Help with a friend!

vickyb242

Hi,

I am looking for some advice and hopefully some examples to help with my problem.

I run a small company and last year i bought a very good, very expensive camera for marketing reasons. Then a very good friend asked if they could possibly borrow it for a day or two to take some family pictures, and i really didn't think it would be a problem. Well that was nearly a month ago:mad: , so far she has ignored all my phone calls, texts and emails. I have gone round to her house and she just doesn't open the door or a family member opens it with the chain on, and then just says that she is not in.

I really don't want to go to the small claims court, i was hoping that a strongly worded letter might persaude her to give it back.

I was hoping someone knew where i can get an example letter from as i really don't have a clue what to write myself, apart from give me my camera back!

I look forward to hearing from you.

ameliarate

Some friend! How long have you known her? I am sorry I have no words of advice or sample letters as requested but feel for you in this awkward situation.

You could simply write saying that if she doesn't return the camera within 5 days you will have no choice but to take legal action, that although you really don't want to do this you feel you have been left with no alternative.

Good luck.

sandra_nz

ameliarate wrote: »

Some friend! How long have you known her? I am sorry I have no words of advice or sample letters as requested but feel for you in this awkward situation.

You could simply write saying that if she doesn't return the camera within 5 days you will have no choice but to take legal action, that although you really don't want to do this you feel you have been left with no alternative.

Good luck.

I wonder if there is a softer ground available here, something along the lines of:

Dear [name],

Last month I lent you my camera. Despite repeated requests for its return, you have refused to return the camera or speak to me regarding the camera.
I'm guessing that you have accidentally damaged or lost the camera. I appreciate that accidents happen, but I will need you to reimburse me for the cost of replacing the camera. I'd be happy to work out a payment plan with you to suit your budget.
Could you please get in touch with me as soon as possible. I am sending this request by email and also posting to you, to ensure you have recieved my request. Unfortunately, if I don't hear from you in 5 days, I will be forced to take legal action in order to recover my loss.

Regards,
Yourname

frostyspice

and send the letter by recorded delivery.

Good luck!

sooz

Some friend :mad:

I'd go with the first letter...short & to the point. Recorded or special delivery...you want proof she got it. Then do follow up with the small claims court, you can do this online.

If she's been ignoring you up until now, there is no gentle way to do this.

Do you have any proof that you lent her the camera? Did she ask to borrow it in an email? Or was anyone there when you gave it to her?

pinkshoes

Dear <name of friend>

I'm writing to remind you that on <insert date> you borrowed my digital camera, valued at £<insert value>.

A month has now passed since you borrowed the camera, so I now require it back as I need it for my business.

Please return the camera to me by <insert date in 7 days time>, or if you no longer have the camera, I shall accept the sum of £<insert value> instead, which must also be given to me by <insert date in 7 days time>.

Please note that this letter has been sent by recorded delivery, and if I don't hear from you within the specified time, I regrettably shall have no other option but to persue the money owed through the small claims court.

Kind Regards,

<sign your name>

ailuro2

Go visit her at her work, if that's possible, it will be harder for her to run away there, perhaps?

CB1979_2

take some bolt cutters for next time the door is on the chain

KittyKate

Pop over again and give one of her family a note - don't put the letter in an envelope, let them read it. They might not know she took the camera and therefore will read her the riot act. She could have told them anything to lie at the door.

If no luck, go to the small claims court - don't beat around the bush, I say.

vickyb242

vickyb242 wrote: »

Hi,

I am looking for some advice and hopefully some examples to help with my problem.

I run a small company and last year i bought a very good, very expensive camera for marketing reasons. Then a very good friend asked if they could possibly borrow it for a day or two to take some family pictures, and i really didn't think it would be a problem. Well that was nearly a month ago:mad: , so far she has ignored all my phone calls, texts and emails. I have gone round to her house and she just doesn't open the door or a family member opens it with the chain on, and then just says that she is not in.

I really don't want to go to the small claims court, i was hoping that a strongly worded letter might persaude her to give it back.

I was hoping someone knew where i can get an example letter from as i really don't have a clue what to write myself, apart from give me my camera back!

I look forward to hearing from you.

Hi, Thanks for all your replies. They have been of great help, but it didn't work.

I wrote a nice letter, saying i understood that accidents can happen but i need the camera back now or the full amount of the goods to cover the cost of a new one. I gave her 7 days, which expired last Wednesday (13th August) or i would have no choice but to persure it through the small claims court.

Nothing, not even a note or explaination back. So now i have no choice but to go to the small claims, but someone told me at the weekend that it would cost at least £600 to go to the small claims, is this right as it's nearly the cost of the camera itself.

I thought it was around £50-£100 to take someone through the small claims.

Any advice would be great?

January20

I made a claim through Money Claim Online and I think the ceiling for the fee was £120 and that was for a claim for few thousand pounds too.

https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/csmco2/index.jsp

Could you use this?