aquaintance demanding money

[hobbiniho1]

so i will start off with saying that the guy in question that is demanding the money isnt really a friend of mine more an aquaintance, im not friends with him on any socials and im not entiarly sure where he got my number from,
The scenario is as follows me and my friend own a boat together and over the past 8 or so months we have been fixing it up, an aquaintance of my friends turned up a few times and offered to help out, really he just hung out and didnt really do anything that i would consider a days work, we never asked him to come and help and never said that we would pay him
I have yesterday received a text message from him as follows

"good evening (hobbiniho), i will be contacting you tomorrow regarding work done to (your boat) over the last 6 months to arrange settlement for works done, i have failed to get and information or considerations from (my friend) regarding this now ongoing issue. i would like for us to be able to sit down if possible, if not convey information via a recorded telephone call to settle this matter with prompt now that we are in a new year. i hope that you are availiable at some point tomorrow to see to this between ourselves before further action is required"

it seems that he has had a falling out with my friend and is now demanding money for what he perceives as "work done", to put it into perspective the guy doesnt have a job and as far as im aware hasnt had one in a long time so is struggling financially, we at no point asked him to do this work and at no point told him we were going to pay him he just turned up and helped out, what sort of response other than telling him to poke it would be appropriate

[hidetheelephants]

Refer the gentleman to the reply given in the case of Arkell versus Pressdram.

[NFT]

hidetheelephants said:

Refer the gentleman to the reply given in the case of Arkell versus Pressdram.

I've had a poo day and been lost to it, and OMG, googling it and reading the reply cheered me up no end.

[PorkInsider]

I honestly don't know what you could tell him, other than to "poke it" as you put it, as it's so ridiculous.

Maybe tell him you'll pay him as per the terms of the non-existent contract?

[vaud]

Double check with your friend first about ANY conversation around help / money, even if it was him and the 3rd party over a beer.

You won't be liable as there is no contract (paper or implied) with you but check before responding.

[r3g]

hobbiniho1 said:

so i will start off with saying that the guy in question that is demanding the money isnt really a friend of mine more an aquaintance, im not friends with him on any socials and im not entiarly sure where he got my number from,
The scenario is as follows me and my friend own a boat together and over the past 8 or so months we have been fixing it up, an aquaintance of my friends turned up a few times and offered to help out, really he just hung out and didnt really do anything that i would consider a days work, we never asked him to come and help and never said that we would pay him
I have yesterday received a text message from him as follows

"good evening (hobbiniho), i will be contacting you tomorrow regarding work done to (your boat) over the last 6 months to arrange settlement for works done, i have failed to get and information or considerations from (my friend) regarding this now ongoing issue. i would like for us to be able to sit down if possible, if not convey information via a recorded telephone call to settle this matter with prompt now that we are in a new year. i hope that you are availiable at some point tomorrow to see to this between ourselves before further action is required"

it seems that he has had a falling out with my friend and is now demanding money for what he perceives as "work done", to put it into perspective the guy doesnt have a job and as far as im aware hasnt had one in a long time so is struggling financially, we at no point asked him to do this work and at no point told him we were going to pay him he just turned up and helped out, what sort of response other than telling him to poke it would be appropriate

Reply with the highlighted bit then close by saying whatever arrangement you had with [friend] is between you and him and nothing to do with me. Good day.

[Tycho]

I'd also keep copies of any correspondence in case of damage to the boat after you tell him to sling his hook.

[PaulW100]

Is he asking for money,? Maybe he should be offered the time in lieu from the job you've given him, tell he to take if off unpaid as per our previous unknown agreement.

[andburg]

I thin my response would be along the lines of "I'm sorry but I had no agreement with you, I don't know what you may have agreed with <friend> but thats between the two of you"

[fourstardan]

I'd get stuff in writing in case a hole ends up in the bottom of the boat!

[georgeyboy12345]

Just checking, but what country are you in? This is in the UK, right?

[mmm-five]

Don't forget to bill him for all the cups of tea he had whilst helping.

[MattsCar]

hobbiniho1 said:

"good evening (hobbiniho), i will be contacting you tomorrow regarding work done to (your boat) over the last 6 months to arrange settlement for works done, i have failed to get and information or considerations from (my friend) regarding this now ongoing issue. i would like for us to be able to sit down if possible, if not convey information via a recorded telephone call to settle this matter with prompt now that we are in a new year. i hope that you are availiable at some point tomorrow to see to this between ourselves before further action is required"

This contrived legal spiel always makes me laugh. Usually done as they think it will put the jitters up you.

I suppose he has an invoice for this "work"?

[Muzzer79]

hobbiniho1 said:

me and my friend own a boat together and over the past 8 or so months we have been fixing it up, an aquaintance of my friends turned up a few times and offered to help out, really he just hung out and didnt really do anything that i would consider a days work, we never asked him to come and help and never said that we would pay him

If he's an acquaintance of your friend, then let your friend deal with it and, personally, I'd ignore the guy texting you unless you get something formal from him.

Make sure he can't access your boat. If he's been working on it, he'll obviously know where it is. He may start taking parts or similar in lieu of what he thinks he's due.

[Simpo Two]

vaud said:

Double check with your friend first about ANY conversation around help / money, even if it was him and the 3rd party over a beer.

You won't be liable as there is no contract (paper or implied) with you but check before responding.

A good idea. It may be that your friend offered him some money, didn't pay and so he's now coming after you. But as said you have no liability whatsoever.

Muzzer79 said:

If he's an acquaintance of your friend, then let your friend deal with it and, personally, I'd ignore the guy texting you unless you get something formal from him.

Make sure he can't access your boat. If he's been working on it, he'll obviously know where it is. He may start taking parts or similar in lieu of what he thinks he's due.

More sound advice. Judging by his text this bloke is a bit thick. He might just try something stupid, like trespass and vandalism. So if you do reply, and I'm 50:50 on that, I would make it clear tell him that any illegal act will be reported to the police.

[Countdown]

Ask him for a Purchase Order number.

[dudleybloke]

Ask for his national insurance number and tax code as you want to put it through the books.

[r3g]

dudleybloke said:

Ask for his national insurance number and tax code as you want to put it through the books.

[Durzel]

Countdown said:

Ask him for a Purchase Order number.

[Teddy Lop]

Sure about what the other has said to him, after a few beers etc, maybe more potential for misunderstandings, although his help might have been favour-ish he now feels discarded and taken advantage of? Maybe he asked for some "reciprocal" help and was turned down?

Whatever take it easy, be soft but firm, you're really sorry but he's not getting a cent from you, but you'll chat to the other guy and try to understand what's going on.