# Water bill issue **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [August 11, 2009, 12:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-bill-issue/71993 "2009-08-11T12:27:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tbirdsc1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tbirdsc1/32/7487_2.png) [@Tbirdsc1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Tbirdsc1)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 12:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-bill-issue/71993/1 "2009-08-11T12:27:41Z")
Background: Sold my house in Lancaster in June, paid my last quarterly water bill in May (Feb-April service) for $55. My bills were always $40-60 every 3 months, no kids/no pool/no hoses to the neighbors house/etc…just my wife and I. So yesterday I receive my final bill (May-mid June) for $452! I call and talk to this cheerful customer service rep and she says oh well you must have had a leak somewhere. Get transferred to the manager on staff and she says that I must have had a toilet leaking between that time or something. A leaky toilet that I didn’t hear and it leaked over $400 in like 40 days… Basically she told me either I pay the bill or its going straight to collections and they will contact the credit bureau. Not looking to fuck my 800+ credit score. Already contacted my lawyer and he is out of the office until Monday. So looking to see if anyone “knows anyone” or have gone through something like this and disputed with success. Or do I just say fuck it and pay it…🖕 ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 12:35pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-bill-issue/71993/2 "2009-08-11T12:35:27Z")
Something seems very wrong. My quarterly water bill is around what you pay and it only went up about $50 the quarter I filled my swimming pool. 10000+ gallons, two hoses running full blast for days. That would have to be one hell of a leak to go up $400. ---
**Author:** ![Joe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/joe/32/7219_2.png) [@Joe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Joe)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 12:41pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-bill-issue/71993/3 "2009-08-11T12:41:50Z")
Were yours estimated for a long ass time and then they took an actual reading to shut you off? Maybe you were going over all along and never knew it? Also call the current owners and ask what the meter is at and see if that lines up with the final reading they took. Maybe they transposed numbers or something. ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 12:42pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-bill-issue/71993/4 "2009-08-11T12:42:56Z")
> [@Joe](#): > > Were yours estimated for a long ass time and then they took an actual reading to shut you off? Maybe you were going over all along and never knew it? Also call the current owners and ask what the meter is at and see if that lines up with the final reading they took. Maybe they transposed numbers or something. X2 ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 12:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-bill-issue/71993/5 "2009-08-11T12:45:53Z")
call back and hope for somebody more competent. if not then get a manager involved. keep track of all names. ---
**Author:** ![Joe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/joe/32/7219_2.png) [@Joe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Joe)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 12:47pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-bill-issue/71993/6 "2009-08-11T12:47:12Z")
OR, its a long shot, but maybe they let the people do their own reading when they started service. If they were shady, they could read it super high to fuck you and get free water for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Tbirdsc1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tbirdsc1/32/7487_2.png) [@Tbirdsc1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Tbirdsc1)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 12:48pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-bill-issue/71993/7 "2009-08-11T12:48:00Z")
> [@Joe](#): > > Were yours estimated for a long ass time and then they took an actual reading to shut you off? Maybe you were going over all along and never knew it? Also call the current owners and ask what the meter is at and see if that lines up with the final reading they took. Maybe they transposed numbers or something. Already called new owners and confirmed, last actual was ~8 months ago. No way that it is that much under for each estimated bill to add up to $450 bill. Nothing changed…no roomates, wasn’t taking 40hr showers. ---
**Author:** ![Tbirdsc1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tbirdsc1/32/7487_2.png) [@Tbirdsc1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Tbirdsc1)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 12:52pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-bill-issue/71993/8 "2009-08-11T12:52:18Z")
> [@Joe](#): > > OR, its a long shot, but maybe they let the people do their own reading when they started service. If they were shady, they could read it super high to fuck you and get free water for a long time. lol, thought that right away…but the water company went out a week after I called in my final reading so they could do a reading of their own. Both of our readings (mine and water co.) were very close in line…so no shadiness on new owner’s side…just don’t understand. I know its not a ton of money, more the principle. They had no real answer to give me, all she could say was “it must have been a leak or something”…dumb bitch. ---
**Author:** ![JustinH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JustinH](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JustinH)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-bill-issue/71993/9 "2009-08-11T13:58:06Z")
If you just let the water company under-estimate the bill for quite a while, then you finally get an actual reading, it could be hundreds of dollars more. I always mail back that stupid card that they send every quarter. We pay about 40-45 dollars per quarter for a two family home. ---
**Author:** ![Vrooom](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/vrooom/32/7198_2.png) [@Vrooom](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Vrooom)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 10:36pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-bill-issue/71993/10 "2009-08-11T22:36:19Z")
We had a similar issue when we bought our house. There was no heating system in the house for over 5 years, at all. Only gas used was for a small hot water tank, which we turned off for 6 months. We pretty much had a $0 bill every month for 6 months. We installed a new high efficiency boiler and the same month we got a gas bill for $800. We called and tried to fight it and they told us the same shit about shutting it off and sending us to collections…so we paid it. And yet they credited it to our account and now we haven’t had to pay anything since January…obviously a screw up at there end by charging us that much in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Muckman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@Muckman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Muckman)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 11:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-bill-issue/71993/11 "2009-08-11T23:31:08Z")
How many gallons were reported on the useage? ---
**Author:** ![Cavi\_Mike](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/cavi_mike/32/5217_2.png) [@Cavi\_Mike](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Cavi_Mike)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 12:16am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-bill-issue/71993/12 "2009-08-12T00:16:12Z")
It’s just them trying to cover up their own fuck-up somewhere else. Tell them they’ll be hearing from your lawyer if they don’t straighten this shit out. ---
**Author:** ![walter](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/walter/32/7202_2.png) [@walter](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/walter)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-bill-issue/71993/13 "2009-08-12T00:38:10Z")
This happens all the time. A leaky toilet doesn’t ness. make much noise but wastes a TON of water. I see this all the time in my community. Unless they test the water meter and find it faulty you dont’ have much other recourse. ---
**Author:** ![Tbirdsc1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tbirdsc1/32/7487_2.png) [@Tbirdsc1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Tbirdsc1)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 6:43am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-bill-issue/71993/14 "2009-08-12T06:43:23Z")
> [@Muckman](#): > > How many gallons were reported on the useage? I don’t remember off hand, something crazy like 100k gallons or something. Just waiting for my lawyer to get back in town and see what he says, guessing I’m kinda stuck paying it… Anyway you live and you learn I guess, into brand new house now (with no fucking leaks…lol) will post some pics up later. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blue_eyed_devil/32/7292_2.png) [@Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blue_Eyed_Devil)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 6:56am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-bill-issue/71993/15 "2009-08-12T06:56:31Z")
No f’ing way a leak would cost that much. I planted grass earlier this summer and watered it all day everyday with 2 hoses and my bill was like $100. If you had a leak that big you would hear it or your yard would be a swamp. ---
**Author:** ![Vrooom](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/vrooom/32/7198_2.png) [@Vrooom](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Vrooom)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 7:13am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-bill-issue/71993/16 "2009-08-12T07:13:26Z")
we had a pipe burst during the winter and our bathroom was filled with water. it was leaking for about 2-3 days and our bill was only $48 ---
**Author:** ![Jack](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jack/32/7613_2.png) [@Jack](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jack)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 8:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-bill-issue/71993/17 "2009-08-12T08:48:16Z")
Have you ever looked at how your water is billed and how much more water you would have to use to break the $50 mark? There is seriously something wrong with your bill. Don’t pay it. Get the supervisor’s supervisor. ---
**Author:** ![Fry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fry/32/7284_2.png) [@Fry](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Fry)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 8:57am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-bill-issue/71993/18 "2009-08-12T08:57:36Z")
> [@Tbirdsc1](#): > > Already called new owners and confirmed, last actual was ~8 months ago. No way that it is that much under for each estimated bill to add up to $450 bill. Nothing changed…no roomates, wasn’t taking 40hr showers. > [@Tbirdsc1](#): > > lol, thought that right away…but the water company went out a week after I called in my final reading so they could do a reading of their own. Both of our readings (mine and water co.) were very close in line…so no shadiness on new owner’s side…just don’t understand. > > I know its not a ton of money, more the principle. They had no real answer to give me, all she could say was “it must have been a leak or something”…dumb bitch. Utility bills aren’t magic. CALCULATE how much your bill should be, then go to the town clerk’s office with your calculations and show them why they are wrong. That will get you a lot farther than “It seems too high to me, make it lower.” Or even “I paid my lawyer to tell you that it seems too high, make it lower.” The other possible outcome of this is that you’ll calculate that the bill is right, in which case you either had one hell of a leak or your meter is out of calibration. In which case, good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Joe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/joe/32/7219_2.png) [@Joe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Joe)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 9:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-bill-issue/71993/19 "2009-08-12T09:00:57Z")
OH NO! MATH!!! ---
**Author:** ![Mixmastermike](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mixmastermike/32/7314_2.png) [@Mixmastermike](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mixmastermike)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 9:01am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-bill-issue/71993/20 "2009-08-12T09:01:41Z")
Having the same problem with my bill as well. Last one was $250 and the one before that was $150. Thought it could be the ac at first but now it has to be something else. [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-bill-issue/71993.md?page=2)