Today, my water got cut off. The previous homeowners owed the water company over $300, and the company doesn't believe that I'm not them. The supervisor told me this will keep happening until I pay up. I need a shower. FML
Collection
Halloween
A failed costume, stolen candy and a very real scare: Halloween, the one night when fear is allowed.
Today, I finally got my paycheck that I could enjoy $300 for myself after taking care of my bills with so many other ones. Then, I find out that the water was shut off, which is supposed to be my roommate's responsibility. Apparently, he has not paid it in months, and they want $288. FML
Today, my roommate decided to go on a group trip instead of paying our water bill. Now I can't shower until next week. FML
Today, my roommate forgot to pay the water bill on time, so they shut it off. Now we're without running water for 3 days and I'm taking my morning dump in Target next to a stranger. FML
Today, I woke up to a repairman at my door who was simply supposed to turn my water back on in my apartment. Two hours and 5 repairmen later, all I have now is a large hole in my ceiling. Still no water. FML
Today, my landlord refused to send a plumber over to unclog the sink. Now he wants me to pay for water damages because he didn't call a plumber sooner. FML
Today, our water got cut off. Since our council tax is also due today, I called them and hurled abuse for cutting off the water so soon. Turns out they don’t actually supply water, nor was it even disconnected. Some random person just turned off the meter tap. FML
Today, the water cut out while I was showering, covered in soap and shampoo. I had to rinse with freezing cold drinking water from the fridge. As soon as I'd dried off, the water supply got restored. FML
Today, my mother told me to take a quick shower. When I got out, she told me I took too long, and now I have to pay the utilities bill. My shower was two minutes long. FML
Today, and for the last two weeks, my asshole landlord refuses to fix the hot water supply. My shower is now so cold that peeing on myself while washing is actually helping. I need a new place. FML
Today, I woke up to a fog. Literally. A pipe burst in my apartment and scalding water was everywhere. To make matters worse, when I called maintenance he told me he'd come by later, hung up on me, and turned his phone off. He did eventually show up, but it was 5 hours later, well after I'd paid a plumber $200. FML
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Top comments
lisslyi 19
Show them your lease agreement?
fooltemptress 36
It's easy enough to prove you aren't them. Show the water company the deed to the house in your name, if you purchased it, or your signed rental/lease agreement. It will involved actually going down to the water district offices but it's better than paying a bill you don't owe.
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Comments (74)
jizzwold 21
Who needs showers anyway? Embrace the stink.
\ 28
Let's be Spartan for a change!
meepmerp 20
No, just no
dingleberrysteve 6
op should have been informed of clouded title prior, that being said, the prior owner or lessor could be liable for nondisclosure.
TheAtheistChild 10
In Ireland, they are only now starting to charge us for water.
lisslyi 19
Show them your lease agreement?
NoFlippinWai 24
It actually doesnt matter. They can shut off the service on a residence do to nonpayment on that property. It doesnt matter if of occupant or owner changed.
JMichael 26
When I was looking for a place to live there was an apartment for rent that the previous residents still owed 2 months rent on. The landlord told me that if I moved in I'd have to pay rent for those 2 months along with payment for the current month on top of the deposit. Basically I said **** that and he was out $2000.
ptoka 20
#35, actually the company doesn't give a **** who owes the money, the fact of the matter is someone has to pay up. When my roommate moved to a new apt and wanted AT&T for his TV/Internet he spent 3 months trying to set it up because the previous tenant moved out while owing 3 months back pay. The woman he went through even told him if a tenant dies while under contract a death certificate has to be scanned and sent to the provider.
Joedbag 8
You were absolutely right to tell him to **** off, and he was absolutely wrong to ask for that.
firechicky 12
But with a mechanics or construction lien its discharged (usually due to someone paying it) when the home is sold. it doesn't transfer to the new owner.
amDes 11
#50 a contractors lien you are not allowed by law to sell, remorgage or do anything else with the home til it is paid or a legal agreement is reached... that is why it will never be passed to a new home owners.
niallo 23
#50. A lean has to go on a property before it is sold. You can't add it afterwords as the new owner doesn't owe the debt. As to money remaining on the car, not the same thing. The loan company has a stake in the car until the loan is paid off. Their name is even on the title. Now as to the water company. This is a totally different thing. This is a vital service and the new owner has rights. You won't die from a lack of TV. If they still won't hook you up, report them to the state. They hate that and try to avoid it at all cost
bradleysol 11
Go down there and show them who's boss then! You got this OP!
MoistWipe 8
If you aren't getting that paid anytime soon better buy some of that dry shampoo and a whole lot of cologne
ThatFancyPenn 18
OP is female so (more likely) it would be perfume.
dingleberrysteve 6
axe is universal
cheekyterier 13
Or she could always buy a gym membership
fooltemptress 36
It's easy enough to prove you aren't them. Show the water company the deed to the house in your name, if you purchased it, or your signed rental/lease agreement. It will involved actually going down to the water district offices but it's better than paying a bill you don't owe.
extrasnipes 22
send the bill to the pervious owner?
Fiori4 20
Here's what you do. Don't shower. Then go to the water company office everyday all stinky and say you will keep coming back until they turn back the water. OR! you could show them how you just moved there. I'm afraid those are your only options.
Vashen 5
Incorrect. Option 3 is pay someone else's bill
RawrImaDragon 18
Option 4: Bus station showers
Vashen 5
What about cooking and cleaning and toiletry requirements. Gonna go to the bus station everytime you need to take a piss?
SininenAave 9
I don't know how these things work in America but I can't imagine that you should be responsible for this. Legal documentation should sort it out one would think. Until then, wet wipes are better than nothing.
SWC_Penguin 17
I'm pretty sure you'll have to pay the bill and then go after the previous owner (either nicely or with a lawyer) to get the money back from them. In other words, you "bought" the debt with the house. It's yours now. If anything else people are suggesting actually worked then people would be doing it ALL the time to get out of utility bills. (I sold my house to my wife for $1! My bills are gone!)
cryssyx3mwah 5
just what I was going to say. water bills stay with the building and not with the name. that's why most landlords put it in their names.
Vashen 5
In Australia if you can prove you just moved in / bought the house, they put a mark against the previous occupants credit rating. You get a new account and start from scratch. Obviously bad credit means no utilities / credit in future.
Cazz91 21
Similar thing in my province. If you can prove you just took over the location, they have to turn your services back on right away and free of charge for the inconvenience caused upon you. They then proceed to track down the previous person through collections and get them to pay up (unless they move out of province... but they will have a nasty credit until that bill gets paid off wherever they go within the country).
commissargrognak 5
Actually...you're wrong. I've dealt with it God knows how many times as a property manager. The water bill stays with the person under whose name it was opened. Not the property. If the property goes under new ownership, the previous owner is responsible for the debt. Works the same with rental property. The bills stay with the previous tenant. All OP has to do is go down there with the legal documentation showing that they are the new owner/tenant, the date the sale happened, and a copy of the bill to prove it's in the previous owner's name. I've done it multiple times. Water utilities are almost always county or city run, so you're dealing with local government.
ItsATwinThing 9
Head down to your local swimming pool they have showers there!