In early December of 2005, I was shocked to discover that two cheques from my credit card used. At the time, I freaked out because I didn’t know what was going on. I was in South Korea and my mail was being looked after by a trusted friend. I called my credit card company and immediately cancelled my card. I didn’t know that the person who was responsible was my trusted friend.
This trusted friend arming herself with pen and forged my signature to write two cheques to herself. And if that isn’t bad enough she destroyed the evidence.
That day in December, I left a message on her answering machine that someone had gone through the mail and stole my credit card cheques. A few days later I received an email from her saying it was she who wrote the cheques. A long story followed how she tried to contact me so without my consent she went ahead and wrote these cheques. She promised to pay me the following week.
Now it’s been nearly two years and I am still waiting for the following week. In these two years, I have been away travelling and teaching. I assumed I would get the money and felt no need to press charges. Although not having a credit card when you’re travelling for four months caused a few problems.
Now I am back in Canada and there hasn’t been any mention of repayment until I demanded the money. I was naive to think that a cheque would be waiting for me when I arrived.
This trusted friend is justifying her actions because as a friend she stored some boxes for me and allowed me to stay with her for one month. In fact, she says I owe her money.
Because of her stupidity and nerve, I contacted my credit card company and the cancelled cheques are in the post. A lawyer advised me to go to the police with the cheques and charge her with fraud. I feel really bad but I feel like she is taking advantage of my good nature.
I hate this stress. This is why I don’t lend and borrow money. But the whole point of this story is I didn’t lend anyone any money….it was stolen!