I went on a 3 week vacation. I was friendly with my neighbors. I did tell them that I was going to be away for 3 weeks, as a courtesy and also possibly to have an eye on the property.
When I came back, the water and the electricity bills were more than three times the normal ! Would you suspect these neighbors or are there any other possiblities ? This is supposed to be a good neighborhood, $400,000 homes on either side.
What do you think ?
2007-09-24 15:52:58 · 11 answers · asked by kenneth h 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I know this pales in comparison to your situation, but yes, I've had a DVD stolen from me and I suspect it was a neighbor.
That's the absolute WORST! You are kind to those around you and they go and do something like that. It sounds to me like they are the culprits. Who else would/could do that?
2007-09-26 07:35:36 · answer #1 · answered by YSIC 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
And you gave these people the keys to your home so they could live in it for 3 weeks? Permission or not?
There are services which provide "house-sitting" services, which include plant watering, pet care, mail gathering, general house "watching" ... some are "live-in" and some are "visitations." The next time you vacation, hire one of these services instead of relying upon the "kindness" of neighbors. Yeah, it's going to cost, but not 3 times your electric/water bills! Even contacting your police department to let them know of your vacation. Most police departments will keep an eye on your property if you alert them ahead of time.
Another alternative is a video security system, whether or not hooked into a "central station" type service or not. It will be your eyes while you are not there.
I'm just curious how these neighbors could have stolen your utilities. I can see if they tapped into you electric lines, or ran extension cords from your home to theirs... or in the case of water, maybe they used your hoses to water their lawns. The alternatives to this... if the neighbors cannot gain entrance to your home, is to purchase locking devices for your outdoor water supply and plugs... OR go to your main circuit breaker box and shut off the electrical outlets to the outdoor outlets.
I am assuming that you did not arrive home to a basement flooded by busted water pipes, and the electric bill for a sump pump.
Stealing a neighbors utilities is highly unsual. If you did give them access inside via keys or codes, then you'll have to end that practice and find someone else more reliable.
Have a polite day!
2007-09-24 17:21:41 · answer #2 · answered by wyomugs 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am curious was there great heat like a 100 degree temperature? If so, were they watering your lawn or plants? Did you tell them to do it? If not, then I would have a talk about the bill with your neighbors.
I housesat for 2 neighbors at the same time, and I had to water the front and back lawns and the garden so the plants wouldn't die. I never heard problems from them at all.
Is your lawn huge? Or do you have vegetables or a huge garden. How could one possibly rack up a bill unless they washed their cars everyday, and took buckets of water from your house to theirs....... smells funny>>>
2007-09-24 16:02:21 · answer #3 · answered by DREENA 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My neighbors tried to steal some of my land. Then I had it surveyed and they basically called the surveyors liars. And just because its a good neighborhood doesn't mean that the people in it are good. My house is valued around the same and so are my neighbors.
2007-09-24 15:58:09 · answer #4 · answered by tootsie 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Actually you can access peoples water and electricy from outside. When my new neighbor moved in, he had to wait a few days before his services would be turned on so we offered to let him plug a drop cord in to an outside outlet and run a hose from my house to his so he could at least have coffee and a sponge bath. I dont know why your neighbors would do that though. Do they have a pool that needed filling?
Did you have yur AC turned on?
2007-09-24 18:10:20 · answer #5 · answered by ChynaRush 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, our trash cans were stolen because our neighbor said they were his. Such immature people! I think that your neighbors had something to do with the electricity bills. Find out and tell them to pay back!
2007-09-24 16:12:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You gave your neighbors the key to your house?
If so I think they had everything to do with it. I don't see how they could use your water and electricity from outside.
2007-09-24 16:01:08 · answer #7 · answered by georgia_peach 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
if "stuff" was gone then I would look to them but to steal water and electric, that would be something that a LOT of others would have had to have seen or been a part of......suggest you call the companies and ask whats up.
regards
2007-09-24 15:57:36 · answer #8 · answered by candy g 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well its been a little hot out lately so maybe your AC was running allot and maybe the sprinklers were going too. just because you live in a rich neighborhood doesnt mean its IDIOT PROOF!!!!
2007-09-24 16:21:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
duhhh.
they probably had everything to do with it.
confront them.
2007-09-24 15:56:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋