She Let Her Friend Borrow Her Expensive Sunglasses—Now She’s Considering Small Claims Court
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When is it a good decision to take someone to small claims court?
Over unpaid rent?
A damaged car?
How about a pair of sunglasses?
Hmmmm…that’s a tough one.
But the woman who wrote the story you’re about read is thinking about doing that because her friend damaged her expensive sunglasses.
Let’s take a look at what’s going on here…
WIBTA if I take my friend to small claims court over money and sunglasses?
“Last year, I became close friends with a girl through a university organization.
We both held leadership roles, so I trusted her with my belongings and sometimes covered costs when she promised to pay me back.
From August to December, I sent her $120 so she could get home when stranded in another city. We agreed she would pay me back every other week, even gradually. I also covered another $37 ride after she said she would repay me.
This was starting to add up…
There were organization costs we agreed to split, totaling $83.14, plus a $23.18 ticket I bought for her.
When I brought up repayment, she said her birthday money was coming. Meanwhile, she was still going out, buying drinks and vapes, and asking me for more favors.
Around December/January, she borrowed my limited-edition designer sunglasses. Someone close to me bought them by riding almost an hour to the store and arriving around 6 AM, even though it opened at 11 AM, so they could be bought before selling out.
They cost about $400 with the matching charm, and because they are no longer made, they now sell online for around $600 to $700 before tax.
This “friend” was really getting on her nerves.
She was supposed to return them shortly, but since I had graduated and was no longer attending events, she kept them for almost five months.
I asked for them back in person multiple times.
Eventually, the person who bought them also reached out because he was still at the university, her house was close to campus, and I was busy with work. We offered to work around her schedule, meet nearby, or have her leave them outside in a secluded spot.
Most of the time, she did not respond, even though mutual friends were talking to her at the same time. When she did, she said she was busy or did not have them with her.
Hmmm…
But I later saw social media posts of her wearing them at the beach, music events, and other places. She also texted that she started carrying them because he kept asking to pick them up, then said, “God forbid I put them on when they’re on me.”
When I finally asked for them back, she texted, “Sorry to break it to you, but your sunglasses were not a priority in my life,” and criticized that someone else had been reaching out instead of me.
I did not expect them to be her top priority, but they were still my property.
What a jerk!
When I got them back through another friend, they had scratches, chips, loose hinges, and the matching charm was gone.
I told her that if she could find the same pair/charm for less, authentic and in the same original condition, I would be open to that. I was not trying to profit.
I hesitated because she later said she was dealing with family illness, mental health struggles, work, and school.
I have empathy for that, so I tried handling this privately for months. I have records of my statements ready just in case.
WIBTA for taking this to small claims court?”
Check out what readers had to say about this on Reddit.
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This person weighed in.
Another Reddit user shared their thoughts.
This individual spoke up.
Another reader nailed it.
If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a grandson who is tired of driving 5 hours one way to work on his grandparent’s investment property for free.
And this person said she’s NTA.
At the end of the day, this probably wouldn’t be worth it.
But, it’s her life and if she wants to spend the time doing this, that’s her prerogative!
Go on wit yo bad self…I mean, if you want to.
Her “friend” sounds like a total creep!
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