I live in New York and she’s in Las Vegas… how would a small claims court work in this situation?
Do you have proof? How much is it? Honestly, might be better to just move on.
It was a computer I bought for her, total cost $1,600. I kept all the receipts and a message from her promising to pay me back by her next paycheck in June.
Getting that $1600 through small claims will probably cost you more time and money than it’s worth. You might want to just learn from this. Even credit cards charge interest because they know it’s tough to get money back from people.
Ughh, thanks for the advice 
Why not just ask for a one-time payment of $400 to settle it?
Ex-wife or ex-girlfriend?
Lol just kiss that money goodbye 
Was this a gift or did she agree to pay you back? If it was a gift, you can’t force her to pay it back. But if she agreed, you have a chance.
Definitely not a gift. She agreed and even set the budget herself.
Then I’d tell her, ‘Hey, either start paying me or I’ll take you to court.’ That usually works unless she’s completely irresponsible.
I probably should’ve mentioned this earlier, but I can’t contact her. She’s blocked me on everything, which is exactly what I was afraid would happen.
Can you reach out to any of her family? Sometimes they can pressure her into paying you back.
I’ve tried contacting her older sisters, but they haven’t replied.
Look through their profiles, maybe you can find her parents and contact them directly. Parents tend to act when you mention taking legal action against their kids.
Just keep in mind, even if the parents get involved, it’s not guaranteed they’ll push her to pay. Plus, going through small claims could be a waste since you’d have to travel and it can take forever to collect anything.
Next time, suggest she buy stuff on credit. People aren’t great at paying back personal loans.
Even if you win, you’ll need to serve her papers and that costs money. A private server in NY can cost up to $300. I know this because I’m owed $25,000 from a scammer and it’s not been worth it.
Honestly, it’s probably best to let this go. Too much hassle for too little gain.
I wouldn’t bother going to court. Instead, message her saying you plan to visit Las Vegas to file a small claims case at a local court. Tell her you have all the proof and suggest she just pay you to avoid wasting time and extra costs.