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UGH What a Week and It's only Wednesday!

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    UGH What a Week and It's only Wednesday!

    Sunday night, the sewer/septic backs up in the basement. Big time. This is the 3rd or 4th time it's happened since we rented the house. There was some sort of problem before we moved in. First time, it totally flooded the basement. Ruined the carpet in the carpeted area so all that was replaced. New carpet in the basement. 2nd time was after a big rain. They thought it was groundwater. Only a little in the carpet that time. Rest on the tiled section.

    Now, 3 or 4 times, since we've been in the house, it's backed up real bad. Water everywhere in the tiled room. Call the landlord. She sends someone to clean out the lines. Last time, her son comes with one of those rental roto rooter things. He pulls out tampons, a piece of cloth, a plastic bag, rubber band, all kinds of junk. I can tell by the way he's talking to me, Landlord's son thinks we plugged the line. Talk to Landlord. She thinks we've plugged the line. Now Sunday night, we have a big back up. Water all over the tiled floor area. Hubby goes to pay our rent and tells Landlord we had another back up. Landlord was pissed big time. She calls yesterday afternoon and says the Sewer line cleaning company will be here this afternoon. No problem. Landlord is really short on the phone so I know she's still pissed.

    Yesterday, our daughter had a car wreck. Some boy, not paying attention, rear ended her. Thank goodness, no one hurt. Both cars driveable. His fault so our Insurance agent was really nice. Said no problem for us. Thank Goodness.

    Later in the evening, daughter starts to complain about her neck and back. I asked if she turned just as the car was hit. Yep. She saw him coming in the rear view mirror, and turned around to look just as he hit her car. I tell her wait and see how she feels today. Guess what?? We spent the morning at the doctor's office. X-ray's the whole works. She's got muscle relaxers and pain meds. $110 at the pharmacy.

    We get home just in time to have lunch with Hubby. Come in the door. House stinks BAD. Daughter and I had grabbed burgers on the way home from doctor's visit and I'm getting lunch out for everyone. Didn't pay any attention to anything else. Hubby and daughter, however, go to run to restroom, and run into our Landlord in the Hallway. The sewer company showed up early, Landlord came with them to let them in. Didn't knock or anything. Just used her key to get in. Really surprised my Mom. She didn't know they'd be here that early and certainly didn't expect them to just barge in.

    Well, of course, as luck would have it. The house is a WRECK. I've been digging thru boxes we hadn't unpacked from the move looking for papers and such for taxes and the BK. Had to run daughter to the doctor this morning so the dishes weren't done. I ran out without making my bed. Etc. Etc. Etc. Seems before we got home, the Landlord had done a complete walk thru of our house. Mom overheard her saying to the Sewer guy, "Don't these people ever pick anything up??" The Landlord saw Mom was cooking her lunch and told her not to be using any grease that could get poured down the drain and clog the pipes. Landlord went on to tell Mom how to wash sheets. Scalding hot water. Must use scalding hot water to wash sheets. And Chlorox!! Must use Chlorox as well. On and on.

    As luck would have it, we got a piece of mail for the business next door. Landlord's company. I'd seen her over there and figured she'd gone in there to B*^ch about her filthy tenants, us, to the employees over there. She had waited inside the Company office until the Sewer guys got done and came out to talk to them to see what the problem had been. The Sewer guys got more of the same stuff out of the line again today. Tampons, pieces of fabric, plastic stuff, etc. One of the Sewer guys told me the design was wrong. The pipe goes out, turns 90 degrees down, then another 90 degrees out again. Easy for stuff to get stuck there. So I took the mail over to the company office. Sure enough. Landlord had fussed to the receptionist at the company about us. The gal told me, "I can't comment. You two are definitely gonna have to talk."

    I told the receptionist I wasn't thrilled about living right next door to our landlord to start with. But this was the nicest, big house that was available when we were looking. That we'd come from an acreage property with 2 barns and needed extra room for all our stuff. I'd had 4 dumpsters of junk hauled off before we'd ever even moved. The garage and family room in this house are just storage right now. We've been going thru stuff since we'd been here. Put all kinds of stuff out in the garbage a little along. Even packed stuff up and returned things to relatives that had belonged to them. That the house was all clean at Christmas, but I'd had to dig into boxes to find papers and stuff for filing our taxes. That I hadn't had a chance to do dishes this morning for having to take daughter to the doctor. And, that our lease was up in August and we can always move then.

    I figure the receptionist is a pipeline right back to the Landlord, so I can well imagine the Landlord will hear all about everything I said.

    We wonder, too, if the Landlord has snuck into our house other times when we've been gone. She commented to Mom how the basement was messier today than usual. That usually the basement is really clean. Odd thing to say if you haven't been in the house since we moved in. And the Landlord hasn't been in here to our knowledge.

    How do you handle a snippy, mean old woman who thinks she knows best about every thing??!! Telling my mother how to cook and do laundry. Walking in without knocking. Geez! I'd keep a better house if I had a cleaning lady coming every week to do it for me too like she has. And, excuse me, but there's 6 people living here instead of ONE in her house. I can't imagine how her husband ever stood being married to her. One of the Sewer guys that was here today is related to her dead husband. I told him from everything I'd heard about the husband, he was a really nice guy. The Sewer guy agreed but said she, our landlord, was a real b*^ch with a capitol B. He didn't like her and didn't know many people that did.

    And just using the key to pop in as she pleased without even the courtesty to knock first. I asked Mom, "Wonder what they would have done if you'd been standing there naked getting ready to take a shower when they walked in?"
    Filed Ch 7 - 09/06
    Discharged - 12/2006
    Officially Declared No Asset - 03/2007
    Closed - 04/2007

    I am not an attorney. My comments are based on personal experience and research. Always consult an attorney in your area to address concerns related to your particular situation.

    Another good thing about being poor is that when you are seventy your children will not have declared you legally insane in order to gain control of your estate. - Woody Allen...

    #2
    what a nightmare! I HATE stuff like that. One thing though, you could have submitted your daughters medical through the car insurance--you might check with your agent and see if you can get reimbursed. The last thing you need right now is extra expenses and that might help a lot, especially if she ends up needing physical therapy, which she most likely will. PT is very expensive. What usually happens is that your own insurance jumps in to pay your medical so you dont have any delays, then they get reimbursed from the at-fault drivers insurance.
    By the way, we had a landlady like that once....she about drove us crazy.

    Comment


      #3
      I don't know what state you live in, but I am pretty sure that it is ILLEGAL for a landlord to have access to the property that is occupied by a paying tenant without the tenants prior approval. Look up your states Landlord/Tenants rights and see what you can find.

      Yep, I agree with the insurance and meds. My first thought also was why you didn't hand that over to the insurance company. If the other was at fault, then you have every right to be reimbursed, unless you live in a state where there is "no-fault" insurance.

      Good Luck on both issues!

      Comment


        #4
        I called our insurance agent yesterday right after the accident. She said to be sure to see the doctor, save all receipts, and turn those over to the other kid's insurance company to pay us back. We went to one of those Urgent Care centers, and they didn't even charge me my copay today. They were super. We said "car accident yesterday afternoon" and the doctor did a very thorough exam. Including X-Rays. We thought daughter was OK, just sore, but you never know. The only money I was out of pocket today was the meds at the drug store.

        If the kid doesn't report to his insurance and we don't hear from them rather quickly, I'll get a copy of the police report and start pestering. I'll call the insurance company, his parent's, who ever I need to. This has happened to me before. Lady hit me years ago. A week later, no contact from her insurance. She hadn't reported the accident at all to them. I got a supervisor's name from the insurance company and called that guy at HOME. Next thing I know, that lady's insurance company is delivering a rental car to me at work and bending over backwards to take care of my every need. So if the kid don't contact his insurer, trust me, I'll take care of it for him.

        We're in Indiana. I almost went straight over to the Landlord to have a stern discussion with her. But decided to wait. I needed to think about what I wanted to say and be coherent instead of just plain mad. I got on-line to check out the laws here first. There's no statement that the Landlord has to give notice to enter the property. I checked several legal websites as well, such as Nolo. Indiana has no statute about Landlord's notice to gain entry. So, OK, it still woulda been nice if she had knocked first. Just because all our cars were gone didn't mean somebody wasn't home. She knows my Mom lives with us.

        I suggested to Hubby that as we finish going thru boxes sorting things, we repack boxes and set them aside. We have some bigger pieces of furniture we're going to try to sell or donate to Goodwill or a local Mission center as well. Things we just don't wanna keep any more. It's time to pare down and live light. When we get closer to time to move outa here, we'd look for a storage place to rent. Then we could move a bunch of stuff into storage temporarily and just have to worry with moving things we need to live at the end of our lease.
        Filed Ch 7 - 09/06
        Discharged - 12/2006
        Officially Declared No Asset - 03/2007
        Closed - 04/2007

        I am not an attorney. My comments are based on personal experience and research. Always consult an attorney in your area to address concerns related to your particular situation.

        Another good thing about being poor is that when you are seventy your children will not have declared you legally insane in order to gain control of your estate. - Woody Allen...

        Comment


          #5
          Well the hurricane did not help here either. The upstairs shower has been ooc for one year now. With the OT I haven't had the time. I have all the new vanities, fixtures, toilets and all to update the bathrooms but no time.

          God be with you sinking, we were renting after Andrew and I dug up the drain feild more than once. I know how you feel and i empathize.

          I have 3 teenage boys, 1400 sq. feet, no garage or carport. Our house is cleaned but cluttered always, I know the feeling. Squeeze through the dining room to get through the kitchen. No laundry room at all, LR $2000.00 and Den are the laundry repository's for clean items. The problem now in SoFla.? I'd love to move but a two bedroom 1200 sq. foot Single family unit is 325,000 here. My TH sells for around 245,000. Ridiculous, everyone who ain't leavin today is stuck, not because of the high prices but also because if you move you pay taxes on the increased market value but if you stay put your taxes can't rise more than 3% per year. I pay 1645.00, neighbor pays over 5 grand. Taxes are HIGH here.
          Last edited by robivi3; 03-01-2006, 08:30 PM.
          "You once asked me for advice. You want some now? Never pass up a good thing." Lieutenant Jean Rasczak, Starship Troopers

          Join the Mobile Infantry and save the world. Service guarantees citizenship.

          Comment


            #6
            Sorry about your luck sinkingfast, that is alot to swallow. As for your landlord, I suggest CHANGE THE LOCKS!

            Comment


              #7
              Change your locks, when you move, change them back............
              Minny

              "It's amazing the paths that our feet sometimes follow in life".

              My suggestions are from "personal experience" and research only. Do not consider this as legal advice. Each bankruptcy case is different.

              Comment


                #8
                Dear Sinking:

                Hope your daughter is feeling better! And you and hubby, too. Also sorry to hear about your plumbing and landlord problems. I'd change the locks, too.

                Hope your weekend is semi-relaxing. I've gotta do some catching up around here as I was out of town last weekend.

                Take care and hang in there!
                Filed: 2/24/2006
                341 mtg: 4/4/2006:angel:
                Discharged: 9/25/08!!!!!:yahoo::yahoo::yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:

                Comment


                  #9
                  You're not kidding!!!!

                  Originally posted by robivi3
                  Well the hurricane did not help here either. The upstairs shower has been ooc for one year now. With the OT I haven't had the time. I have all the new vanities, fixtures, toilets and all to update the bathrooms but no time.

                  God be with you sinking, we were renting after Andrew and I dug up the drain feild more than once. I know how you feel and i empathize.

                  I have 3 teenage boys, 1400 sq. feet, no garage or carport. Our house is cleaned but cluttered always, I know the feeling. Squeeze through the dining room to get through the kitchen. No laundry room at all, LR $2000.00 and Den are the laundry repository's for clean items. The problem now in SoFla.? I'd love to move but a two bedroom 1200 sq. foot Single family unit is 325,000 here. My TH sells for around 245,000. Ridiculous, everyone who ain't leavin today is stuck, not because of the high prices but also because if you move you pay taxes on the increased market value but if you stay put your taxes can't rise more than 3% per year. I pay 1645.00, neighbor pays over 5 grand. Taxes are HIGH here.

                  We are now dealing with 4 sewer lines that need to be replaced out on Longboat Key at our condos...cost about $39K...all the old pipes, like someone else mentioned in a post...wrong angles...

                  I have lived at my duplex, block from beach going on 2 years in June...We pay $700 for 2/1...since Anna Maria Island became popular, you can't even touch a 2/1 for under $1,200 a month......& duplex, built in 70's is appraised around $650K....what a joke...it's all about location in FL...I can't complain...we have central a/c and no real plumbing problems to speak of...
                  Filed Oct 2005discharged February 2007,Shapeless in the fire's glow, tell me if you think you know,
                  Who it was we were below, where we've been and where we go

                  Comment


                    #10
                    I gave the "change the locks" thing some serious thought. Checked the renter statutes and we can't do that by law.

                    I did think, tho, that we can go around and put those little chainy things on. That's technically not changing locks, and if she decides to "pop in" she can't just use her key and open the door.

                    The Landlord is required to keep all the electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and appliances provided with the house in working order and up to code. This house is definitely not to code in many areas. And several appliances don't work properly

                    If the toaster is on and you try to use another appliance at the same time, on that side of the kitchen, the switch blows.

                    There are outlets with broken covers on them that have exposed electrical showing. We don't plug into those outlets for fear of causing an arc and possible electrical fire.

                    One night, during the warmer weather, the A/C kicked on and the whole house went dark. Just us. Neighbors all had power. Get a flashlight, go to the power box. Sure enough, the main had blown.

                    There's more. Tons more. But most of it is stuff you'd just rather live with than to have to call the Landlord. As bad as she's been when it's something big, I can't imagine if we pestered her about the smaller things.

                    We have always lived in houses with septics since we've had kids. They have been taught "no no's" of what not to put in the toilet. We've never had a plugged line before. If the Landlord hadn't had trouble before we moved in, I might be inclined to think it's my kids causing the problems. But with our history, and the trouble she had with this house before we ever took the lease, I'd say they just didn't get the clog cleaned out the first few times they worked on it. And of course, they're pulling stuff out now that we've been living here a while, so they automatically think it's us.

                    Maybe that's the thing to do. HeeHee!! Call her with one thing and then another of all the little stuff that's wrong over here. Pester the $hit outa her with fix ups.
                    Filed Ch 7 - 09/06
                    Discharged - 12/2006
                    Officially Declared No Asset - 03/2007
                    Closed - 04/2007

                    I am not an attorney. My comments are based on personal experience and research. Always consult an attorney in your area to address concerns related to your particular situation.

                    Another good thing about being poor is that when you are seventy your children will not have declared you legally insane in order to gain control of your estate. - Woody Allen...

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Okay, since you have brought up a whole lot of other mess.....try getting ahold of the courthouse and asking which department you need to go to and put your rent in escrow.

                      In Ohio, if the landlord is not keeping up with things and they have been notified, or they knew about the problems for a while and still will not fix them, you have the right to put your rent in escrow.

                      I can't remember which one it is that you must go to. But, you go in and fill out some short and to the point type paperwork. You then take your rent money there every month and it continues until the problems are fixed. The landlord cannot get to the money until it is released after all problems and concerns are addressed. You also need to be on time every month in getting the money there.

                      The REAL kicker is that the court will take a percentage of the rent money as a way to pay for their involvement. Guess what!!! It costs you nothing and it costs the landlord every month that they let this go on.

                      We had to do this at a mobile home park we lived in about 8 years ago. The owner would not replace the pad underneath and things were getting really uneven inside our home (we were buying the home and renting the lot). Went to an atty and retained him. He did nothing for us so as soon as I found out about putting the rent in escrow, I marched my happy hiney to the courthouse and got it started. That did more than the atty ever did! It was one thing to get legal letters in the mail, but when it started costing them actual dollars, they moved FAST to get the problems taken care of.

                      Just a thought, but I think in this situation that is a risk to your family's safety, you need to take every step you can to ensure their safety.

                      GOOD LUCK!!

                      Comment


                        #12
                        sinking fast...sorry you have so much to deal with. I have never lived anywhere with a septic tank; I have lived in apartments when one apartment's toilet overflowed to our apartment.. it was nasty! I do know a little about car accidents. I have had 3 - one was my fault - the other 2 were not. Anyway apparently the insurance companies have some kind of formula they use to determine how much "compensation" they pay from a car accident. I was told it is 2 1/2x the total amount of the bills. So, if your daughter has any bills at all...meds included...keep all of them and do not have the dr release her until she is totally okay because once you do the meter stops running. I am not advocating doing anything dishonest at all but she should be compensated for an accident that was not her fault. I did my homework so when I went face to face with the insurance company - I was ready. This lady from the insurance company really ticked me off. She had this arrogant attitude and she let me know real quick she was in control of what, if any, money would be given to me. Well I got the last laugh. She quoted me a figure and I said that was not fair. She comes back with convince her ....I wanted to slap her then but I said how did the company plan on paying my doctor bills then? I had a big ER bill as well. The look on her face was truly a Kodak moment. She says...doctor bills? I loved it...I said did you even research my case file? I mean how could you miss when the doctor bills were on top?...duh...She changed her tune real fast and I got $3K more as a result...so moral of the story even if you have an attorney do your own research and make sure you submit EVERYTHING...oh also I told her that I should be compensated for my days off from work. She said I had sick leave and I told her so what...I worked for Fedex and they count those days as an occurrence. She told me it was up to the insurance company if they wanted to "pay" for the sick leave...after I "won" my case they paid it...good luck!

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Anytime your involved in an auto accident, the guilty party is responsible for all auto repairs, medical/pharmacy bills, days missed from work, and compensation for personal injury.

                          Should the party not have insurance, then turn it all into your insurance company and your insurance company will go after them in a law suit.....

                          Most people have complete coverage, some just have liability..... and someone who doesn't have ANY - May the Good Lord take care of him if he hits someone...........

                          Hope your daughter is okay.... just basically sore!!!
                          Minny

                          "It's amazing the paths that our feet sometimes follow in life".

                          My suggestions are from "personal experience" and research only. Do not consider this as legal advice. Each bankruptcy case is different.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Well now, our Landlord has sent us a bill for the Sewer Line Cleaning.

                            She wants us to pay $250 for the bill to clean out the line.

                            When I told her we weren't going to pay the bill, she said we were welcome to break our Lease.

                            Ugh!
                            Filed Ch 7 - 09/06
                            Discharged - 12/2006
                            Officially Declared No Asset - 03/2007
                            Closed - 04/2007

                            I am not an attorney. My comments are based on personal experience and research. Always consult an attorney in your area to address concerns related to your particular situation.

                            Another good thing about being poor is that when you are seventy your children will not have declared you legally insane in order to gain control of your estate. - Woody Allen...

                            Comment


                              #15
                              AMIS, not to change the thread but Florida has become ridiculous pricewise and i do believe it will bust, experts say I'm wrong, that it is simply going to level off. Down here people have quit moving because of the tax issue. I pay 1685.00 per year. neighbor who is new pays over 4000.00. If i move to a better SF home I will pay 6,000-9,000.00 (We are in TH's). In Broward your tax payment can only increase 3% per year as long as you stay in your home. The state of florida is prepping to change the law and allow you to carry over to the new house. When? Don't know.

                              My TH? 89,900.00 bought for in 2001, normal then. Appraised in June at 197,000.00. They are now selling for 249,000.00 (4 bedrooms, 1729 sq. foot),(the last seven). 2001 looked at same house in this neighborhood (2,2 as most older ones are), 89,000, now goig for over 300,000. This is nuts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Artesia half a mile away at Sawgrass Mills. 2/2 1256 sq. ft. 400,000.00!!!!!!!!!! 709.00 monthly fee, sold OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              It has slowed some, not completely though.
                              Last edited by robivi3; 03-11-2006, 01:52 PM.
                              "You once asked me for advice. You want some now? Never pass up a good thing." Lieutenant Jean Rasczak, Starship Troopers

                              Join the Mobile Infantry and save the world. Service guarantees citizenship.

                              Comment

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