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Thread ID: 89350	2008-04-28 10:49:00	Councils and plumbers	lakewoodlady (103)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
663470	2008-04-28 10:49:00	This morning I had the unfortunate experience in discovering that I had no water coming out of the taps. I just assumed that maybe the council was working on some pipes or other down the street. By lunchtime I really wanted to know what was going on, so rang the council and reported the lack of water to my house. An hour later someone came and dug up the water toby near the letterbox and said that the fault lay somewhere between the toby and the house. My place is about 60 metres up a driveway from the road. Not the council's responsibility, he said, and walked away. He didn't even recommend someone who could help with my problem. So I rang a plumber and lucky for me he was free to come and look. By this time it was nearly dark and he couldn't locate the problem without digging lots of holes to try and find it. He's coming back in the morning to dig more holes and hopefully find the leak and fix it. So, no water in taps but friendly neighbours filled up some containers for me and offered use of shower etc. Nice to know some good neighbours to help out in emergency. Point of this is when it comes to the crunch, council didn't really give a stuff, but are happy to charge rates etc. Bet it would be a different story if it happened to one of them. I am now stuck with bill and just hope my insurance will come to the party. Now I've had my gripe so will call it a night. Cheers people.	lakewoodlady (103)
663471	2008-04-28 11:38:00	Yea and you'll still be charged for the water that you never got to use :confused:	CYaBro (73)
663472	2008-04-28 11:50:00	Point of this is when it comes to the crunch, council didn't really give a stuff, but are happy to charge rates etc. My sympathies, but at which point do you think the council's responsibilities end and yours start?	decibel (11645)
663473	2008-04-28 22:19:00	T An hour later someone came and dug up the water toby near the letterbox and said that the fault lay somewhere between the toby and the house . council didn't really give a stuff, but are happy to charge rates etc . I am now stuck with bill and just hope my insurance will come to the party . Why should they? Its in your property, they aren't responsible for that part . Same as your phone line, if its outside your gate its Telecoms problem, if its inside your place then its yours . Nor is it likely that the insurance will care . Pipes can get leaks, tree roots can stuff things up . All sorts of problems . Its not like someone accidentally cut through it, or some unexploded war missle blew it up taking it out . Its just part of house maintenance .	pctek (84)
663474	2008-04-28 22:26:00	Why should they? Its in your property, they aren't responsible for that part . Same as your phone line, if its outside your gate its Telecoms problem, if its inside your place then its yours . Nor is it likely that the insurance will care . Pipes can get leaks, tree roots can stuff things up . All sorts of problems . Its not like someone accidentally cut through it, or some unexploded war missile blew it up taking it out . Its just part of house maintenance . I concur .	Cicero (40)
663475	2008-04-28 22:57:00	More than likely it was what the insurance industry term as gradual damage and therefore, is not classed as an accident you can claim on. Nothing to stop you asking your insurance company, though. Just one of those unfortunate things we home owners have to deal with.	Marnie (4574)
663476	2008-04-29 00:08:00	Oh yes, I know the responsibility is mine as its on my property. My main gripe is that the council could have been a bit more helpful in perhaps recommending someone to come and fix it. I live on my own and have never had to deal with anything like this before and didn't quite know what to do. I now have temporary water via a hose that the plumber attached to the toby at the gate, he can't come back to fix it all until Thursday as he has a prior commitment. But I think he found the leak as I now have a whopping great hole in my driveway and some of the pavers have disappeared down it. Must have been caused by the torrential rain and flooding we had in Taupo a couple of weeks ago. Glad I didn't fall down it or get my car stuck! Anyway the insurance will cover it now because it was flood related.	lakewoodlady (103)
663477	2008-04-29 00:28:00	Well that's good news about the insurance then. Did you ask the council if they could recommend anyone? Often they don't want to be seen favouring one tradesperson over another. If that was the case then they could have explained that at the time. Just as an afterthought...make a list of plumbers, electricians etc, not just from yellow pages, ask neighbours and friends who they would recommend. Cheers, Marnie	Marnie (4574)
663478	2008-04-29 00:56:00	Anyway the insurance will cover it now because it was flood related. Has the Insurance assessor agreed to this? The hole under the drive could be just as likely to have been caused by the pipe rusting out.	PaulD (232)
663479	2008-04-29 01:53:00	My main gripe is that the council could have been a bit more helpful in perhaps recommending someone to come and fix it. I live on my own and have never had to deal with anything like this before and didn't quite know what to do. . They did tell you to get a plumber. What makes you think they know who is a good plumber and who isn't? Thats why you ask friends/relatives/neighbours. And all tradesmen advertise in the Yellow Pages and/or local papers. You might need at some stage: Electrician Builder Handyman Plumber Mechanic Lawyer Collect recommended names now.	pctek (84)
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