[where's_the_Outrage?]

I could be wrong but it appears this weasel used the moratorium to avoid paying the electric bill, I did not see in the article where he mentioned hardship in paying. So they are moving out and the bill will need to be paid. I hope his roommates stiff him.

[blackdog]

Pay for your lesson.

[BipolarBob]

Change your name.

[GOPJ]

He can ask but if he doesn’t have anything in writing he might have learned an expensive lesson about why he needs to become a judge of character...

Learning about deadbeats and how to spot them and keep them out of your life is a valuable lesson in growing up.

[Reno89519]

PAY THE BILL.

[HandBasketHell]

I can remember hearing stories like this in 1980 when I was in getting ready for college.

It's a lesson hard-learned -- if your name is the only one on the lease, then any room mates can leave without paying the bill and you are on the hook for it.

[Jim Noble]

given that the bill is in my name.

[SaveFerris]

The bell tolls for thee, Grossbard!

[SamAdams76]

It's in his name only so he'll be on the hook for the full $1,600.

He'll have to suck it up and pay the piper. Maybe he learns a life lesson.

[Mr. K]

Learn your lesson. But pursue it in small claims.

They are not true friends anyway.

When it comes to court for these type of issues don’t embellish, don’t get overly dramatic, just state the facts and let the judge question it out of them.

The judge probably knows you would not have agreed to pay ALL the bills, and it was very likely they agreed to split it 3 ways. He will judge their veracity if they deny it. Let him.

So, once again- Learn your lesson. But pursue it in small claims to make sure they learn too.

Even if you don’t collect you still drag them into court.

The best case- they ignore the small claims summons and you win by default. Then you get the Sherriff to garnish their wages.

[4Runner]

If your roommates are not named on the account and the account is in your name, and there is no co-signer, the debt is yours and yours alone. You have no grounds to sue anybody in small claims court unless you have a contract entered into with the roommates as signatories and it was duly signed, notarized, and witnessed. Not likely. Otherwise you would have breach of contract and a lawyer, instead of having your thumb in your mouth, asking strangers dumb questions. If I were you, I’d try to find Jack Reacher or a reasonable facsimile thereof, to go have a “talk” with your “roommates”. Of course, then you’d have to pay him a fee, unless he felt sorry for you.

[fretzer]

Stupidity should have painful consequences.

[HamiltonJay]

He doesn’t have much options.

He can sue his ex roommates for their share in civil court but legally, he’s the one responsible for the bill.

[alancarp]

" I don’t want to hurt their credit by suing in small-claims court."

Apparently your friends aren't as concerned about you and yours.

In the meantime, $120 a month satisfies the debt. Then look for ways to get your satisfaction from the (other) deadbeats.

[Red Badger]

Your bills follow your SSN.

Pay it in installments.................

[BradyLS]

Pay the bill. The utilities will not go after anyone one. Ask your roomies to pay their shares as soon as possible. If there is no written agreement, don’t be surprised if one or both don’t. Seek counsel in the event if you think it will be worth it.

[larrytown]

Mistake #1:

"I made sacrifices and fronted the money, thinking they would eventually pay me back."

You thought wrong.

[CatOwner]

There would be an easy solution if you were black, LGBT* (especially trans), or a criminal.

[TexasFreeper2009]

sounds like a Judge Judy show

[Magnum44]

One roommate ignored my requests for payment for other expenses for four months in a row this year. ... they never communicated or apologized for stiffing me. I made sacrifices and fronted the money, thinking they would eventually pay me back.

Regarding your roommates...

[logitech]

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