what should i do?
@totallyundecided (3190)
Philippines
March 20, 2009 4:29am CST
two days ago, my supply of electricity was cut off because i wasn't able to pay on time. then, i noticed that our next door neighbour - the sister of our landlady didn't have a videoke session like her usual everyday practice.
i have my doubts already that she's tapped on our electric supply.
today, i was able to resolve my problem and our electricity was connected again. i was waiting for our neighbour to do her usual videoke thing.
and she did. whoa!!! so i waited for her to be singing in the middle of the song, then i turned off the main circuit breaker in my apartment. just like what i've predicted - no videoke. ahahaha! then i turned it back on and the videoke was on again. (i know it's quite bad but i have to do it).
my problem is how to tell our landlady. because i am also a one month rent delay. so i feel a little embarrassed on how to approach her though i know she's a good landlady.
and this sister of hers, my neighbour has all the b1tch traits. and she's been the enemy of the state her in our place.
a dilemma really. i feel like i have just been robbed.
6 people like this
23 responses
@momoftwo (94)
• United States
20 Mar 09
Call the electric company! She is not only stealing from you- she's stealing from the electric company as well. Things are hard enough making ends meet without having to pay for someone elses electric bill. The electric company may be able to track when the increases started, and make her pay the differnce.
Regardless who you decide to talk to... stick with the facts.. and don't let the emotions get in the way. Good Luck
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
21 Mar 09
So true. Stealing from the electric company will make everyone's costs go up. Don't be letting her tap into yours. If the electric company finds out and finds out that you knew and kept quiet....you'd be in as much trouble as she is. Did it ever occur to you that your landlady is so nice to you about being late on rent becuz she knows that her sister is ripping you off? it is a possibility, you know. you are being far too kind about this.
@blackmantra_x (2732)
• Philippines
20 Mar 09
Good day... I think being late on your rent and being cheated on your electricity bill are two different things. While the former isn't illegal but the later is fraud and that is illegal. I think your landlady would understand the situation and make her sister stop stealing from you.
1 person likes this
@totallyundecided (3190)
• Philippines
21 Mar 09
lol. i like the "while the former isn't illegal but the later is the fraud" very cool of you blackmantra. =)) smart guy we have here. =)
thanks for the legal advice, sir. =)
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
20 Mar 09
You should not take this lying down whether you have paid the rent or not. Paying rent is different, being robbed is altogether another issue. I think once you have the money to pay the rent, take it to the landlady, apologize to her sweetly and profusely and with you best innocent look ever tell her casually that you are late in paying the rent coz you had to pay extra bill on electricity as her sister has been using your line liberally for her videoke sessions! Making it sound as if you don’t mind really but this would continue happening as you really don’t have enough money to both pay the rent on time and the extra electricity bill.
1 person likes this
@totallyundecided (3190)
• Philippines
21 Mar 09
wow!!! i think i would really do what you suggested. but only that i have to wait for few more days before i get my money. then go straight ahead to our landlady. she's really a kind person that's why i am really having a hard time approaching her because it's her sister. and you know that saying that blood is thicker than water (though not all the times - lol).
thanks for this, sudip. i feel like i have the courage now.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
20 Mar 09
I would apologies to the landlady and explain about the electricity. The invite her round to watch your neighbour doing her singing etc and switch the power off. The she will know that you are being robbed and that money that you would spend on your rent is having to go on electricity that you are not using. Your landlady can then also deal with your neighbour, her sister.
1 person likes this
@totallyundecided (3190)
• Philippines
21 Mar 09
funny thing is that she's also having a very hard time dealing with her. she's like this psycho b1tch something. but we're not afraid of her. we're just avoiding to have such encounter and will do our best not to stoop in her level.
@clorissa123 (4926)
• United States
20 Mar 09
You should clarify with the landlady. Brought out proof to show her that her sister robbed your electricity supply. Somehow, she should compensate your loss. Anyhow, felt bad for you. Keep on working.
1 person likes this
lol. yeah, it really sucks.
@KATRINKA (1624)
• United States
20 Mar 09
Sorry about your financial worries. I would definitely report the theft of electrical service, but I'm not sure if I'd go to the landlady. If you're a month behind on your rent, she might think it's sour grapes coming from you. She might also be loyal to her own sister, even if her sister is not a wonderful person. Blood does strange things to people. I would report the theft of service to the utility company. They take these things seriously and will investigate. Good luck to you.
@totallyundecided (3190)
• Philippines
21 Mar 09
lol. that's what i thought too but i hope she would be fair with her judgment.
@wiccania (3360)
• United States
20 Mar 09
I would contact the electric company and let them know that you believe that someone else is using your electricity. Have them send out a tech, show them what you did. They can verify it and if she's using your power, she's in some serious trouble. If they have in their records that the power is set up for both places to be together, then you need to raise the issue with your landlady, since i doubt that it's in your lease that you'll be responsible for your power as well as the neighbors power. This means that you've been paying for her usage... which means she owes you some money. You have indeed been robbed.
@totallyundecided (3190)
• Philippines
21 Mar 09
hopefully, my money will arrived earlier this week because i really want to tell my landlady about this.\
honestly, i don't know how long has she been connected to my supply and i bet it's months already.
i don't mind if she taps though if she gives some money too for her usage but realizing that she's on tapped and not giving her share. another story.
thanks for this, wiccania. i like your name. from the word wiccan, right? =)
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
21 Mar 09
You have to tell your landlady what you discovered. Try it again a couple of times to be 100% certain. explain to her that part of the problem you are having with money is the extra high electric bill. Or you could report it to the electric company and there you would have legitimate proof and who knows....maybe she'll let you slide on that late rent? If you feel that you have been robbed it is because you have been. Are you sure she's not tapped into your internet, cable etc.? What she is doing is completely illegal...bust her! Why should you pay her electric bill?
@totallyundecided (3190)
• Philippines
23 Mar 09
lol. i really want to do that you know. bust our neighbour. seeing her face would be priceless but on the contrary - it will be a damage the relationship between me and our landlady. this is a dilemma, really. =(
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
20 Mar 09
I'm proud that you can be so honest about things like this.
In Trinidad losing electricity for not paying the bill is really looked down upon like through the great big nose.
I myself have been short on rent too several times and I thank God for an understanding landlord.
I'm now into my 5th year renting where I live.
Don't get down over the situation, life's like this sometimes, you've just got to ride the waves, as they say.
@totallyundecided (3190)
• Philippines
21 Mar 09
it is a little embarrassing really because my neighbours were there to witness when the guy from our electric company came to tell me to settle things in the office. what i did was before i got the money, i went over to a cousin's house to sleep over and wait for two days.
but i don't mind though knowing i was able to catch my neighbour stealing some supplies from me.
and yes, thank God really for our kind landlords. whenever i am delayed on my rent, i usually give her something like a cake. telling her that's my way of saying sorry or thanking her for being so kind.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
20 Mar 09
could u not tell the light company that she's bootlegging off you. let them check into. u know that's making your bill higher. u know the landlady is going to take up for her sister if you confront her. i'd call the light co. & tell them what's going on & see what they suggest. good luvk.
@totallyundecided (3190)
• Philippines
21 Mar 09
lol. that's what i did too after i paid my bill. they said they'll have a look around this week. *sighs* really suck eh? she's been having those free supply for months.
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
21 Mar 09
she said be paying part of the bill. they surely will stop her from doing that. good luck w/that.
@sudalunts (5523)
• United States
20 Mar 09
Since you are already in a financial situation, I wouldn't allow someone else to take from me which is mine. I would tell the landlord and let her deal with her sister. Maybe the landlord wouldn't mind taking the slack for her sister, but you shouldn't. Maybe you should approach the sister first, let her know that she has been caught, how bitc*hy can she be, when she is caught red handed.
Good luck
1 person likes this
@hotsummer (13835)
• Philippines
20 Mar 09
does it mean that your neighbor has illegally tapped into your electricity connection so that they will have not to pay for electricity. you have to talk to your landlady of course about this. not unless you will be so kind to let your neighbor have free electricity from yours. but i think that will be too much to keep letting her tap your electricity.
@totallyundecided (3190)
• Philippines
21 Mar 09
there's no such thing as free lunch anymore these days. LOL. yes. illegally tapping in my eletric supply. bummber huh?
yes, i really pray my money arrives early so that i can tell my landlady right away. and will apologize that i have been negligence about delayed bills. =(
@PrarieStyle (2486)
• United States
21 Mar 09
I think I would shut the breaker off when I went to work and possibly when I went to bed. That way maybe you could save enough money to catch up on your rent and tell the landlord.
It's good that you caught it, you have the right to feel as if you've been robbed, you have.
@totallyundecided (3190)
• Philippines
21 Mar 09
that's what i will do while i don;t have the money for rent, yet. lol
@PrarieStyle (2486)
• United States
21 Mar 09
Then after you pay the rent and tell the landlord. If she doesn't do something about it you can tell the neighbor she has to pay at least half of the bill or you're going to keep shutting it off. Tell her it wouldn't have gotten shut off in the first place if you weren't giving her a free ride...
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
21 Mar 09
She should tell the landlord anyway. Maybe her rent would not be behind if her landlord's sister were not ripping her off! Why should she even be paying for it while she is home? I'd say the neighbor should pay the late months rent or you ll report it.
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
6 Apr 09
Your neighbor is a total pain... the nerve of tapping on to your power supply... meaning... you have been paying for all her videoke sessions...
Well, if i were in your situation... i will not tell the landlady... but have a good time pissing that neighbor... by turning the power on and off while she is singing... for sure she will not complain to anyone about that...
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
20 Mar 09
I think you should tell your landlady right away. Have her come over when you can show her exactly what is going on. You are being robbed and that's not right. Just do so tactfully. Namaste-Anora
@totallyundecided (3190)
• Philippines
21 Mar 09
hi, anora. thanks for telling me about "namaste". i did a little research on it and it says, "the God/Spirit in me greets the God/Spirit in you". =)
@Archie0 (5636)
•
20 Mar 09
I think you should go and tell your land lady so what you are delayed with one months pay, you dint do it always and when you are paying it regualrly its your right that you should oppose with whatever is troubling you. same is my problem my house which i rent is full mess. i just hate to stay here but my colege is near from here and wont be able to change the house at this time as it is not that easy to do so so i am not changing it though.But it is a mess around here in total.Lizards, water problem ewwkkk....
@lvjunjie (80)
• China
21 Mar 09
yeah ,you are feel very very very dilemma feeling .i think you should have a talk
with the landlady about the fact .to slove the money things ,you can ask your friends to help you .or to chose a partime job to earn much money .
@kimberlynnF (170)
• United States
20 Mar 09
So essentially you are paying for her usage as well as your own. How fair is that? Report this to the power company... and to the landlady. So if the woman is the sister of the landlady, I would report that I am not paying for a freeloader. Get all your proof and take it to the power company. In fact, you might make a police report for theft.
