Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Florida
I paid an electric bill for a neighbor due to was going to be shut off. She pleaded with me for my help due to her 7 yr old child and 1 wk before holidays. She promised to pay me back in full by 2 wks. Three yrs later 1 $70.00 pmnt. No pmnt in 4 months. She is avoiding my calls and texts. Can I file a police report in state of Florida for stolen money? She has moved and I have no idea of her current address.
1 Answer from Attorneys
What you describe is not theft. From a legal standpoint you either gave her a gift, or loaned her money on a verbal contract. Your only recourse if she refuses to pay is to file a law suit in small claims court (assuming the amount you paid was less than $5,000.00). The cost of doing this may be prohibitive to the process.
It stinks that the person promised to pay then didn't, and you obviously wouldn't have done it if you didn't have a good heart. If it helps you to think of it as you helped the child and not the parent.
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