Make it easy for him. Send him a PayPal invoice. If he has an account, payment is as easy as a click or two of his mouse. If no $$$ in his account, he can still pay with a credit card or directly from his bank account. It may sound fruitless, but some people are simply too lazy or motivated enough to write a check, address an envelope, stick a stamp on it and take it to the mailbox. But, if they can handle it the quick/easy way, they are sometimes more motivated. Heck, you have nothing to lose.

Then again ... maybe he really has no $$$ ... that makes him an asshole for asking.

That said, like you, I'm a trusting soul and if I could collect all the $$$ owed to me, I'd be living on Maui right now.

Good luck.