When
32-year-old Sourabh Thanekar's friend desperately sought money from him for a
medical emergency in the family , the Ahmednagar-based finance executive did
not think twice about parting with Rs 40,000 immediately. Two days later, a
shocked Thanekar realised his friend had lied and had taken the money only to
buy the latest model of a high-end smartphone.
While Thanekar was unfortunate enough to have been conned by someone he
considered a friend, lending money to friends and relatives is common practice
in our country. From small hand loans given to meet real and imagined
emergencies to large sums meant for setting up business ventures, money changes
hands with little or no paperwork and an often misplaced sense of trust.
The open-ended nature of the
agreement usually ends in defaults, with money lost and a relationship broken
in the process. While it is difficult to say no to requests for money from
loved ones, here's how you can handle the situation without burning any
bridges.
Before you lend money, ask
yourself if you can afford it. Remember that you are unlikely to getthe money
back for a long time to come, if at all. Figure out if you can deal with an
emergency with whatever you have left. If you are working towards a financial
goal such as buying a house or saving for your child's education , consider to
wha extent your generosity can set your plans back.
Manoj
Kalwar, 31
Lent Rs 40,000 to a friend who claimed a medical emergency and instead blew
the money on partying.
"Today, I cross-check with common friends and relatives before giving
anything to anyone."
Says Tarun Birani, Founder and CEO, TBNG Capital Advisors: "Keep 5% of
your savings in liquid funds to help dear ones in the event of a financial
emergency." Allocating a fixed portion of your money to cater to such
situations won't affect your other goals. Even if you know the borrower well,
do a due diligence. Don't accept their reasons for needing the money at face
value, like Thanekar did. Mumbai-based IT engineer Manoj Kalwar found himself
in a similar situation.
Hounded by a friend who wanted money for a family member's medical treatment,
Kalwar lent him Rs 40,000 over three months in 2014. Later he learnt that his
friend had taken Rs 1 lakh on the same pretext for some others as well. Only,
no one ill in his family was ill. He had blown the money on luxuries.
Not the one to give up, Kalwar
pursued his friend for six months and recovered the amount. "I keep my
emotions aside while lending money now. I also cross-check with common friends
and relatives before I lend," Kalwar says.
Hounded
by a friend who wanted money for a family member's medical treatment, Kalwar
lent him Rs 40,000 over three months in 2014. Later he learnt that his friend
had taken Rs 1 lakh on the same pretext for some others as well. Only, no one
ill in his family was ill. He had blown the money on luxuries. Not the one to
give up, Kalwar pursued his friend for six months and recovered the amount.
"I keep my emotions aside while lending money now. I also cross-check with
common friends and relatives before I lend," Kalwar says.
Shounak
Potdar, 31
Gave Rs 50,000 to a friend as downpayment for a car.
"I now discuss the repayment schedule so that the borrower understands
that I need the money in future."
According
to Viral Bhatt, Founder and Advisor, Money Mantra, compulsive borrowers are to
be avoided. "Learn to turn down requests after lending money a couple of
times. Also, politely ask them to first repay the outstanding amount when they
approach you for new loans," he says.
Another factor to consider is how close you are to the person seeking the loan
. Sapna Tiwari, Chief Financial Planner, Rupeewiz, says, "Ask yourself how
long you have known the person and how often you interact. It will help you
decide whether the person is really a close friend or an acquaintance."
The reasons for borrowing can appear pressing sometimes. IT professional Koyel
Ghosh found herself helping her friend, who had lost a job, pay off an
education loan EMI of Rs 25,000. She never got the money back. "Check the
financial status of the borrower before you lend," she says today.
Koyel
Ghosh, 30
Ended up paying an EMI of Rs 25,000 for a friend who did not have a job. She
never got the money back.
"It's important to check the financial status of the borrower before
you lend."
A common
problem faced by most lenders is the inability to ask for their money back.
Pune-based engineer Shaunak Potdar lent a friend Rs 50,000 as down-payment for
a car. He never saw the money again. When the transaction is among friends and
family, the borrower rarely feels a sense of urgency to repay the loan. As
there is no deadline, repayment becomes last priority. There is no late payment
fee, no stiff interest rates or penalties. The borrower has no motivation to
take the repayment seriously. "When I lend today, I politely discuss the
repayment schedule so that the borrower understands that I need the money in
future," says Potdar.
When you are approached for money, don't part with it immediately. Buy time to
verify the need. During that time, the borrower could approach others for help
and get it, bringing down the quantum of loan he needs from you. Even then, do
not give the entire amount sought. Rohit Shah, CEO of financial advisory firm
Getting You Rich, says "Give 30% to 40% of the requested amount. That way,
in case the borrower fails to repay, you will not be left with a massive bad
debt."
Sometimes a lender unwittingly plays into the hands of compulsive borrowers.
For instance, pleas for loans from distant relatives and acquaintances. Ankur
Kapur, Founder, Ankur Kapur Advisory, explains, "The reason why the
borrower is knocking on your door could be your lavish lifestyle and habit of
discussing your financial status in social gatherings." Word spreads
quickly and unscrupulous elements try to cash in.
Rohan
Dhulla, 35
Loaned Rs 2.5 lakh to a friend to start a new business.
"Now I study the feasibility of a business plan before lending money
for new ventures."
When distant relatives or
colleagues seek financial help, try to resolve the issue for them rather than
helping them to take an easy way out with a loan from you. "Advise them to
take loans against fixed deposits or gold at low interest rates from NBFCs.
Also explain the importance of contingency funds," says Kapur. You can
play mentor to a colleague who needs money. "Ask your colleague to
approach HR for advance salary if the amount required is large," says
Shah.
Adds
Tiwari, "If there is no financial awareness among colleagues, arrange a
workshop on financial planning for them." In this age of startups, seeking
money from relatives to start a venture is common. This not only helps the
borrower avoid high interest bank loans, but also serves as a safety net
against harsh penalties, should the business fail, making repayment difficult.
In 2014, a friend of Mumbai-based entrepreneur Rohan Dhulla approached him for
Rs 2.5 lakh to set up a business. Dhulla agreed to lend. An agreement was drawn
up, whereby Dhulla got 15% stake in the company, and the loan had to be
returned within two years with 10% interest. In the first five months, Dhulla
got back Rs 55,000 before the venture sank. Now he is contemplating buying out
his friend's share and getting the business back on track.
If a friend or relative asks you
to be guarantor when they seek bank loans, don't agree unless you are sure
about the borrower's ability to repay. If the borrower defaults, the bank will
recover the amount from you.
If you must lend
1. Draw up a written agreement. Give the document legal sanction by getting it
notarised.
2. Work out a repayment schedule.
Mention a time frame within which you want the money back and how much needs to
be returned monthly.
3. Remind the borrower politely if repayment schedule is not followed. If the
problem is chronic, help borrower resolve money issues by guiding him.
4. Don't hesitate to charge interest. It would obviously be less than what is
charged by banks and credit card companies.
5. If the relationship is really
important, treat the loan as a gift. Lend only an amount you can write off.