Im an idiot, do I have any options?

[Turf Doctor]

You tried to do a good thing and maybe made a mistake in helping someone out.. The other guy is the idiot for taking advantage.

It happens too often, live and learn.

Hope things turn out ok.

 

[JetGirl]

 

[stephen87]

Had pretty much the same deal happen to me awhile ago. I listed myself as the lienholder on it, he wrecked it, didn't plate it, moved out of state, left the truck at his mom's for me totaled. Be glad you weren't in the situation.

 

[chocktaw2]

Lesson learned.

 

[fordmanchris]

Well I did finally manage to get ahold of him. He gave me some bs about how he hasnt gotten a paycheckmfor a while and he just got it and will bring me some money tomorrow, but im not holding my breath on that. IF he does manage to bring me anything I am going to try to talk him into letting me hold onto the title or something (he isnt the brightest). I really cant think of anything else I could really do to ensure I get paid. Maybe get him to sighn another contract stating what he owes me or something?

I have my doubts he will show up, but if he does any ideas of what I could do. ( nonviolent and legal lol)

 

[stephen87]

Put a lien on the title if he hasn't already plated it. Also make a contract, two copies, write the payments that he has made on there, both of you initial every payment.

 

[spec4]

If he is sincere you need to determine if he has the ability to pay you. Ask when he will pay, how much will he pay, and where will the money come from and can regular payment arrangements be made until you are paid off. Does he in fact have a steady source of income? His wife's income?

 

[printcraft]

You could go over to his house some night and crawl under and cut the fuel pump wire, after a week try again to get ahold of him, the jeep will be worth a lot less to him if it won't run and he has no money to fix it.

 

[Leo]

Sometimes you do the right thing and the person does not return the favor. I have done exactly that, selling a dependable car to people that were desperate. I got burned too. Even if the man does not have enough good character to pay you, it is still a merciful gesture to make sure women and babies are able to stay out of the elements in a safe car. As a Christian, it is my belief that my good deeds are not un noticed and that my chances will be better when I am in need. Doing the right thing is usually inconvenient and somewhat sacrificial.

 

[giovani]

Hey this guy is into doing stupid stuff I thought he might go for it.

 

[churchmouse]

Well I did finally manage to get ahold of him. He gave me some bs about how he hasnt gotten a paycheckmfor a while and he just got it and will bring me some money tomorrow, but im not holding my breath on that. IF he does manage to bring me anything I am going to try to talk him into letting me hold onto the title or something (he isnt the brightest). I really cant think of anything else I could really do to ensure I get paid. Maybe get him to sighn another contract stating what he owes me or something?

I have my doubts he will show up, but if he does any ideas of what I could do. ( nonviolent and legal lol)

Nothing I can think of fits the non-violent/legal stipulations you list.

 

[churchmouse]

Sometimes you do the right thing and the person does not return the favor. I have done exactly that, selling a dependable car to people that were desperate. I got burned too. Even if the man does not have enough good character to pay you, it is still a merciful gesture to make sure women and babies are able to stay out of the elements in a safe car. As a Christian, it is my belief that my good deeds are not un noticed and that my chances will be better when I am in need. Doing the right thing is usually inconvenient and somewhat sacrificial.

Totally this^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I have been screwed out of cars by family and folks in need. Took a minute for me to see whats up. Every time we have tried to "Help Out" all we did was get someone back up and going so they could go back to being a DA.

Every good deed done in this life has to count for something somewhere. Just as every bad one should as well.

 

[fordmanchris]

Totally this^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I have been screwed out of cars by family and folks in need. Took a minute for me to see whats up. Every time we have tried to "Help Out" all we did was get someone back up and going so they could go back to being a DA.

Every good deed done in this life has to count for something somewhere. Just as every bad one should as well.

thanks guys I agree as well, as much as it sucks a few people on here seem to understand where I was coming from regardless of my lapse of better judgement on how I handled it. They were reduced to driving a car with no brakes and using the parking brake to stop and I would feel even worse if they had got creamed by another vehicle when I could have simply done what I did. Now in my opinion that was a total dumbass kove on their part and they should have taken the bus, but you cant fix stupid.

 

[hoosierdoc]

Can you forgive the debt and give them a 1099 or whatever and file it with the IRS? Forgiven debt is income

most people in these situations are there because of their repeated bad decisions in life. Giving them temporary aid doesn't fix the underlying problem. They will likely continue to make the same mistakes and bad decisions, but now they get to do it in your car, or house, or with your money. These things should come with lifestyle or education-based stipulations. Some sort of accountability method if possible.

 

[fordmanchris]

thanks I will look into that! might be a good option in my situation!

Can you forgive the debt and give them a 1099 or whatever and file it with the IRS? Forgiven debt is income

most people in these situations are there because of their repeated bad decisions in life. Giving them temporary aid doesn't fix the underlying problem. They will likely continue to make the same mistakes and bad decisions, but now they get to do it in your car, or house, or with your money. These things should come with lifestyle or education-based stipulations. Some sort of accountability method if possible.

 

[buckshotJ]

Small claims court.....you have a signed agreement and he has no paid in full receipt. He likely wont show for court and you would win by default anyway. It would be up to you to collect your "winnings", but do so with the sheriffs department in tow

 

[churchmouse]

Can you forgive the debt and give them a 1099 or whatever and file it with the IRS? Forgiven debt is income

most people in these situations are there because of their repeated bad decisions in life. Giving them temporary aid doesn't fix the underlying problem. They will likely continue to make the same mistakes and bad decisions, but now they get to do it in your car, or house, or with your money. These things should come with lifestyle or education-based stipulations. Some sort of accountability method if possible.

That might work. If they have state and federal taxes owed they could get the vehicle towed on tax debt. Seen that happen to an idiot neighbor. Owed the state...blew them off....officer freindly shows up with papers and a tow truck.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Can you forgive the debt and give them a 1099 or whatever and file it with the IRS? Forgiven debt is income

most people in these situations are there because of their repeated bad decisions in life. Giving them temporary aid doesn't fix the underlying problem. They will likely continue to make the same mistakes and bad decisions, but now they get to do it in your car, or house, or with your money. These things should come with lifestyle or education-based stipulations. Some sort of accountability method if possible.

I'll second this! I know somebody that had a $6k Credit card dismissed and the company did that to them. They ended up going from a $275 tax refund to a $1,700.00 LIABILITY.

If you do your own taxes and normally use TurboTax, the home and business edition (about $20 more than deluxe) allows you to issue 1099s. You can probably also do it on paper as well, but no matter how you go, get a gander at his social security card to verify his SSN so you are sure you are issuing the pain to the correct person. I'd hate for him to give you a bogus # and get a double whammy when the IRS says "uh, that guy you 1099'd doesnt exist, we are auditing you" 5 years from now.

But if you dont itemize and only file a 1099EZ, this will only screw them and give you no benefit. I'd talk to a tax pro for advice.

Just say "hey, I know you are having issues, but tell ya what. I'm just gonna write this off on my taxes, but I need your SSN to do it. You wont have to pay me any more and can keep the truck." Odds are he wont know the full impact until its too late. (if he even pays taxes at all... )

Disclaimer: I'm not a tax lawyer, only a taxpayer with a little bit if real world experience. Your mileage may vary, Batteries not included, for external use only. See a doctor if the erection lasts longer than 8 hours. May cause decrease in vision and explosive diarrhea. yadda yadda yadda.

 

[churchmouse]

I'll second this! I know somebody that had a $6k Credit card dismissed and the company did that to them. They ended up going from a $275 tax refund to a $1,700.00 LIABILITY.

If you do your own taxes and normally use TurboTax, the home and business edition (about $20 more than deluxe) allows you to issue 1099s. You can probably also do it on paper as well, but no matter how you go, get a gander at his social security card to verify his SSN so you are sure you are issuing the pain to the correct person. I'd hate for him to give you a bogus # and get a double whammy when the IRS says "uh, that guy you 1099'd doesnt exist, we are auditing you" 5 years from now.

But if you dont itemize and only file a 1099EZ, this will only screw them and give you no benefit. I'd talk to a tax pro for advice.

Disclaimer: I'm not a tax lawyer, only a taxpayer with a little bit if real world experience. Your mileage may vary, Batteries not included, for external use only. See a doctor if the erection lasts longer than 8 hours. May cause decrease in vision and explosive diarrhea. yadda yadda yadda.

And then you may experience the "greasy discharge"

I have no idea what that is or where from but it was listed as a side effect for one of the mirical drugs advertised on the tube.

 

[Cameramonkey]

And then you may experience the "greasy discharge"

I have no idea what that is or where from but it was listed as a side effect for one of the mirical drugs advertised on the tube.

Yeah, I have no idea either, but listening to several drug adverts, I have to wonder "if there are this many side effects, are they any better than the condition they are treating?" When half of your commercial is dedicated to the potential side effects of a non life threatening disorder, is it REALLY worth it? "I'll tell ya Bill, I may be bleeding from the eyeballs, have seizures about 3x a year, and I have a massive case of the runs daily, but at least I get intimate time with the wife when she lets me... (every 3 months)"