About ten years ago, I gave a friend a credit card in his name for which I was responsible.<\/p>\n
After a few months, I became uncomfortable with how long it was taking him to pay me back and I canceled his card.<\/p>\n
He got angry and refused to pay me back for about $500 he billed on the card.<\/p>\n
Over the past decade, I’ve tried three times to discuss this matter with him to no avail.<\/p>\n
In response, I’ve let the friendship wither. We still chitchat on the phone about once a month — he’s been in poor health for about a decade — but I don’t go out of my way to see him or to help him because of his failure to this matter.<\/p>\n
I’d say three times is my limit for reminding a friend he owes me money. After that, I write off the friendship (but not explicitly so, I believe in keeping cordial relations with as many people as possible, even people I don’t like or trust or respect).<\/p>\n
(This blog post is not directed at anyone currently in my life with whom I’m doing business. Your accounts are all good with me. I was inspired to write this blog post by a friendly phone message from my former best friend who’s owed me $500 for a decade.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
About ten years ago, I gave a friend a credit card in his name for which I was responsible. After a few months, I became uncomfortable with how long it was taking him to pay me back and I canceled … Continue reading