Ok here’s the deal;
A family friend of ours recently got handed a $5,000 water bill. Figures out the toilet was leaking, they had no idea it was and it’s fixed now. The water company handed them a 10 day notice to pay 30% ($1,600) or face having their water supply cut off.
If I said their family lives paycheck to paycheck, that would be an overstatement.
What can they do? I’m hoping some one can tell me they can file a lawsuit but I’m not sure they can.
They have a kid.
Re: $5000 water bill
It seems like this thread will get derailed here. Since you are looking for serious replies, I am going to move this thread to All View. Hopefully you would get some serious replies there.
I would think that your friend can show them his recent paystubs to prove that he's not making as much to be able to afford this bill, especially if he's supporting a family. They should be understanding.
My question is: How can the toilet be leaking and no one can know that? That's a bit strange.
Re: $5000 water bill
they have a kid…ask them to transfer bill on kid’s name. 
Re: $5000 water bill
I put it there because I thought it would get more views but anyway you are right it will get derailed :(.
Anyway, apparently, they've been on the phone with the company all day long and have used every method of persuasion. How they didn't know their toilet was leaking, I don't really know. BTW, when I say toilet, I mean the flush tank.
Re: $5000 water bill
Yeah even the flush tank, since it is leaking, it would never be full and the water would always be running and you will always be hearing that noise and somebody in the house would have noticed! It just seems fishy to me. Are you sure that no underground plumbing was leaking? That's the reason I've heard for most unusual bills.
Also, your friend may want to send an explanation in writing. Phone leaves no proof that you tried while writing a simple letter sometimes solves a lot of problems.
Re: $5000 water bill
**Pakap: **Are they the owners of the house?
Re: $5000 water bill
My question is: How can the toilet be leaking and no one can know that? That's a bit strange.
Yes toilet can be leaking and you will not know. The over flow holes in some toilets are at a place where you cannot see them and the rate of leak is so low that you will not notice the leakage. I noticed it when I saw rust color water marks in my toilet and once cleaned they reappeared faster than normal.
But $5000 dollar water bill is unheard of . One of my friend lives in a mansion size home and he received $1200 dollar water bill turned out that his water line which passes through neighbor's easement had a big rupture and the neighbor did not feel like telling him about that breakage.
A family of 3 which is living from pay check to pay check will not be living in a mansion. The biggest water bill I got was $200 for a month while my sprinkler system was leaking underground.
Re: $5000 water bill
If ur friend isn't the homeowner. Usually lanlords are under a duty to repair etc. However, if in the contract there was an exclusion clause indicating that he owes no duty (which i doubt this may be the case) then ur friend might not be able to attack the landlord :p I would suggest ur friend goes to see a lawyer to get a clear picture coz only ur friend would be able to provide all the details.
Re: $5000 water bill
They have to go to the city hall and try to meet the highest officer of the water department or the city and explain the situation , phone calls are not effective method of resolving things like these. He should take his wife and kid , his past water bills and as Shikra said pay stubs.
Re: $5000 water bill
thanks for the replys guys, shikra, thanks, ill let them know about sending out a written explanation, mama ki dua, yes they own the house, well, they're still paying mortgages for it, but i guess that makes them owners right? they aren't renting it. Mirch, they got the bill supposedly 4 months after the leak started, thats part of their case, that the company shouldve alerted them sooner. Anyway I hear they are going to see their congressman i think. Ill let them know about taking their income and stubs things.
another thing are considering is switching the supplier, and not paying/negotiating very low payments with the old company. would you guys advise that?
Re: $5000 water bill
Yeah they are still the homeowners
Re: $5000 water bill
They need to write a letter to their local BPU (Board of Public Utilities). Then he needs to get a hold of his representative in the House (assuming he's in the USA). He also needs to get a hold of his local senator within the state senate, AND one of his two US Senator's. They're likely to help push a case through. Even if they say no, he can't stop trying.