I lent someone 30000 thb. He returned 23,000 to me, but I'm still waiting for the 7,000. If he gives me a deadline for the THB 7,000 and he doesn't repay, can I get the police involved or will they laugh at me?

I'd personally let it go and chalk it up to experience, and just be pleasantly surprised if he returns it.

Lending money is the easiest way to lose the friend and the money - it rarely turns out well. If someone asks me for a loan if its a small amount I'll give it and not bother asking for it back, if its for an amount that I will care about if I do not get it back then it will always be a hard no.

Unless he signed a loan agreement with you then I doubt any legal avenue will be open to you.

17 minutes ago, Adrian78 said:

I lent someone 30000 thb. He returned 23,000 to me, but I'm still waiting for the 7,000. If he gives me a deadline for the THB 7,000 and he doesn't repay, can I get the police involved or will they laugh at me?

I did. But not for a loan, it was a dodgy vendor who botched a repair and promised to replace the item.

After a couple of broken promises, I got the police involved. He met the next deadline.

With a loan, I imagine the landscape will be somewhat different.

Maybe make it easier for him, a thousand a week. Forget the police

Did you lend money to a foreigner or a Thai? And what proof do you have that it actually happened, and what were the terms of the loan?

"Neither a borrower nor a lender be."

That old Shakespearian chestnut is especially true in Thailand.

5 hours ago, Adrian78 said:

can I get the police involved or will they laugh at me?

I don't think the police can intervene in this type of situation.

6 hours ago, Adrian78 said:

I lent someone 30000 thb. He returned 23,000 to me, but I'm still waiting for the 7,000.

Unless there's signed paperwork with dates for repayment there's little anyone can legally do.

For what it's worth, here's my algorithm for reacting to a request for funds, both here and in the home country. It's worked well so far.

(a) If it's not a worthy cause or if I sense they are trying to see if I'm an easy touch, I say no and walk away. End of.

(b) If it looks like they really are in need, I say "Look I don't lend money, I just give it, because I don't want to be thinking about when you're returning the amount and I don't want that hanging over your head either (all true). So here's (in the OP's case of an ask for 30,000, which presumably looks legit) 5,000 to get you started. It's yours to keep. I wish you well.

Results:

(1) I feel good about helping a friend to, well, some extent.

(2) No stress down the road as nothing expected.

(3) The giftee, hopefully, goes away happy and remembers the favor. (Added: Never once had situation where they came back asking for a bit more. That would be pretty unappreciative of free money, wouldn't it?)

Edited June 22Jun 22 by Autocan

7 hours ago, Adrian78 said:

THB 7,000 and he doesn't repay, can I get the police involved or will they laugh at me?

If there’s no enforceable contract then you’re just giving away money.

Consider it a bonus whatever is returned.

Edited June 22Jun 22 by novacova
Why not?

On 6/22/2026 at 1:18 PM, Adrian78 said:

I lent someone 30000 thb. He returned 23,000 to me, but I'm still waiting for the 7,000. If he gives me a deadline for the THB 7,000 and he doesn't repay, can I get the police involved or will they laugh at me?

I laugh at you for lending money! It usually ends this way!

If it was a Thai getting anything back is a result.

When asking my gf about repaying her loan to me,she replied”you can’t take the sugar-cane back off the elephant”

As mentioned before if it's a Thai tell them you will go to Temple and ask Buddha to bring them good luck.

Send photos from you at Temple.

Here is the priority most Thai's follow regarding priorities.

1. Food and Drink

2. Whiskey and Beer

3. Rent

4. Mobile Phone Service

5. Paying for kids school, etc

6. Motorbike Car Payment

7. Daily Expenses

8. Any other expense

9. Saving for 1. - 8. listed above.

10. Buying more Whiskey, Beer, Cigarettes

11. Paying back Foreigner

Next time the ask just tell them you will go to Temple or Mimi Baht and leave.

Consider yourself lucky you got 23k back.

If the money was lent to a Thai then you did very well in clawing back the percentage you did.

Quite frankly, you have more chance of having a $h1t on the moon than getting the rest back.

Pat yourself on the back that you did so well in getting what you did, put it down to (bad) experience and forget about it.

My girlfriend lent money to a friend a few times, the last time 3000 Baht. She never paid it back but still came to ask her many times to borrow more. I told her you'll never get it back, and just keep telling her you don't have it, as she calls every now and then. Some try and take advantage of other's kindness, over and over. Look at it as a gift that taught you a lesson about him. Reminds me a a good movie.....................https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eXDvsypjADE.

On 6/22/2026 at 8:18 AM, Adrian78 said:

If he gives me a deadline for the THB 7,000 and he doesn't repay, can I get the police involved or will they laugh at me?

You'll need a written agreement with payback terms. Lending out money is a civil case, so you cannot go to the police, you can go to a lawyer that might cost you more than 7,000 baht.

To legally protect yourself and secure your money when lending to a friend in Thailand, you must establish written evidence signed by the borrower for any loan exceeding 2,000 Thai Baht (THB). Without this written proof, the loan is completely unenforceable in a Thai court.

Circumstances vary, but I would look for some form of collateral .........TV, motorbike or a car even.

555 he really wound you clowns up!!!

There is no loan and the poster has disappeared.

That's what AI can do.

On 6/22/2026 at 8:37 AM, FigLeaf said:

After a couple of broken promises, I got the police involved.

Surely that was a private matter - the BiB would have nothing to do with it.

How did you get them involved? Curious.

On 6/22/2026 at 8:18 AM, Adrian78 said:

I lent someone 30000 thb. He returned 23,000 to me, but I'm still waiting for the 7,000. If he gives me a deadline for the THB 7,000 and he doesn't repay, can I get the police involved or will they laugh at me?

If something "in writing" exists, the Thai Police can surely help. Thay are the most efficient "dept collectors" in Thailand. Note: They will retain 50% of the recovered sum. Undisputed standart procedure. In your case the amount is too small, they won't lift a finger for you. Yes they will laugh at you. You having stayed in Thailand for not so long, I suppose.

2 hours ago, BusyB said:

Surely that was a private matter - the BiB would have nothing to do with it.

How did you get them involved? Curious.

Tourist Police.

On 6/22/2026 at 4:18 PM, Adrian78 said:

He returned 23,000 to me, but I'm still waiting for the 7,000

He...... I assume 'he' is a foreigner.

Don't lend money to foreigners, too many loser types here. Keep your money for the Thai chicks, they're worth every penny.

Forget about it . It isn't worth it .