Someone owes me money and they live in another state. How can I track them down?
I sold a computer to a coworker about a year ago. she needed one for school and i wanted a better one, so it was win win. We agreed on a price of $800 dollars. she gave me $400 cash up front, which was half of the amount we had agreed on. She also agreed to pay me $100 every month until it was payed off. Things didn't turn out like that. She didn't pay me a dime until about 9 months after I gave her the computer. she sent me $100, so there in a outstanding balance of $300. She moved to New Mexico for school and I live in Colorado. She will not respond to my emails and I no longer have a phone number to contact her. Is there anything I can do to get my money? she isn't listen in the phone book. Is it possible to file a small claims court case from Colorado? Any other ideas to locate her would be appreciated. Everyone keeps telling me it will cost more than 300$ in court costs and everything else, but won't I be able to sue for the 300$ plus all the court fees and other costs?
Answers:
Write the $300 off as a loss and lesson learned. Don't give someone something they have promised to pay you money for, until they have the money in their hand. Look at the bright side, at least you did get $500 for the computer.
use a bloodhound
Call the school she is going to, they have everyone's address and phone number on file. Then get a white Bronco, a sawed-off, and find your money. Haha. Jk.
Chalk it up as experience, and let it go. You got burned. I understand your anger. But don't waste your time, energy, and health on $300. You can only hope that she will just up and pay you one day.
Higher your own Personal Stalker. (I'm Avalible *LOL*)
You can pay on the web for a tracing service. Google "skip trace." Probably costs around $25.00. You can file papers in small claims court in your state, have them served out of state, and get a default judgment if she doesn't pay up. That's about another $100 in court costs and process server fees. Once you have a default judgment you can get a sister-state judgment in the jurisdiction where she lives. Another $25.00. So you are probably out-of-pocket about $150 on a $300 debt. Assuming you can recover your costs and fees (that's up to the court), you will have spent a lot of time, effort, and frustration for not much money. I would let it go.
Depending on the state that you live in will determine if you can sue for court costs. I do not want to join the group of people that say.. it will cost you more than $300 to collect; however I am big on justice and big on making sure someone does not get one over on me. You extended a courtesy to let her have the item without paying the entire amount up front. I do not see a big probability of collection. I am a former PI and have done some of this; however when there is no contract and while some payments have been made i.e. $400 & $100 there is really nothing that obligates her to pay you. No contract. Yes, she did you wrong; however in this matter I do not see a whole lot of resolve. You can try and remember anything about her. Did you date her? Try to remember who her friends were, where she went etc. What does she study? Keep in mind that despite the debt, you could be viewed as a stalker and she could 'spin' it that way. BE CAREFUL! I would suggest letting it go, but it would be difficult for me to do so. But if you are set on getting her.. you do not have a legal leg to stand on. I wish you the best of luck!
First place there is no money, there is only federal reserve notes I.O.U.s. So if you feeI it worth these I.O.U.s then go for it but remember a lot of people are going want part of your federal reserve notes. These will be well over the number of notes she owes you.
Take it as a life experience..and move on.
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