What would you do?

[klr10]

OK, a difficult one here. You're in bed, 11.45pm the moby rings. A very close mate calls (30 years close) and asks to borrow £2,500. Said friend has always lived 'on the edge'. Told him it would clear me out (new kitchen being built) couldn't do it. Laying there thinking and wondering if they are alright. One hour later call them back and ask if it's 'life or death'. Answer a very scared sounding 'yes'.

OK - tell me what you would do?

[Pollywoggle]

Has this really happened?

[Pollywoggle]

I think I would need a lot more info, what edge has he been living on?

[Jim_Fear]

Oh man, I would honestly to god be scared witless (and the other "less" which rhymes with witless) should something like that happen to me. I'd probably give it to them under the condition that they tell me that the heck is going on, but that would assume I have ungodly trust in them, if its serious, and I really mean serious, then £2500 to save the life of a friend would mean nothing to me, I would just expect such a favour to be returned if I ever had to call on them.

[gringottsdirect]

Originally Posted by klr10

A very close mate calls (30 years close)....
OK - tell me what you would do?

No brainer really, if it is a real friend then forget the kitchen, if you can comfortably lend the money then do so.
You can do the kitchen another time.
If not such a real friend - MFI are having a really good sale on kitchens at the moment.

[krish]

I would regard such a close friend of 30 years as family, and trust that I'm not being played, so yeah I would try my best to help him out. I'd hope that he'd be very open and tell me the whole story, so we could make sure that the mess can be totally sorted out.

[klr10]

Yep, I paid the money. I don't know the whole story. Apparently his latest girlfriend (his 'baby mother') has a relative who decided to leave some stolen goods at her flat. My mate decided to remove them to the rubbish shute and they got stolen.

I am as dubious as anyone would be but I couldn't live with a new kitchen and no more mate....

Am I a mug?

I'm not rich btw...

[Jim_Fear]

Did he consider going to the police?

[Battlestar]

I could never afford to lend that sort of money. In fact, my frineds are richer than me

[pringtef]

If he's involved with the likes of who you say then i'd tell him to get the hell out of the relationship, sounds like the type of one that he's just going to get drawn more and more into. How do you know for sure this kit wasnt the proceeds from bartering drugs, for example?

Also bear in mind if anything legal happens you could now be viewed as an accomplice.....

[MartinImber]

Originally Posted by klr10

Yep, I paid the money. I don't know the whole story. Apparently his latest girlfriend (his 'baby mother') has a relative who decided to leave some stolen goods at her flat. My mate decided to remove them to the rubbish shute and they got stolen.

.

Can't see why he needs the money?

[DJT75]

Originally Posted by MartinImber

Can't see why he needs the money?

I assume to pay off the bad guys for the loot he lost.

I wouldn't have given him a penny, 30 years or not, just got himself involved in a right racquet for no reason.

[JagoPlasma]

ok.... that sounds like a very odd story to me.

the goods were stolen so he chucked them in the rubbish and they were stolen again? (not by binmen??)

seems very sus to me, i wouldnt even lend £2,500 to my brother for that kind of thing as im not quite sure why he needs the money? and its more than 2 months wages to me!

why exactly did he need the money again?

if they were stolen goods he should of rang the police end of. if it would of put him in trouble doing that then he's in deep **** anyway. be a better friend and tell him to get out of the situation he is in. bailing someone out they will never learn from their mistakes.

any indication of if/when you will get this money back?

a new kitchen is worth alot more to me than a friend asking for that kind of money

[Jenn]

Trouble with that kind of situation is that often the life long friend never repays the money and you end up losing a friend anyway and losing your money too.

I'd say it's ok lending a few hundred pounds to close friends/family but as soon as it starts getting into multiples of a wage it's getting dangerous.

Especially if illegal activities are involved.

I've had my own FATHER try to scam me for £4000 before now! Long story, but the guy's got a gambling habit, so needless to say he didn't get a penny.

Very suss story this, though. I'm afraid I wouldn't lend that kind of money without knowing more. Once lent my mate of 22 years £1300, but got every penny back in six months.