The Sinclairs, a young couple, had purchased their dream home on a lovely street in their hometown. It was in a newly developed neighborhood with a great price of $250,000. The young couple decided that they would get funding from a bank through a mortgage but required down payment. It was decided that they would get their down payment from their friends, the Millers, close friends who had come into some money when they sold their business a few years ago. The down payment of $30,000 was given to the Sinclairs with a verbal agreement to pay it back over five years.

As the years went on, the Sinclairs made their mortgage payments but they had not paid one cent back on the down payment that they had borrowed from their friends, the Millers. The Millers had made numerous requests to the Sinclairs, after two years of non-payment, for their $30,000 or even a payment schedule. The Sinclairs ignored all requests.

The Millers really wasn’t sure what to do. This process put a serious strain on their friendship. At this point, they knew they couldn’t go to small claims court because of the amount they were claiming. Also, they were at a point in their lives where they had children in sports and also had purchased some assets, and didn’t have the money to get involved in a lawsuit.

What would you suggest the Millers should do and why?