How to Ask a Friend to Return Your Borrowed Item

Remy Kelvin

It is very common that friends keep borrowing items of use from each other. These items may include books, watches, computers, sports items or even money. There is nothing wrong about borrowing but the most irritating thing is that when your friend borrows something from you and then fails to return it to you. It may happen due to many reasons. Your friend may have forgotten it altogether. Your friend may think that you do not need this item anymore and hence it makes hardly any difference if it is returned or not. Your friend may not be returning it intentionally, thinking that as the time passes you will eventually forget about it and your friend will then become its de-facto owner. [ How to Get from Friend to Boyfriend]

Get Borrowed Items Back From Friend

Whatever the cause may be it is a loss to you if the item is not returned. At times you think about it but cannot decide what to do. You want to ask your friend to return the item but you are hesitant. You feel embarrassed to ask. Then what to do? Here are some tips that may guide you in this matter.

1. When you happen to meet your friend, particularly when you go to call on at his place, try to discuss about the item indirectly. Do not give him impression that you are reminding him about the article. For example if it a camera then you can start your conversation from looking at a good photograph, scenery or a painting hanging on the wall of home / office.
2. There is a possibility that your friend remembers the item which he had genuinely forgotten. He will say spontaneously that, 'oh I have your camera with me for the past many weeks but had forgotten to return. Now since I remember, I hereby return it to you.' With this your mission will be completed, but you will be courteous enough to mention that it was not your intention to remind you about it.
3. If you happen to go to his residence, then try to locate the item physically. Once you keep the item in sight then start the same conversation. On an opportune moment you pick up the camera and say, 'I think I had left my camera at your place sometimes back. Isn't it mine? Can I borrow it back from you?' obviously your friend will have no other option to return it to you with a dim smile. You may show courtesy by asking him to keep it for more days it he needs so. The possibility is that your friend will not retain it further but if at all he does so, then do not be shy to tell him that, 'fine, I shall collect it from you on next Sunday.'
4. If the above technique fails to work and your friend does not come to the point, then you do another thing. Tell him that some days back you had loaned your camera to someone but now you are not remembering who that guy was. If still he doesn't come to point then you may speak two or three names in front of him and talk to yourself in whisper that may be the guy should be one of those. As a last resort you may directly tell him that, ' I think I had lent it to you.' With a little pause, strike your head with your finger and say, ' Oh sure, it were you.' And then you can ask for its return on the plea that it was now a long time that it was with him and that now you want it for getting snaps in a family function.

There is a possibility that your friend may have lost it or didn't want to return it. In that case you will demand but he will say that he has already returned it to you or else he had never taken it from you at all. This will be a turning point in your relationship. If you want to continue friendship at the cost of your loaned item, do it, otherwise say goodbye to your friend. [Read: Four Tips for You to Become a Good Friend]