Money owed, lesson learned
So, I am going to make this as detailed as possible. And yes, I did learn my lesson.
So I had put a friend of mine under my mobility account as I was her last option so she could have a phone (she has younger kids and I didnt want her going without). The first and second month was good, she paid. The third month, something happened, she showed me proof of her money issues. So I paid her portion ($250). She ended up paying me $20 back, still owing me $230. Time went on, she paid her portion up every month, sometimes it was would be a few days late so she would pay the late fees.
Her contract for her phone ended in February 2026. And because the mobility company has that Bring it back thing, she wasnt able too as there is damage to the back of the phone so she needed to pay $470. So that was added onto the bill as well as 2 months of her phone bills. In April, because she was behind on her portion of the bills, it went up. She did make a huge payment as well (after communicating with her that she needs to pay). But then the last couple of months, bills kept piling. I have all the paper work as to what was paid and by who.
$1,115.81 the amount that was due April 7th, she paid $165, and I paid my portion of the bill which was $182. Which leaves us at $768.81 (the $470 and 1 bill of hers) that I had to pay for so I could get her phone and watch off of my account. And I just got my bill and still a payment needs to be made for her watch and phone of $7 and $ 92.16. So which leaves it as $1,097.16 of what she owes me for paying her bills.
So this last month and a bit, I was communicating to her that she needs to pay so I can get her off my account. I kept getting ignored. I even said hey, I can pay your portion but im going to need the money back. Her response was "I'll figure it out." After a week, I kept asking her about when she was able to pay. Nothing but silence on her end. Not until I made a post on fb about how I didnt realize that this was how friends are supposed to act. No name drops, nothing. Thats when she paid the $165 (before the amount of $1,097.16). After that, I would message her to just ask. I was being vile, I was being mean just simply asking when she was able to pay. Nothing but silence on her end. Thats when I decided to pay the remaining balance of her bill. I had enough.
So its on my account, but her name was also on my account under her phone and watch. My question is, is there anything I can do to get any of that money back that is owed to me, or am I screwed?
Like I said at the beginning, I learned my lesson. Never again will I be helping anyone out like that. I have a family that I need to take care of and my own kids and bills. This was money I shouldn't have had to fork out of my own account.