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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Posts
    8

    Unhappy Roommates Won't Pay Final Electric Bill

    My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: South Carolina

    Normally, I would pay the entire electric bill and my roommates would pay me back. Now that I have a new car payment it's a huge inconvenience that I would have to wait for my roommates weeks after I told them what the electricity bill was before they paid me back. To try to get rid of this issue I suggested that we start to bills individually and everyone would have proof that they paid something and also everyone just responsible for their part, and whoever didn't pay just didn't pay. I texted both of them the new suggestion and neither of them texted me back. I caught one of them in the kitchen and mentioned the suggestion to her she didn't say anything negative about it. I get a checked the bill once more and it looked as if no one paid anything on it, but me. I texted both of them that they needed to pay their part before any late fees get added on to put some fire under their butts. Then my roommate texted me a week later saying that she refused to call in. It's stupid of her to say that 3 weeks after the fact instead of just telling me initially. Them I texted them the amount of the final bill which is a month and a half of electricity usage + the balance from the last bill. The one roommate that I talked to face to face about paying the bills individually said that she didn't call in or set up something on her account to pay for the bill because the other roommate didn't do it. What does the other roommate's actions have to do with her paying her part. I mean, if she jumped off a bridge does that mean she's jumping off a bridge too? Anyway, I'm leaving in 3 days. Neither of them have giving me any money pertaining to the final bill. I'm cutting the power off the day after I move. How do I make them pay, and if they don't by the time I leave should I take them to court? I'm leaving for Baltimore in 10 months. I think that statue of limitations for verbal agreements in South Carolina is 3 years, but who knows where they'll be by then. What to do?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Inland Empire
    Posts
    1,410

    Default Re: Roommates Won't Pay Final Electric Bill

    Quote Quoting Tenacious
    View Post
    My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: South Carolina

    Normally, I would pay the entire electric bill and my roommates would pay me back. Now that I have a new car payment it's a huge inconvenience that I would have to wait for my roommates weeks after I told them what the electricity bill was before they paid me back. To try to get rid of this issue I suggested that we start to bills individually and everyone would have proof that they paid something and also everyone just responsible for their part, and whoever didn't pay just didn't pay. I texted both of them the new suggestion and neither of them texted me back. I caught one of them in the kitchen and mentioned the suggestion to her she didn't say anything negative about it. I get a checked the bill once more and it looked as if no one paid anything on it, but me. I texted both of them that they needed to pay their part before any late fees get added on to put some fire under their butts. Then my roommate texted me a week later saying that she refused to call in. It's stupid of her to say that 3 weeks after the fact instead of just telling me initially. Them I texted them the amount of the final bill which is a month and a half of electricity usage + the balance from the last bill. The one roommate that I talked to face to face about paying the bills individually said that she didn't call in or set up something on her account to pay for the bill because the other roommate didn't do it. What does the other roommate's actions have to do with her paying her part. I mean, if she jumped off a bridge does that mean she's jumping off a bridge too? Anyway, I'm leaving in 3 days. Neither of them have giving me any money pertaining to the final bill. I'm cutting the power off the day after I move. How do I make them pay, and if they don't by the time I leave should I take them to court? I'm leaving for Baltimore in 10 months. I think that statue of limitations for verbal agreements in South Carolina is 3 years, but who knows where they'll be by then. What to do?
    This sounds like a case for Judge Judy to me.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    18,340

    Default Re: Roommates Won't Pay Final Electric Bill

    So you pay the bill and then sue them in small claims court for their share.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Posts
    8

    Default Re: Roommates Won't Pay Final Electric Bill

    I want to use court as a last resort because I just want to move out drama free, however, I'm not a door mat that people can just step on! Should I just write them a letter and send a text message telling them to give me my money by the time I leave, or else?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Posts
    1,026

    Default Re: Roommates Won't Pay Final Electric Bill

    Look; how well have all the text messages worked so far for you? Not very effective it sounds like.

    If the bill doesn't get paid and late fees get added, whose name would this be under (yours, of course). And if you don't pay this, whose credit will be affected. Yours.

    Pay the bill now to avoid the late fees, tell them to pay up their share or you'll be suing them for their share. That MIGHT possibly get their little heinies moving toward the goal of paying.

    Gail

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Inland Empire
    Posts
    1,410

    Default Re: Roommates Won't Pay Final Electric Bill

    Quote Quoting Tenacious
    View Post
    I want to use court as a last resort because I just want to move out drama free, however, I'm a door mat that people can just step on! Should I just write them a letter and send a text message telling them to give me my money by the time I leave, or else?
    If you want drama free, then let this go.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Posts
    8

    Default Re: Roommates Won't Pay Final Electric Bill

    Is it legal for my landlord to be a witness?? Me and her are pretty cool and she sympathizes with me. I'm not letting this go. My parents always told me to stand up for myself. People need to be held accountable for their actions and slackness

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Inland Empire
    Posts
    1,410

    Default Re: Roommates Won't Pay Final Electric Bill

    Quote Quoting Tenacious
    View Post
    Is it legal for my landlord to be a witness?? Me and her are pretty cool and she sympathizes with me. I'm not letting this go. My parents always told me to stand up for myself. People need to be held accountable for their actions and slackness
    You can have any witnesses you want. Good luck to you.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Posts
    8

    Default Re: Roommates Won't Pay Final Electric Bill

    I talked to one of my roommates and showed her all the proof of what each of us owes and she coughed up the money, now I just have to talk to the other one who's a complete d-bag!

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    18,340

    Default Re: Roommates Won't Pay Final Electric Bill

    Quote Quoting Tenacious
    View Post
    now I just have to talk to the other one who's a complete d-bag!
    This is an all too common lament with roommate arrangements.

    Rudyard Kipling wrote: "He travels the fastest who travels alone."

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