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My roommates and I have not paid our $1,600 electricity bill thanks to a pandemic-era moratorium. It’s in my name only — and we move out in February. What can I do?
Marketwatch ^ | Jan 14, 2023 | Quentin Fottrell

Posted on 01/16/2023 11:20:12 AM PST by where's_the_Outrage?

Dear Quentin, I find myself facing an issue that is rather complex, and I am not sure what to do. I live with two roommates, and during the pandemic we didn’t pay any utility bills thanks to a moratorium that allowed us to amass debt with no interest. We split the electric bill equally, but it’s in my name only.

The rub is that we are all moving out in February, and per our moratorium agreement, we’re not obligated to pay the bill until 2024. I’m concerned that one of my roommates will just drop communication when it comes time to pay, given that the bill is in my name.

One roommate ignored my requests for payment for other expenses for four months in a row this year. Their job situation is much better than it was then, but they never communicated or apologized for stiffing me. I made sacrifices and fronted the money, thinking they would eventually pay me back.

My roommates are younger than me, and I don’t want to hurt their credit by suing in small-claims court. I truly want to see them succeed despite how much they bother me personally. On the flip side, it would be nice not to have to pay their share of the $1,600 bill.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat; Society
KEYWORDS: moratorium; pandemic; paythebill
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

Better get a part-time job and start saving up that $1,600, ‘lennial. It looks like that’s probably your only option.


81 posted on 01/16/2023 1:47:21 PM PST by Allegra
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

See if you can file a lien on any significant piece of property they may have, such as a vehicle.


82 posted on 01/16/2023 2:00:49 PM PST by SgtHooper (If you remember the 60's, YOU WEREN'T THERE!)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

If you can’t figure out who the patch is in a scam its you. 😉


83 posted on 01/16/2023 2:16:50 PM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: SamAdams76

The lesson being to beware of societal leech losers like himself?


84 posted on 01/16/2023 2:19:33 PM PST by j.havenfarm (22 years on Free Republic, 12/10/22! more then 6500 replies and still not shutting up!)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?
I’m concerned that one of my roommates will just drop communication when it comes time to pay, given that the bill is in my name.

In this case he would only be out $500 or so. It is probably not worth spending any legal fees to try and recover if he doesn't pay up. People like this will bury themselves at some point.

85 posted on 01/16/2023 2:20:24 PM PST by EVO X ( )
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To: blackdog

Bingo.


86 posted on 01/16/2023 2:21:49 PM PST by sauropod (“If they don’t believe our lies, well, that’s just conspiracy theorist stuff, there.”)
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To: EEGator

Answer: Not my problem.


87 posted on 01/16/2023 2:29:15 PM PST by sauropod (“If they don’t believe our lies, well, that’s just conspiracy theorist stuff, there.”)
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To: sauropod

Yep. Don’t feed the beast. Eat your peas and learn your lessen.


88 posted on 01/16/2023 2:53:15 PM PST by blackdog (The head, hands, and heart, serve even further than the purse. )
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

Moving out in February eh?

What would happen, say, if their iphones and laptops suddenly went missing before then? Quite a coincidence,but you could possibly find them for say $600 each...

:)


89 posted on 01/16/2023 2:57:50 PM PST by LeoTDB69
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

Now, for a lesson on life, if you can’t resolve this, you are not ready for adulthood. Grow a pair, teach them a lesson, and sue the ba$tard$! You’d be giving them a valuable life lesson! Oh, and again, GROW A PAIR, OR SWITCH TO 8!TCH!


90 posted on 01/16/2023 2:58:34 PM PST by SgtHooper (If you remember the 60's, YOU WEREN'T THERE!)
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To: SgtHooper

He is so screwed!


91 posted on 01/16/2023 3:01:02 PM PST by Pangborn2
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To: Captain Peter Blood

Oh, yeah. Bill won’t mince words either: “Yeah, you’re stuck with the bill. No getting around that. You can ask your deadbeat friends to help you. But if you guys haven’t paid the bill all this time, why would they start now? But go ahead and ask. One might be a mensch after all. After that, consider small claims. But, I gotta be honest, you’re on the bubble. Get an attorney to help shift it your way? Your call, pal. Or...pay the bill, write those knobs off as losers, get on with your life, don’t ever be the sucker again, and live alone till you’re married. Goodbye. Next caller...”


92 posted on 01/16/2023 3:07:48 PM PST by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: fretzer

You’re too erudite. /s

“Stupid should hurt.”


93 posted on 01/16/2023 3:44:29 PM PST by drSteve78 (Je suis Deplorable STILL )
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To: drSteve78

That works too.


94 posted on 01/16/2023 4:03:53 PM PST by fretzer
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To: The FIGHTIN Illini

👍👍😂


95 posted on 01/16/2023 4:29:30 PM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

If they want to pay up then go to small claims court


96 posted on 01/16/2023 6:29:16 PM PST by Nifster (OI see puppy dogs in the clouds )
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