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Thread: Our Water and Power bill is $2400!!!

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    Veteran Member KennedyWinters's Avatar
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    Duh Our Water and Power bill is $2400!!!

    Apparently the whole time I've lived here with these roommates- they really thought that "Not getting the bill in their name" meant that the electricity and water was free. I was very wary about this and tried to pay this girl money, knowing that somewhere down the road there would be a charge for it. She suddenly get's a bill IN HER NAME today for $2400 and doesn't think it's a big deal, the water alone has been 5-600 for the last two months because there is some sort of leak...but the other thousand is just regular monthly charges for sewage, water and electricity. She's the leaseholder so it's her dealy-o basically and I just want to move out as fast as possible. Before they shut everything off!!

    I have already had it up to here with having our gas almost shut off earlier, both the internet and cable television completely shut off at times and to top it all off- They completely disregard my efforts to keep the kitchen clean and dump dishes in the sink after I've just cleaned everything! The dishwasher is RIGHT THERE!

    OK that was my rant and here's my question:
    Should I do the math and figure out realistically what I would owe for 1/4 of "normal" use for the time I've lived here? Or say fuck it because I would have paid it already when I had the money each month and I have been telling her to put pressure on the landlord about the water leak. Our household is currently using TWENTY TIMES what it should be each day...about 176 gallons I think? It makes me so sad because I try to practice conservation.

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    God/dess Paris's Avatar
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    Default Re: Our Water and Power bill is $2400!!!

    You should pay your share of the bill. You lived there and have equal responsibility for the expenses incurred while in residence. If the bill was in your name, what would you want your roommates to do? That should be your guide in how to react to this outrageous bill.

    Remember your roommate is human, and will make mistakes. Just because she hasn't addressed the problem doesn't mean that she is evil, she might not have known how to deal with this situation. It appears that she needs some help in tracking household finances. It isn't easy and we aren't taught how to run a household in school. Many parents keep their kids in the dark about how to run a household, too. Don't start assigning blame, it accomplishes nothing and makes the situation worse. The problem needs to be fixed, and wasting energy placing blame doesn't help at all.

    Next, you need to call the water company and tell them that there is a massive leak that isn't being addressed by the landlord. They will put the pressure on the landlord to fix the leak. There was a house in Portland that collapsed and an entire hillside and took out half a dozen houses in a land slide caused by a water leak. Even if you are on flat ground a massive water leak can cause sink holes that are extremely dangerous. This definately needs to be fixed right away.


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    Veteran Member OmgShesWild's Avatar
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    Default Re: Our Water and Power bill is $2400!!!

    ^^ I kinda agree with Paris even though it really seems like you are getting the short end of the stick and it really, really sucks. I'd be pissed too, but if you lived there and were using the utilities and stuff then yeah you should pay your portion of the bill. Why should this girl get stuck with all the overages because it is in her name? Its not her fault there is a leak in the waterline & y'all are being charged bukooo-bucks because of it anymore than it is yours. Maybe a little more falls on her shoulders because she let it go for so long without saying anything....

    But skipping out on your responsibilities and saying "well its in your name, an even though I lived here, its your problem" isn't right.

    Were utilities specifically included in the rental agreement when you moved in, or was it kinda assumed that since it was "no one was getting it in there name" it was kinda a free for all--- and someone else would handle it so you were free to do whatever?

    On a sidenote how would you determine what is "fair usage" on the bill aside from putting a meter on everyones door & saying you used xxxx amount of water, electric, etc this month.... whats done is done- when you live with roomates its a 50/50 spilt or how many ever ppl are living there.

    Not trying to be mean, because this isn't what I would want to hear either if I was you....but how would you feel if you were in her shoes?


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    God/dess doc-catfish's Avatar
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    Default Re: Our Water and Power bill is $2400!!!

    When I was living was roommates, the only bill that got proportioned by usage was the telephone, and thats because we had a statement listing the calls. Every other bill got divided up by headcount. I'm sure if there was a way to track the other bills in a similar manner, we would have done so.

    As for your situation, I think its only fair to pay the headcount share to this gal whatever your share (1/2, 1/3) of the bill. If she refuses to use that money to pay off the bill, well thats not your problem.

    Needless to say, stuff like that is why I won't ever live with another person unless I ever get married, or become so destitute that I have no choice.
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    Default Re: Our Water and Power bill is $2400!!!

    I believe your only option other than pay 25% of it, is to refuse to pay the excess water bill (5-600 - your portion of normal usage)after you informed her of the need to get the leak fixed. Unless she did and the landlord refused to fix it and then it's the landlord's portion of the bill. If you don't pay 25% of the whole thing, including your water leak share 250-300, you'll probably need to move out. Pretty high expenses there in Tinseltown. But that extra amount may what it costs to move anyway and then what if you find other problems with new roomies. Maybe you can help these kids to grow up and maybe this will be a lesson in their doing that, but I doubt it. Hope it works out.
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