I was seriously involved with Joe since July 2003. In May of 2007, he found himself in dire legal trouble. With a verbal and written promise (unfortunately, he took the promissory letter he wrote me while incarcerated when he left) from the gentleman that all moneys borrowed or spent for legal fees would be repaid in full; I secured a loan for $3,500 (financed $4,096 after fees and such and through payments will repay a total of $6,817.86 after finance charges) to retain a criminal attorney, Mr. Dennis Rehak. While said gentleman was incarcerated at the Lee County Stockade for four months, I covered:

$250 Rent
$44 Canteen
$360 ($90 for 4 months) Cell phone
$120 Home phone to accept collect calls and charges
$322 Attorney fees

I then, bailed the gentleman out with 10% of the bond at $2,580 with credit cards. From August 2007 until June 2008, the gentleman lived with my sister and I rent and bill free while he handled his legal affairs and attempted to procure a job. He was involved in an automobile accident with injuries, which also hindered him from working. I was his transportation to medical appointments and, later, work.

Immediately following his sentencing to probation in June 2008, the gentleman promptly moved, without notice, to Tampa. He refused to answer phone calls, changed his phone number and left no forwarding address. November 2008 he made contact with me and promised yet again that he fully intended to repay me and apologized for his actions. After much persistence, from myself via phone calls and emails, I began to receive small increments of money transferred directly into my bank account from February 2009 to February 2010, totaling $840, after which, they have completely ceased and the gentleman has refused to return any phone calls or emails. The money he would give me each month did not cover even the loan payment I have monthly, let alone the credit card payments. I have been unable to lower the balances on the credit cards used for bail and have amassed great interest, late fees and over the limit charges.

It has recently come to my attention, through his family members, that he received a large tax refund, purchased a new $5,000 laptop, attends college and recently took a week’s vacation. I was barely able to make my bills and had to cover around $300 extra in bills a month to cover his debts. Recently, I was laid off and am now in the process of defaulting on the credit card payments and ruining my credit. I will not default on my financial responsibilities that are in my name and ruin my credit. I eat very poorly, cannot afford necessities like new tires and have to scrape by and budget within cents each month. I am exhausted with the lack of respect, willingness to take responsibility, the sheer injustice of his actions and with just plain having to pay for a man that has no longer been in my life for the last 2 years. I want financial freedom and what is rightfully mine. Kindness is not a weakness, love should not be taken advantage of and what is right is right.

I began gathering all my documentation of the entire situation back in May 2009 and filing papers through TurboCourt. I informed the gentleman at the time of this and that is one reason payments stayed consistent. I held off filing with the Lee Clerk of Courts when he seemed to be maintaining a regular schedule. I should not have given him the benefit of the doubt. After pulling everything together and crunching the numbers I am shocked to realize that if he paid everything off today I would have paid a minimum of $7,951 (this does not include rent and living expenses paid for that 9 months, late fees, interest, etc.; just straight balances as they stand today). If he was to pay me gradually over time and I paid the loan off using the scheduled payments I will have paid $10,699 (again, not including rent and living expenses paid for that 9 months, late fees, interest, etc.). Small claims caps off at $5,000 and I cannot afford either the $327 it costs to file or to retain an attorney. I don't know what to do any longer. I am drowning quickly.