We just got our first water bill. It was $1,565.15
Allow me to let that sit in for a moment.
*Ahem*
$1,565.15
We were expecting to have a rather large water bill. What with owning a pool and all. But never, in my wildest dreams, did I expect to open the bill up and see the number $1,565.15
After I was done having a stroke, I looked a little closer at the bill. Apparently our portion of the bill amounts $23.12. A much more manageable amount. An incredibly reasonable amount. However, the previous owners apparently hadn’t been paying their water bill for quite some time. The rest of the balance was their tab. Including late penalties. The town of Malden seems to think that this is now our responsibility.
Well, the town of Malden thinks that this is the responsibility of Kristian and Hope Sanchez. Seeing as how there is no Hope Sanchez, I’m wondering if this leaves me off the hook. I suppose that there are some advantages to continue living in sin. Although I’m not planning on changing my name, so this little bill should never be a problem for me. Ha.
Oh, who am I kidding? This is just as much my problem as it is Kristian’s. But it was some nice comic relief to laugh at what they’d done to my name.
As a random aside, all of our neighbors refer to Kristian as my husband. I never got a chance to correct them. Now it’s at that awkward point where it would be weird to say something about it. Whoops.
So, back to the issue at hand. The issue of the City of Malden being under the mistaken impression that we owe them over fifteen hundred smackeroos. I called City Hall and they told me “You’ll have to talk to your closing attorney. The previous owners should have paid their final bill at closing.” And then they pretty much hung up on me. I guess what they say is true. You can’t fight City Hall. Or keep them on the phone for more than three minutes. Including time spent on hold.
I called our lawyer, but she was out of the office. I am anxiously awaiting her return call. I’m really hoping that there is an easy way out of this. I’m hoping that there is something in all of the pieces of paper that we signed that absolves us of any responsibility to pay for the previous owners’ bills. And I am really, really, really hoping that this doesn’t end with us taking a trip to small claims court. Because I like the previous owners. They’ve had a rough time of it. It would feel like suing my grandmother.
So…. anyone got a spare $1500 lying around?
Man, that’s crappy. How did they get out of closing without settling all that stuff somehow? The buyer has to show up with cashier’s check in hand, could the buyer not have cash or debt consolidation or whatever arranged?
OK, stupid question…water bills stay with the house? I thought they would just send your portion to you, and keep billing the previous owners for their amount. Add it to the bill at their new residence, or turn it over to collections or something.
This home buying stuff is SO CONFUSING. (Hey, good news, we finally got the earnest money back on a deal that fell through — after a year and a half!)
I’d be so pissed!!!! Like to the point of FREAKING out on somebody!!!!! That is total BS!!!
You are totally NOT responsible for that bill. After my closing, the previous owner actually received a water bill for the full month’s usage and I had to write him a check for the part of the month that I used.
Don’t take no for an answer!! You may like the previous owners, but they’re currently trying to stick you with a $1500 water bill. Still like them?