Trying to help someone in need turned into a month-long headache after a borrowed “few hours” loan spiraled into excuses, missed deadlines, and total radio silence.

After exhausting every polite attempt to collect, he’s now debating whether escalating things to the borrower’s family crosses a line.

Read on for the story.

AITAH for calling my friend’s father to ask money.

So I had given money to a guy I knew from my apartment building which he had vacated a day prior to this.

On 25 Dec ‘ 2025 , he called me begging for money for some college fees and told me he would give me cash that evening.

Being helpful to people as I myself have been in such situations, I sent the money online.

Sounds sketchy.

Then he ghosts me “completely”. I call him multiple times for 3 weeks. He never picked up my call for once.

On 16th Jan (21 day after i gave him money) I call him from my friend’s number and he picked up and says he’ll return it in 4 days.

4 days go by and dead silence again from his side. I again call him using multiple of my friends number but no response.

Wow.

Now its 23rd Jan and 3 days from 26th Jan( national holiday). He is in NCC (kind of military training programme). So , he had to be present in a parade on 26th.

That was my only option to contact. I meet him after parade. I am totally non-confrontational guy so still talk to him very cordially.

He gives me all the lame excuses and then ask for more time.

MORE?

I agree but I take his father’s contact info in case he ghosts me again. Its 28th Jan today and I still don’t have my money back.

He has given me 5 deadlines but keeps delaying. I gave him my money as he said he will give it back in 4 to 5 hours. Its 1 month and 3 days today and I haven’t gotten it back.

Should I call his father and ask money back from him…? AITAH if I call his father for money.

Redditors are weighing whether this is a reasonable last resort after repeated dishonesty, or an unnecessary escalation that drags family into a personal debt dispute.

This person suggests calling his dad.

This person says he’s not a jerk, just dumb.

And this person says he’s never gonna see that money again.

If someone ghosts you after borrowing money, it’s not shocking when the next call goes straight to their accountability department.

If you thought that was an interesting story, check this one out about a man who created a points system for his inheritance, and a family friend ends up getting almost all of it.