Housemates not wanting to pay bills, Myself wanting to pay my share.

DannyWhoWorks

Thanks so much for the replies guys! Sadly, I've signed a 12 month contract and there is noway I can move out .... I have to pay rent till June 30th, so there is literally noway I can afford to move out.

Interesting about who's name is on the bill. The worst person of them all, almost the 'leader' of the other 5, seemingly, did not put his name on the bill! he put us others, but not him. What I might do, is ring the electric company tomorrow, and add his name. I am also tempted to take my name off the bill, saying they made a mistake (the names were only put on recently). Will this get me off any trouble if they refuse to pay any further bills? (I will always want to pay my share, so it's not me getting out of anything, I would always leave my share with a landlord or something), Is it that easy to take your name off the account?.

Also, Internet is Free in the house, their is no gas, and the water is a certain amount a month which I take 'control' of and they give me just under £12 a month for it which i then go and pay from our pre-paid card, this they do, but they are not happy with.

Thanks for all the replies guys!

DannyWhoWorks

MoneySavingUser wrote: »

Get out of there as soon as possible! (Yes I know this isn't easy)

Make sure your name isn't on any of the bills or you will be liable for the entire bill - the electric companies don't care if you are sharing with other people and legally each person doesn't have a 'share' of the bill - whoevers name is on the bill is legally liable to pay the whole bill!!

If there are any bills in your name get your name removed and tell the company you are moving out (even if you aren't) - I guess eventually they'll cut you off and you may have to endure a lot of discomfort whilst the others learn to grow up.....

Alternatively I knew some people like your housemates they had to get a prepay meter and put tokens which they had to buy into it to use electric - can you get this? (prepay electric may be more expensive though)


edit: you might not be able to argue with the fools - but eventually you will all suffer due to their idiocy (as you can notice this topic drives me crazy - I've dealt with my fair share of unreliable, untrustworthy and irresponsible people when I was at uni :mad:)

I did have this idea, I emailed my landlord but she told me that we could not get a pre-pay metre installed because council rules state that all student houses have 24 hour running fire alarms, and if we ran out of electric and then the battery's ran out .... something like that! I was gutted!

thegirlintheattic

Do not give the company your card number! They will take the full amount from you, as you are jointly liable.

sophlowe45

which persons bank account details are linked to the electricity account?

from my personal experience, even though i would add everyone names to the account, the person whose account details they had, they regarded as the main person who would be liable to pay.

do you have a break clause at 6 months? This is normally in contracts that I have seen as standard.

Terrylw1

The name on the bills is only who they will chase. Once someone disputes they are responsible, the supplier will ask for the tenancy agreement. This would tell the supplier to put all the names on the account as they are all liable.

I wouldn't take your name off, this will send a message to the supplier that you are trying to disassociate yourself from a contract that you know you are in. The best way is to get all the names on there and your tenancy agreement is enough to achieve this.

The problem with sharing is splitting and paying. The suppler isn't responsible for this agreement. Sometimes the will except proof that you have paid your share hut sometimes they will continue to pursue.

I would suggest getting a legal opinion on this part so you know how to deal with the supplier and how your credit rating could be damaged.

DannyWhoWorks

Thanks .

There is no bank details linked to the account as far as I am aware! Not mine anyway!.

The problem is one of the guy's is the biggest liar in the world! I talked to him last night and he said 'Oh it's too expensive, I have rang up and they are sending us another bill' ... I asked 'did you give them a metre reading?' his reply 'No, whats that?' ... so how the hell is the bill meant to be cheaper if they just send us a new bill. I know he never even rang up, he chats so much !!!!! Can't wait till June!.

pooch

Time you went round with the kitty tin, me thinks.

Or are you also included in those who say " 'Not got time', 'Not got money' 'Not my problem ...' " :huh:

mikey72

Just make sure you get his name on all the bills.
(Getting his bank details on would be funny as well)

amiehall

Maybe ask your supplier for a prepayment meter. Whatever nonsense about a fire alarm your landlord was spouting is not hugely relevant.

MoneySavingUser

DannyWhoWorks wrote: »

Interesting about who's name is on the bill. The worst person of them all, almost the 'leader' of the other 5, seemingly, did not put his name on the bill! he put us others, but not him. What I might do, is ring the electric company tomorrow, and add his name.

What a douchebag that guy is...

I'm not sure if you can add his name but as someone else has posted dispute who is responsible so that they ask for a tenancy agreement and send them a copy so they add his name on.

edit: make friends - so you have some decent people to share with next year!