There are 3 of us in the house and all 3 of us are on the lease. When we moved in we all agreed that the utility bills would be split evenly 3 ways. Now one of the girls has decided that the gas bill is too expensive because we use the ducted heating (keep in mind it is the middle of winter).
she has decided to pay a 3rd of her 3rd (if that makes sense). As the bills are all in my name I have to cover the rest of her third as well as my own third. I am really angry and upset that she will not pull her weight. We have tried to talk to her but the situation has deteriorated so much that I cannot even stand to look at this girl anymore.
I have asked her to move out, to which she responded "make me" as she is on the lease I have no power to get rid of her.
Has anyone else been in this situation? please tell me how to deal with this nasty vindictive little girl....I just want my money and I would love to see her leave. HELP HELP HELP!!! :-)
2006-08-06 16:35:27 · 19 answers · asked by whwt_1977 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Pull out the vent cover in her room and put duct tape over it and then replace it so that no heat will be piped into her bedroom. If she doesn't want to pay for it, she shouldn't be getting the benefit of it unless she is in a common area. There's not much else you can do except make everyone open a new utility account. But bide your time, there will come a time that she will count on your share for something and you can then deduct what she owes you.
2006-08-06 16:43:46 · answer #1 · answered by deanna 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's no nice way to deal with this nasty situation. You could take her to court, but that requires an awful lot of effort. If you could find a way to deny the bad roommate the privileges of using your resources that would be awesome. If there is a circuit breaker in the house perhaps you could turn off the electricity to her room and put a lock on the circuit breaker box.
Or you could just give an ultimatum stating that you're planning to turn off all the utilities if you don't get the rest of the money. Of course you and your other roommate will be hurt by this too. It should cause the good roommate you have to get on the bad roommate's case also. Peer pressure sometimes helps...think boot camp where sometimes if someone messes up, the whole group gets punished.
2006-08-06 23:47:36 · answer #2 · answered by Ken 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she won't pay her part of the utilities then close the vents to her room. Does she do the same with the power and water bills?
The agreed-to payment for 1/3 utilities was made by her originally. She should be able to divide by 3... does she think you and your other roommate are in cahoots with the gas company?
Tell her to either cough-up the amount or you and the other roommate need to take a stance. If you give-in now, she'll take exception with the other bills in the future.
Don't set a precedent.
2006-08-06 23:39:31 · answer #3 · answered by J.D. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ah, I've been in the same boat. More friendships get ruined this way, I'm afraid. However, I had two roomates out of 4 of us that neglected to pay bills. We were each on the lease, but all the bills were in my name. They weren't paying the bills, so I decided that I would only have cable tv in my locked bedroom an nowhere else in the apartment until they paid up. By not disconnecting it completely, it prevented one of them from starting another account with the same address (they tried, haha!) In the meantime, I had some friends over and drank all their alcohol, since my roomies bought it with money that was owed to me anyways! I'm evil.
2006-08-06 23:48:00 · answer #4 · answered by larsor4 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she is getting away with this, then where is the third room mate? Obviously if the other house mate isn't involved in this, then your chances are slim of getting her to pay. Since this is a business not personal matter, talk with the other house mate and see if all three of you can come up with a simple solution. Or you can just make the rest of her lease like hell. Find out what she dislikes and just aggravate and torture her. Naw just kidding try to keep it sensible.
2006-08-06 23:46:48 · answer #5 · answered by anotherscenario 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no for some reason you think you cant do anything , but you can take the lease to a district justice and file charges and they can tell you what exaxtly it is you can do ..and you can make her pay what she owes for the months she has been there and what she owes for the months that are still left on the lease .... dont let her get away with it just because you think she is on the lease so she can do whatever she wants ...that is not true at all...
I have been through it with a "friend" and I won
2006-08-06 23:40:54 · answer #6 · answered by ptmamas 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you set up any written agreement to split the bills and all sign it? You could try taking her to civil court to get the money.
The only way you will get her to leave is to make your arrangement a little less cushy.
2006-08-06 23:58:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, you should make up a contract, stating what each of you is responsible for. Make this really specific. Have everyone sign and date it. If she still doesn't follow with that, then take her to small claims.
I like the idea of closing the vents to her room. Then she might not complain.
2006-08-06 23:44:14 · answer #8 · answered by Erin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a shitty situation. I am the good flatmate who pays her share as soon as the bills arrive. This bad flatmate needs to go. I have never lived with a person who doesn't pay their share. Can anyone help?
2006-08-07 01:42:12 · answer #9 · answered by Dragon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Consult a lawyer, there a free consultations out there and she is going to effect your credit if you cannot pay that bill. Let your landlord know as well.
2006-08-06 23:40:25 · answer #10 · answered by ♪♫jessy♫♪ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋