A woman has described a stressful situation with a coworker who borrowed £500 and has since stopped speaking to her, despite promising to repay the money.
The pair became friendly after sitting near each other at work, sharing lunches and occasional drinks after hours. One day, the coworker asked for a coffee chat, saying she needed someone to talk to. She explained she couldn't make her car payment that month and had been struggling since her husband left her. She is also a mother of three children, two of whom have ADHD and autism.
Loan and silence
Feeling sorry for her, the woman agreed to lend £500, with the coworker promising to pay it back as soon as she got paid. However, after a couple of months with no repayment, the situation became awkward. The woman eventually asked about the money, and the coworker claimed she couldn't repay it in one go, offering instead to give £50 a month over 10 months. Since then, she has barely spoken to the woman, even though they sit 6ft apart, and no payments have been made.
Advice to handle the situation
In response, advice columnist Coleen suggests learning from the experience and accepting that the money may not be returned, or at least not all of it. She notes the coworker is likely avoiding the woman because she simply doesn't have the money to give.
Coleen advises that the woman has every right to ask for the money and to express disappointment at having to bring it up, pointing out that the coworker's silence has made things awkward at work.
Personal experience and next steps
Coleen shares a personal story of losing a friend over a similar situation years ago, where a friend with a child and no partner would expect Coleen to pay for outings, even after claiming to be back on her feet. Another friend warned Coleen she was being taken advantage of, and the friendship ended.
Coleen acknowledges the situation is awful and that the woman may feel betrayed and gullible, but says she won't make the same mistake again. She recommends tackling the issue with maturity, being direct and honest, and explaining that a resolution is needed, otherwise working together will be difficult.
