Do we need to pay our housemate our share of bills without seeing the statement?

Question

Our housemate is asking for £30 for the phone bill. However he says he's paid the money already but hasn't received a statement as he pays monthly but receives bills every 3 months. He's been known to lie before about money so were wary.

We have said we'll happily pay the money just as soon as we see the statement. Even if it's just a print out of his online statement. He's refusing to show us this saying he doesn't have one.

Do we have to pay before seeing the statement?

We haven't used the phone. We only pay line rental coz we use the internet. All phone calls are made through our mobiles.

This is another reason were querying it. £60 for line rental for a month?!

Answer 1

There is no legal requirement you to pay any bills at all period unless there is a contract in place, however it is reasonable to ask to see the statement and he cannot refused this.

You should ask him would he pay for a car repair of say £600 without a invoice from the garage first?

He can get a copy of the bill posted/emailed to him from his service provider.

Like you said £30 for line rental??

Sounds like he is trying to get you to pay more than you should.

Answer 2

Yeah in the mean time you will all have to pay towards the phone bill but if he has a bank account I am sure it is possible to get an online statement.

I am with BT and they take send me an email of every invoice as well as it being available to show on my statements.

I would suggest to him that for your own personal finance reasons you would like to see the phone bill so that you can decide if it would be cheaper for you not to use the land line phone and just to use a mobile. If he doesn't agree to this I would look at the possibility of only using a mobile so that you are not obliged to pay any part of the bill.

But you can't use the phone and not pay any of the bill just because you haven't seen it.

Answer 3

If you living with housemates then each one of you should view the bills as they come in. You should not pay anything until you see the actual invoice that is being paid. I lived with two other fellows and I took care of bill payments. I would keep a list of all payments plus I would keep the invoices in a small binder. The guys were allowed to see the invoices when ever they wanted and at the end of the month I would pay the bills after collecting from everyone their share and the payment would go into another binder marked "Payments". Your friend may be giving you a lot of B.S. and isn't playing fair with you. He must show you the bills whether they are monthly or every three months.

Answer 4

They do have a liability, but it won't be easy to sort out if at all. You should contact the Citizens Advice Bureau a.s.a.p. about how to proceed chasing them. The Gas and Electric companies cannot cut you off unless you refuse to ever pay the bill. Call Energy Watch immediately they should help negotiate with Gas and Electricity companies for a delayed settlement of the account. Ask them if they can be generous and waive any additional charges as well. You could send an anonymous letter to the rotters employers, but I should speak to CAB first. If you're really desperate try the Salvation Army, they are there to help, no strings attatched. Best of luck

Answer 5

Tell him, you must see the bill before you fork over any money for the bill, since you said that he has lied before, than do not give him any money for the bill until you see it in your hand, tell him if he does not have a bill, tell him he needs to go on line and show you the bill, or tell him to call the phone company up and get the rep to tell you over the phone what the bill is and what it all in-tales, get them to tell you what all the charges are for or ask the rep to send out a copy of the bill. When you look at it than you pay him for what your part is. But, do not, again, do not give him anything until you see a bill, and tell him that too, tell him that you will not give any money too him until you see the bill..
Good luck

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Captain, Chris W T
ATP- Lear 45, B747- A318 - A380
CFI

Answer 6

I wouldn't pay anything until you have seen the bills. If it is not his house and he is simply a tenant in the same house as you, why should you pay him money on his say-so, I presume you are all equally contributing to the household! Given the fact that you have knowledge that he has lied before, I definitely wouldn't be handing a penny over until he gives you some sort of proof. If he has nothing to hide then he should find some way of giving you the proof you need. Best of luck.

Answer 7

Are you named on the bill? If not then no dont pay until you have seen the statement as only the person named on the account is responsible for the debt. If he still wont show you then pay what you think is fair and move out with people you can trust.

Answer 8

he may be being truthful, but all the same it is only natural for you to want to see the statement before you pay anything and you are not asking for anything other than your rights. It is what anyone would ask for. noone pays a bill without seeing the bill itself. heis being a bit unreasonable.

to try to resolve the situation tell him you are happy to call bt and see what they suggest as an option for him to get a statement for you to view. you will need the account number for this.

if oyu are happy in the house it may be worthwhile to speak to BT about their system for sharers, there is a little monthly charge but then you get a code and each time you call you put your code in ..then a bill comes to you for your calls

Answer 9

Assuming you have a BT line and BT unlimited download broadband you are looking at a bill of about £30 a month. That's what you should be splitting. £60 sounds like he's taking the piss, as well as your money.

Answer 10

Just say your dad agreed to pay the bills for your stay providing he sees a statement.