Posted on 07/29/2012 5:51:06 PM PDT by Lazamataz
DO NOT EVER DO THIS.
I met a fellow about 7 years ago in the rooms of Narcotics Anonymous. He was getting cleaned up; so was I. We became fast friends. Soon, I was helping him out, and he was helping me.
Sometimes I loaned him money -- a lot -- and sometimes he loaned it to me. Once, I loaned him my car for some jobn interviews. Everything went well.
He contacted me recently and asked if I could rent him a car. "Why can't you rent it?" I asked. Well, he had a valid license but not a physical copy of it. Sure, I replied. I can do it.
I rented the car for him from Enterprise. He paid for the whole deal, including the extended insurance (which I demanded he do). Four days pass, the car needs to be returned or re-rented. No problem, he comes with more money and we re-rent it. Four more days pass, and I contact him. No answers. I call him all day. No answers. Now I am getting worried.
I go to where his last address was, and his girlfriend answers (also in the program of recovery) and she says he moved out some time back. She hints he's returned to using. Now I am getting REALLY worried.
I call and call and call. The next day, I go to Enterprise, and they inform me that because he is an unauthorised driver, no coverage will be afforded me under the insurance. I may be 100% civilly liable. They instruct me to report the car stolen. I call Chamblee police, and an officer comes. Police are always suspicious, and this one is too, telling me "my story does not add up" (but it did! It is what happened!) and informing me that I could and would be charged with a FELONY (Theft by Conversion) if the car is not returned by nightfall.
The guy is still not answering. I might be in SERIOUS trouble for being an idiot -- not for truly being a criminal.
The next day he answers, finally. Tells me not to panic, that the car is fine. I tell him HE and I will BOTH be charged with a felony and that we may be already. He shrugs it off ... "No big deal. I've had felonies before."
Yeah, a comment like that, he's definitely using again.
He promises to get the car to me. I wait at home, calling every fifteen minutes. Excuse after excuse on why he's not there yet. Finally, he stops answering again. Oh crap.
A day passes, I'm reaching out to my 12 step friends to locate him. One person saw him in an apartment complex. I stake it out for a while. No luck.
Another day passes. Enterprise calls me, they tell me they haven't issued a warrant yet, but this will be the final day.
So I start thinking like an addict. I was one, I know how they think. The only interest they (used to be me, too) have is their next hit. BINGO. I text him that I will offer him 100's in cash to bring the car back.
Suddenly he calls. He's willing. I tell him to meet me at my place of employment, where there are armed security guards. He pulls in, he's got 2 friends with him. Hmmm. I lure him out of the car by putting the cash on the ground. He gets out, I get in and order the friends out. The dude says, "Aren't you at least going to drive us somewhere?" Hell no. I'm in sight of armed guards right now, this is where they get out. I let them know they need to leave. I wave to the security guards, they wave back. They had no idea what was going on, but the wave convinced the hoodlums to leave.
This was the most terrifying week I have had in a long time. I was certain I was going to be jailed, with little prospect of an immediate bond, and a loss of job, and a felony accusation that my attorney told me was likely to stick.
All because I was too nice, too naive, and just plain stupid.
Don't let anything like this happen to you. I aged about 5 years.
"Pick Enterprise. We'll pick you up."
"And, when we do, we'll throw your a** in jail."
"Behold I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and simple as doves." Matthew 10:16
“...while shooting rubber bands at the slowly rotating ceiling fan, smoking a cigar and sipping scotch...”
I had to get up and go look at hubby to make sure he wasn’t posting this.
No. I need my car. Let's rent one for you!
I'll help you move, drive out to bring gas, but that is it.
Glad you came out ok. Kick that guys ass if the chance presents.
You sound like a great guy and have nothing to be sorry for...
It’s the bozo who used you who will screw himself in the end...you did your best.
I totally agree about legal risk...
Don’t even do it for a family member, no way!
You have a good heart. But you need to ask more questions of those who ask high risk favors. No physical copy of a DL? $25 and a couple of keystrokes? How difficult is one’s life without a DL?
But we have all done this sort of thing. Maybe not up to the point nearly getting charged with grand theft auto...but certainly trusting the wrong person with a good bit more than we can afford to lose.
WOW.
I was such a good crazy maker. I brought chaos to the most stable people in my life. Amen on the recovered(ing) part. I can usually spot one quickly and steer very clear but occasionally there are more screwed up folks out there than we were.
Was this whole incident some kind of challenge, test or temptation? You cant go wrong turning to the Word. Keep your powder dry.
Give heartfelt thanks for His grace and blessings and praise Him always!
Laz, in all these years, this is a whole side of you I’ve never heard nor seen.
Glad it worked out okay. But you take care of yourself, hear?? (”Hittin it” is one thing, but being played is a whole nuther thing).
I just won't cosign for them under any circumstances. If Jesus Christ himself returns and asks me to rent a car, I'm telling him to get his gaw-damned license and rent it himself.
If it had been me, I'd need to be doing laundry twice a day for 5 days. For pants, anyway.
Yes I was and yes I did. One was a FR lady who married me.
That is what 8th, 9th, and 10th steps are about, however.
How are you at allocating 401K funds? :^)
Thanks for sharing your story. For sure, lessons to be learned from this. I wish you continued success as you continue on life’s journey.
That is exactly my policy with the aforementioned family member. Now when I bail her out of a jam and she says she'll pay me back, I tell her it's a gift and not a loan. Much more clean that way.
And I say "no" a lot more often.
....and what is it with cars and you here lately? Didnt you have one stolen a few months back?
It only occured to me because I used to be an active addict. I know how the active addicted mind thinks.
The Promises of AA apply here: "We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it."
It was only because of my past that I knew what to do.
I got that car recovered about a month later, missing the stereo. It was about 50 miles south of Atlanta.
Laz, that is quite a riveting story. Thinking of the 100 dollar bills as a lure was pure genius. Glad you’re OK.
Cheers
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.