Family Matters
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Issues with DH's Family

So when my DH and I were in college, he really needed a car, but we were poor, broke college students.  My parents very generously agreed to loan him money for the car and we would pay it back with no interest after he finished with college and had a steady income.  This past year my husband and I both have great jobs with steady income and decided to get him another used car that was a bit more reliable.  His family was a bit down on their luck at that the time and we agreed to give them the original car at what we would get for trade-in, a really great deal on the car.  They got the car, but they have never given us any payments on it, we didn't push the issue because we knew that they were having a hard time.  After a couple of payments to my parents for the original car loan, they found out we didn't get any money from DH's family, and my parents told us not to worry about the loan, but if we ever got any payments from DH's parents, we would give it to my parents.  Now I found on Facebook today that they are trying to see the car for almost twice what we had initially agreed to sell to them.  I feel very hurt and lied to, and feel like my parents are the ones getting screwed in this whole deal.  This is not the first time money issues have come up with DH's parents and I'm worried that this is going to continue.  I'm going back to school full-time next week and we will just be on my husband's salary for a few years and we've got student loans to pay off.  I'm really not sure how to approach them about this.

Re: Issues with DH's Family

  • So you and your husband decided to get a new car before paying back the loan your parents provided?  Now your ILs aren't paying you back, trying to sell the car, and your pissed?  I'm confused.  It sounds like your ILs are doing the same thing that you and your husband did to your parents.

    That aside, you guys gave them the car knowing they are irresponsible with money.  I wouldn't have given them the car without cash in hand or a signed promissory note that specified the payment amount and dates.  Based on your explanation it sounds as if you guys just gave them the car with the expectation of being paid back without actually conveying those expectations.  Correct me if I'm wrong.

    Who even has the title to the car at this point?  If your ILs do, it's their car and they can do what they want with it.  I would have your husband get in touch with them ASAP and find out what they intend to do with the car if and when it's sold and demand they pay you the agreed upon amount.  And that money goes straight to your Mom and Dad.

    I agree, you parents are getting screwed.  But you and your husband played a BIG part in that.  You got a new car before paying your parents back, then "sold" the car before paying your parents back, and now that the car is no longer in your possession you're still not paying your parents back.  But you're deflecting the blame to your ILs?  You need to take responsibility for this.

    Curious - did you talk to your parents before selling the car for a "great deal"?  If not, that's just all around shitty.  Regardless I think you both have totally taken advantage of your parents.  And trying to blame this clusterfuck on your ILs is just adding insult to injury.

  • So when my DH and I were in college, he really needed a car, but we were poor, broke college students.  My parents very generously agreed to loan him money for the car and we would pay it back with no interest after he finished with college and had a steady income.  This past year my husband and I both have great jobs with steady income and decided to get him another used car that was a bit more reliable.  His family was a bit down on their luck at that the time and we agreed to give them the original car at what we would get for trade-in, a really great deal on the car.  They got the car, but they have never given us any payments on it, we didn't push the issue because we knew that they were having a hard time.  After a couple of payments to my parents for the original car loan, they found out we didn't get any money from DH's family, and my parents told us not to worry about the loan, but if we ever got any payments from DH's parents, we would give it to my parents.  Now I found on Facebook today that they are trying to see the car for almost twice what we had initially agreed to sell to them.  I feel very hurt and lied to, and feel like my parents are the ones getting screwed in this whole deal.  This is not the first time money issues have come up with DH's parents and I'm worried that this is going to continue.  I'm going back to school full-time next week and we will just be on my husband's salary for a few years and we've got student loans to pay off.  I'm really not sure how to approach them about this.

    Quoting JIC and wanted to add... If you guys had enough money to get a better car, you had enough money to pay your folks back. You screwed them over, not your ILs.

  • I agree with PPs. You need to make things right with your parents ASAP. Pay them back.
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  • Yeah, I'm w/ Jemma on this.  You and your DH need to pay your parents back.  YOU gave the car away.  That's on you, not them.  They shouldn't get screwed in this.  Not one bit.

    And moving forward - learn a few lessons.  Stop talking finances w/  your parents (they shouldn't know that you weren't getting the $$ from the ILs), and clearly don't ever give anything to your ILs again if you expect $$ in return.  You're not going to get it. 

     

    "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
    ~Benjamin Franklin

    Lilypie Third Birthday tickers
    DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10

  • Another vote for Jemma. You should have paid your parents back before you bought a new car. An oldie, but a goodie is: Never mix family and money. It never goes well.

    When you gave the ILs the car, you should have either given it to them or got the money upfront. 99.99% of the time in situations like this, you will never see the money. Back to "Never mix family and money".

    Going forward, the only way to make your peace with this situation is to write off the car that you gave to your in laws as a gift, or you will resent them. (Not saying that them not paying you is right, but they probably won't, so make your peace with that). Second, pay back your parents for the car. You should have done this before getting rid of it and your relationship with them won't be the same until you do. I don't care how much they say "don't worry about it". The right thing to do is to pay them back. 
    imageimage
  • Wow, all I can say is wow.  I can't believe you guys gave your parent's car to his family before you even paid them back.  What a sh*tty thing to do.  If they have a history of being jerkwads, why would you think this time would be any different ?

    You both screwed up really, really bad and need to pay back your poor parents, NOW.  Do whatever you have to do to pay them back.  It's not their fault you both are fools and pretty much gave his parents THEIR car. 

    You should be very grateful that your parents are being very nice.  I know I would be furious if my daughter did that to me.

  • You and your H are something else. Your parents helped you two out and you screwed them. Get that car back from your inlaws and pay your parents back ASAP after YOU sell it. You never leave someone out of pocket after they help you.

    Don't borrow money or accept help from your parents again, you don't know how to handle it. Don't ever help your inlaws out again, they suck as much as you do.
  • people actually do this kind of stuff?

    what is wrong with you and your husband?

    your parents should be pissed at you both

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  • I feel like I should clairify that we were paying my parents back, but they stopped cashing the checks because they knew we weren't getting money from DH's family and we were trying to save so that I could go back to school, which looking back, does seem a little crazy and I should have forced the issue more. They are being paid back now. I did talk with my parents before agreeing to "sell" the car to my ILs at trade-in value since they were in a bind and we could afford it. Apparently my ILs were planning to pay us back the initial agreed upon price, although I'm not sure they were going to until they were called out on it. Financially, we are able, barely but able, to afford paying the old car and new car off, it just sucks that my ILs did not hold up their end of the deal. I also thought it was kind of shitty of them to sell to make almost double profit after we did that to help them out. I understand that business is business, but they took advantage of their family. I'm very hurt by it.
  • but they stopped cashing the checks because they knew we weren't getting money from DH's family

    I also thought it was kind of shitty of them to sell to make almost double profit after we did that to help them out. I understand that business is business, but they took advantage of their family. I'm very hurt by it.
    I can understand how you're hurt by this.  But the lesson on both sides of this is to not mix $$ and family.  Don't TALK to your parents about your finances, and don't "sell" anything again to DHs family.  Or lend them money!   Just keep it ALL separate! 
    "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
    ~Benjamin Franklin

    Lilypie Third Birthday tickers
    DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10

  • DH should approach all of it. He should tell them that he saw it for sale and that's not right and y'all need it back.
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