Maya lent her former roommate money for “just a couple of weeks.” That was eight months ago.
The texts started friendly. Then came “next Friday, promise.” Then nothing at all. Every time Maya opened her banking app, she felt it.
Her friends all had opinions:
- “Just let it go.”
- “Take them to court!”
- “You need a lawyer, and that’ll cost more than they owe you.”
Maya wasn’t sure about any of it. She had a few texts, an e-transfer receipt and a lot of frustration. What she didn’t have was a plan.
Sound familiar?
Maybe it’s a contractor who took a deposit and disappeared. Maybe it’s a landlord holding back money you think is yours, or a buyer whose payment bounced. Ontario’s Small Claims Court exists for exactly these everyday disputes, and many people go through it without a lawyer.
But “small” doesn’t mean simple. Before Maya files anything, there are questions worth asking:
- Is Small Claims even the right place for this?
- Is there a deadline to act, and has the clock already started?
- Are texts and receipts enough proof?
- What happens if you win and they still don’t pay?
That last one surprises a lot of people.
What Maya did next
She didn’t rush to file, and she didn’t give up either. She came to a free evening session to understand the process before spending a dollar on it.
We won’t spoil the rest of her story. That’s what the workshop is for.