Ex owes me money, can I withold his bike?

Benzanna

My now ex (after getting arrested today for drink driving to my house and acting violently) owes me money. It's only £300, but I want it back.

The money was to help him buy a £1700 bike (£300 paid by me, the rest paid for by his parents)

I made the actual transaction online in my name.

I don't want to take more than he owes me, although he's been living rent free for months and made no contributions towards bills.

His parents are coming to collect him and his belongings once he's been released.

Can I withold the bike until I am paid?

I have it in writing (text) that he owes me the money, and also that the bike I bought was for him.

Advice appreciated. Thanks

Savvy_Sue

Frankly, I'd consider that a small price to never have anything to do with him ever again, and I wouldn't risk asking unless his parents are reasonable people.

Malthusian

Benzanna wrote: »

Can I withold the bike until I am paid?

Unless you have it in writing that the loan was secured on the bike, then nope. Even though you bought it, he has it in writing that it's his bike. And it's more trouble than it's worth anyway.

Give him his bike back and then pursue the debt via the small claims court. Or write the money off as a price worth paying to get rid of him.

I don't want to take more than he owes me, although he's been living rent free for months and made no contributions towards bills.

Then £300 is really neither here nor there compared to the few thousand you've already written off.

MEM62

You need to weigh up the hassle and distress you are going to cause yourself because of your emotional need to recover £300 against the benefit of drawing a line under this and moving on. Is he even capable if repaying the debt?

It is a judgement call only you can make but pragmatism would be your friend.

belfastgirl23

If the OP paid for it online is it not legally her bike?? I'd say hold onto it and ask for the money. Unless you're scared of him I which case that might factor into your decision...

DUTR

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

If the OP paid for it online is it not legally her bike?? I'd say hold onto it and ask for the money. Unless you're scared of him I which case that might factor into your decision...

As the others say for the sake of £300 it's not worth it.
On the outside looking in, whatever he has done she liked him to start with and having the fight over the money is a way of keeping some kind of contact.

ska_lover

I agree, £300 is a tiny amount of money to get rid of a waste of space.

If you withhold h is bike, he isn't going to leave it there, is he

unforeseen

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

If the OP paid for it online is it not legally her bike?? I'd say hold onto it and ask for the money. Unless you're scared of him I which case that might factor into your decision...

Her contribution to the cost was less than 20% and also there is evidence that the bike was for him. Her making the transaction in this situation is immaterial

At best she would be considered a minor 'shareholder' in the bike. His parents have a greater right to the bike than the OP

PasturesNew

The two items are separate.

He has a bike that you have no legal hold over.
He owes you £300.

To with-hold the bike would be a "wrong" and two wrongs don't make a right.

Let his parents know about the £300, see if you can get his debt in writing... and hope they end up paying it or getting him to.

£300 is cheap to get rid of the scum though.

ska_lover

Disagree about trying to force the parents hand in paying this debt.

unforeseen

PasturesNew wrote: »

The two items are separate.

He has a bike that you have no legal hold over.
He owes you £300.

To with-hold the bike would be a "wrong" and two wrongs don't make a right.

Let his parents know about the £300, see if you can get his debt in writing... and hope they end up paying it or getting him to.

£300 is cheap to get rid of the scum though.

Parents have absolutely nothing to do with your problem of your ex owing you money. If you involve them then there is a good chance it will backfire badly on you