[OT- personal] HELP!!!

[Balgus]

Hi guys,

You have been such a help to everyone else that has asked, I thought I might ask too. What harm could it do?

I roomed with a guy last year who had his dad take care of all the bills (save maybe one or two). When we moved out after graduation, he said he would tally it up and call or email us later.

I finally got the total about a month ago- $544. I told him that I don't have that much right now, but if he can wait a week, I can get it. Or if he prefers, I can pay him $250 right now, and $300 in two weeks (paycheck).

I then asked if he added in the money he owed me ($150) for grocery. He said he forgot, and so the total comes to $400. But he remembered that I had owed him $100 for something I had sold that belonged to all three of us (the thrid roommate is out of the picture). So the grand total is $494- and he emailed me confirming this.

I sent him a check for $500.

A week later, he said that I still owed him $150. I said that I paid everything- and he came out with some number crunching that said I owed him $150. He has been buggin me for about a month now- and will not stop.

What can I do to get him to stop? Please help!!

Thanks a bunch

 

[Thorntangle]

Tell him you understood previously that you had paid in full. Ask him if this was his understanding as well. Ask him to submit an itemized bill in writing, indicating which portions you have already paid.

 

[Balgus]

Thorntangle:
Tell him you understood previously that you had paid in full. Ask him if this was his understanding as well. Ask him to submit an itemized bill in writing, indicating which portions you have already paid.

There lies the problem. He said he lost all paperwork, and asked the thrid roommate for what #3 owed him. And then reasoned that I would have owed the same amount. So minus what i had paid him already, I still owed him $150. He CAN'T give me an itemized list because he does not have it, but he insists that i still owe him money- and keeps buggin me.

I just emailed #3 to ask a couple questions to clear stuff up. I hope he can get back to me soon. This is really stressin me out...

 

[mooby]

Ask him for a written itemized record of how much you owe him and for what.

That should, at least, answet the questions of the total amount of money.

Oh yeah, and save your carbon copy of the check

 

[Thorntangle]

If he can't itemize what he feels you owe him, he really doesn't have a good case if this goes to court. The friendship aspect adds a different dimension, though.

How did he explain the first figure you provided? Sounds pretty clear to me - he provided you with a figure he felt was equitable and you paid it.

 

[Quickbeam]

Forget getting anything in writing for the moment...does he even have a verbal rationale for why you owe him the extra $150 after sending $500? If he can articulate anything which you find even remotely plausible, then send him the money with a note washing your hands of the whole affair. If he can't explain why he feels there's still a $150 balance owing, then I don't see why you should pay him. The third roommate's debt to your friend is NOT relevant to what you may (or may not) owe.

It is possible that even after you two reconciled (or so you though) the money due ($494) that another few legitimate items popped into his head. If that's the case he should be able to explain them to you over the phone/thru email. Otherwise, move on.

Just my two coppers.

 

[Desdichado]

Legally, if you paid him anything and he accepted payment, then you have no other obligation, even if he does produce an itemized list.

However, I think we all probably know that your legal ramifications aren't the only ones -- I buy stuff for a living, and my bread and butter is keeping good paperwork. At the same time, I try to be flexible and reasonable, but if he can't explain 1) what this $150 is, and 2) why he told you that you owed him $494 if it was really $644 then I'd tell him to take a hike.

Friends are one thing. Friends that bug you about $150 that you don't feel you owe them, on the other hand...

And then, hopefully, you keep better track of your expenses in the future. What a great way to ruin a friendship! The other thing I've learned as a buyer is to establish very clearly up front who is to pay for what. Eliminates tons of stress and heartache down the line.

 

[KnowTheToe]

If he has no paperwork, where does the number crunching come from? I agree, if he can give you a reasonable answer, you may want to write the check to save the friendship. If the friendship is over anyways, buy 3 hardbound game books, a 2-liter bottle of pop, some pencils, paper and make a weekend out of it

 

[Maerdwyn]

Legally, if you paid him anything and he accepted payment, then you have no other obligation, even if he does produce an itemized list.

I thought you had to write something like "payment in full" on a check in order for that to be the case. Otherwise it could be considered a partial payment, right? (whatever - IANAL )


**********
At any rate, if everyone's paperwork - except for your cancelled check, and the email he sent acknowledging your full payment - is gone, then you are in excellent shape. That the 3rd roommate thinks he owes and extra $150, and the other thinks it would be a good idea to get it from you, too, doesn't mean that you have a moral or legal obligation to pay it without some further documentation that the debt actually exists.

In a pratical sense, however, friendships do break up over stuff like this, especially when one of the parties is the kind of person to make a huge issue over it.

If, in your opinion, not paying would risk the friendship and if in your opinion that is unacceptable, pay the $150. In any case, don't have any financial dealings with him in the future. This will happen again if you do.

Good luck

 

[Balgus]

I have no issues over losing him as a "friend". Actually, I never really liked him- he was a user. I only roomed with him because he and i are mutual good friends with #3- who i don't want to get involved- and probably doesnt wanna get involved anyways.

That the 3rd roommate thinks he owes and extra $150, and the other thinks it would be a good idea to get it from you, too, doesn't mean that you have a moral or legal obligation to pay it without some further documentation that the debt actually exists.

Let me clear this up. Since he lost all his bills and such- his dad paid for them and tossed them- he asked #3 what #3 owed him. He reasoned that i should owe him the same, and with the $500 paid, there is $150 left over.

I know i am not going to pay him back- and have been telling him for a month that I feel I have paid it all off- and the issue was over. But he keeps buggin me about it- saying I still owe him money. i want to get him to stop- but don't know how.

And yes- i should have wrote on the check- "paid in full" stupid of me... I just didnt think he would be such a jerk.