My roommate gets all the bills for the apartment sent to her and she usually divides them up and gives us our portion. However, I just asked to see the bills because I wanted to see them and she had thrown them away. Do you think something might be up? This month I wanted to see them because at first she told me one amount, and then she told me one that was different.
2007-04-16 04:54:45 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I think all utility companies have internet access by now. If she claims to have thrown them away, have her log on and look them up.
If the bills are all in one name but are being paid by several room mates, it is the responsibility of the person getting the bills to be able to prove that the charges are accurate. It is also their responsibility to prove that payments are being made in a timely manner by everyone. If everyone is paying on time, but she's not sending the payments in right away there could be additional charges that should not be divided. She needs to be accountable.
I would insist on seeing all of the bills that I've contributed to in the past as well as any future bills before making another payment. I hope you and your other room mates have kept records.
I tried to copy the spreadsheet my daughter and her room mates used but it lost the formatting when I pasted it. If you would like a copy, I could email it to you directly.
2007-04-16 08:47:53 · answer #1 · answered by Lady E 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
She should be able to request to have the bill re-sent to her from the utility. I must assume however that she already paid the bill because that is the only reason I can think of that she wouldn't have it on hand. If that is the case, for most utilities split proportionally you could go by what she recorded in her check register as the debit she paid and then divide that amount by the number of room mates to identify your portion. Alternatively, for things like phone bills in which one portion is divided evenly and the other portion (long didtance) is paid per person, you need the bill to identify each individual's amount.
In the end though, you have to ask yourself if you are willing to make an issue in your relationship if you make a stink about the bill. If you are talking about $20 or so, for me, I would eat the $20 to keep a life-long friend. But if she is merely a room mate and you don't expect to be close in the future, make her prove how much you owe.
2007-04-16 12:06:58 · answer #2 · answered by Tippy the Turtle 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If they were already paid its not that odd that she threw them out, I do that too. Next month just ask her to see them before you give her the money. Don't make a big deal of it like you are accusing her of something just say "hey, can I see the phone bill " or whatever bill it is. She might have just made a simple math mistake for the first amount she told you. I wouldn't assume shes' up to anything until you know more than that. Since it's your bill too she shouldn't take issue with you wanting to see it.
2007-04-16 15:19:19 · answer #3 · answered by aly 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would have been asking to see the bill this entire time.
Something is up, I would not pay until I saw the bill. Call up the company and ask them to send you a copy.
Are the bills being sent somewhere else? They should be sent to the house/apartment so you can see them as well.
As of now start seeing the bill before you even give her any money.
2007-04-16 12:02:00 · answer #4 · answered by Terri 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Since you are "splitting" the expense, there is nothing wrong with asking the utility to send you two bills. If there is an extra charge for this, too bad - you get to split this, too.
Otherwise, your roommate can show you the bill before she asks for any money. This is standard behavior for roommates. If she refuses, then get your own copy as above, and don't pay a dime until you do.
Remind her that there are such things as copiers, too, to show you your copy of the bill.
2007-04-16 12:20:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you need to have a sit down with your roommate she is hideing something from now on ask to see the bill befor you hand over the money
2007-04-16 12:05:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Something might be up, yes. It's odd that she's throwing them away before they are paid, because what if there is a dispute with the payee? She'll have no records. Anyway, if you are worried, make sure you ask her next month to see the bills before they arrive, so she'll know it's important to you. Remind her a couple times that you want to look them over. If she throws them away again after you've asked and reminded, I would definitely be suspicious.
2007-04-16 11:59:54 · answer #7 · answered by Jas 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
She is certainly up to something. When I had a roommate, we both looked at the bills and divided them up.
2007-04-16 13:32:44 · answer #8 · answered by Patti C 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This seems pretty bizarre to me.
You have every right to see them and I think its very weird that she doesnt show them to you. Also, she should be saving the bills in a folder of some sort. From now on I think that she should photocopy the bill.
2007-04-16 12:24:22 · answer #9 · answered by ChicaInquisitiva 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well firs of all, you dont throw bills away. that sounds funny to me. ild hold a house meeting and suggest that all of the bills be put in a manilla envelope and tacked to a buletin board so they are accsessable to everyone living there. If your paying for these bills, you have the right to see them.
2007-04-16 12:25:26 · answer #10 · answered by eightieschick70 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋