I would flat out tell them that you are expecting it back and you would like to set up a payment schedule.

But the OP and I can't be the only ones who find people who go out to eat all the time annoying when the owe someone money? Can we?

You know I have this friend who posted on their facebook that they were in the worst financial situation ever. They were hysterical, didn't know how they could pay their bills, etc. However, she posts every week about her mani/pedi. Sure, she could have a lot of gift certificates. But I am in a bad financial spot at the moment myself, and I can assure you that I do not buy anything. Not a dang flipping thing. So I guess I just think that if you are that bad off, then you should let the fun stuff go. I don't know, I am thinking outloud I guess.

[bcblondie]

^^^ I agree with every single thing you said.

and for the record. 200k is almost twice what we paid for our house.

[Purple*Lotus]

Originally Posted by bcblondie

^^^ I agree with every single thing you said.

and for the record. 200k is almost twice what we paid for our house.

It had to happen eventually Someone agrees with me

What upset me the most is that I know a lot of people who would want to give her money to help. But then she is spending $80 on her nails? (again, totally possible someone else paid for this). But even then. I got a lot of gift cards from my students this year at Christmas. I gave them to my parents because I haven't had any money to buy groceries. I would have rather bought fun stuff with those cards, but the responsible thing is to kick in for the free food I am eating I just wouldn't feel comfortable eating out a lot and getting my nails done as long as I took money from someone else. That is how my Mother raised me.

[sunflower.mama]

Not going to get into nitty gritties here but even if you prevailed in court, and I can't imagine that you would, they won't garnish her wages. Only an agency will do that like DOR. The court doesn't do that to defendants and send you a check. You'd still have an uphill battle to enforce whatever judgment you got (by putting a lien on her property and waiting for it to be sold) and it would cost you $$$. That's why people are telling you not to bother. Threatening her = totally fine. Just don't waste your time or energy on something that could cost you more than you'll collect. Heck even if she's responsible for court fees, all you'll really get is a piece of paper that says so.

[beansmama]

Originally Posted by bcblondie

K so I called the bank and told the guy exactly what has happened and what info I gave S
He laughed and said "No. Otherwise we wouldn't need banks. She would need my signature and official forms before being able to withdraw anything. Don't worry about"

Okay...but I absolutely ASSURE you that she CAN buy stuff online and chose the "pay by check" option - enter all your info and voila! Free stuff.

Maybe she can't go to the BANK to make a withdrawal, but there are other ways. Thank Goodness she's not a criminal though (although, they are stealing your $2k+ from you guys...so that's questionable, right?).

[bcblondie]

yea sunflower it was more a threat than anything else.

Beans that could be true. But I dare her.

[beansmama]

haha...I *totally* know how you feel. I wanted to severely harm the idiots who ripped dh off...but he's a nice guy and wouldn't let me...plus, well, they were guys and I'm fairly certain I would've "lost" lol...but I'm a hot head :P

[bcblondie]

Hee hee. Yea she wouldn't get away with it, let's just say taht.

[butterfly1976]

I think if you get anything it would be a miracle. Money lending causes more problems than anything else....and it sure does ruin relationships. For me, I'd let it go. I'd be angry about it, but I would think I had a lesson to learn in the process. When people borrow money, and they never pay it back.....I call them bums. Don't ever think they were upset about not paying you back. Don't give these folks more morals/characters than what they have. Frankly, I wouldn't want to be friends with people who have screwed me over either. I'd forget about the money and drop their friendship as well. Life is too short to deal with people like this. That's what I'd do......good luck.......

[Attila the Honey]

I don't think anyone has mentioned this, but I read this thread with a serious case of "distracting dd" going on, so pardon me if I am repeating...

I would think the statute of limitations would be up on the loan from 5 years ago? Are you sure you still have recourse in a court?

I would just forgive the debt for your own peace of mind. I know it sounds like you are absolutely not willing to do that, but in the end I'd chalk it up to "some lessons are harder to learn than others" and that was a particularly hard one.

[PJJ]

seems to be some hijacking here on this thread

OP, I would take them to court.
Good luck with getting your money back.
Seems like there is hijacking and there are a lot of folks here that owe others money.
So, hope you can get the money back.
Good luck and no, I would NOT let it go.

[bcblondie]

Thanks everyone. Well the innital loan was from over 5 years ago but the most recent one was fewer. It was chunks here and there that just added up to 2700.