Age has its advantages
By p1kef1sh
@p1kef1sh (45681)
August 10, 2009 2:52pm CST
Yesterday afternoon I looked down our drive that leads the road outside of P1kef1sh Towers and saw a stomach churning sight. The Inspection pit cover to the sewer pipe from the house was pulsating as its contents spewed forth down the drive and onto the road. The residue of countless visits to the "smallest room" in both our house and our neighbour's, who share the pipe, was there for all to see. Major yuk! We had a blockage! This morning the Boss phoned the water company and they sent a operative round. I feared the worst and imagined the road having to be dug up and the bill sent to us. Imagine my delight when the Boss told me that she thought that we might get the service for free. Any house with a shared sewer built before 1937 (ours was built in 1933) is exempt from being charged! Being a tad cynical however, I guessed that they'd make some money out of us somehow. But that was not the case. The guy fixed the blockage, pronounced the work free of all charge, swallowed the tea that the Boss gave him and went on his way! Hurray! This discussion is in this subject header because the photo reminds me of what we saw bobbing down the drive. Have you ever had a major problem that threatened an expensive resolution, but was sorted out for free?
6 people like this
17 responses
@dorypanda (1601)
•
10 Aug 09
Oh dear that sounds rather horrible. In answer to your question, no that's not happened to us yet, however Mr.Panda did sort the outside drain out himself last time there was a blockage, obviously he went straight up to have a bath afterwards. :)
3 people like this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
10 Aug 09
You did luck out! THe air conditioner in my car was acting up this spring...so had to take it in. When I went to pick it up they said they would send the bill to Ford...luckily (?) it was a major part and still covered by warranty....I thought I would be departing with a substancial amout of green backs!
2 people like this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
11 Aug 09
You were really lucky then..and that he stayed for tea afterwards was nice. The service men we have around here don't do that sort of stuff they grumble do there work..grumble some more..gives us bill and go away..without much talk at all b ut to themselves.When our old pipe caved which is shared with his sister beside us and his brother house in front of us.and used to have another hooked to it as well..but when it had problems and things needed replaced..my husband is the one who had to buy new pipe, but his brother did help dig it up..I think they should have helped pay,but they never do..
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
11 Aug 09
I guess that is the disadvantages of having family share. We live in the trailer that belonged to his mom, so it is the original line for it, but then everyone hooked on, So they don't see it as they should help..
It can be frustrating at times..
Just glad it was fixed.
It can be frustrating at times..
Just glad it was fixed.1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
11 Aug 09
Do you know P1ke I have fallen very lucky with my Landlord and Lady they are great so is his Daughter who lives next door to me, she was the one that rushed me to Hospital a couple of months back and stayed by my side all the time they are wonderful People and as soon as I need something doing they get it done xx
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
10 Aug 09
hi pikey what a revolting developement as an old irish guy
on some old show on tv used to say. I am glad that it was'
all done for you for free. As I am ensconced here in this retiremtn center and have no hom I havent had any problems like you
had. our room was too hot so we complained now the air conditioning
at night is so fierce I have to pull a quilt over me. this has been a really hot summer hot and humid here in southern california.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
15 Aug 09
Yes, problems with the phone that ended up with the front footpath being dug up for a distance of about 20 metres. There were trucks bringing men and more trucks bringing ditch diggers etc. I'm thinking "vey expensive" The lines were all replaced and the little boxes that hold our connectors wee all replaced. It was great and the phone line quality was greatly improved. As it was OUTSIDE the fence, the cost was borne by the phone company...YAY! Not before time too.
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
11 Aug 09
A couple years back I had to go to the ER with pnemonia on Christmas Day. I got a bill for $2500. a couple days later. I called up the hospital and told them I was filing a complaint b/c the Dr. that examined me misdiagnosed me (he told me I had sleep apnea) and he was rude and hateful to me. They pulled my chart and called me back a couple days later and told me that they'd found his error and they were canceling my bill. Thank God I was smart enough not to take the meds he prescribed.
[b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~
**STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
11 Aug 09
A doctor prescribed my mom with two medications that weren't supposed to be taken together, lucky the pharmacist caught it and told her and they called the doctor and he prescribed something else that was compatible. You lucky you didn't take those pills, or pay that bill.
@littleowl (7157)
•
15 Aug 09
Hi p1ke, that sounds ghastly, expecially the way you love to describe it in detail! lol Am really glad you got it sorted...or shall we say the Boss sorted it our for you and a great bonus on top now as it was free...now you and your neighbor can do what you have to without worry! hugs LoLoxx
@liquorice (3887)
•
10 Aug 09
Ooh, that's a horrible problem, but a very fortuitous solution! And good to know that our house would probably also be exempt from sewer charges should we have any problems 
(although not sure whether you meant the house had to have been built before 1937 or the sewer...)
We've had a few (smaller) problems that have been sorted out for free. One was when our toilet broke. We phoned our insurance company just because they provide this service where they recommend a local service person, and they managed to get us a plumber. We didn't expect to be covered by the insurance, but the plumber told us that the work was all part of the service too! We were confused and relieved. (And didn't like to ask too many questions!)
Then more recently our bathroom roof 'went', due to us not replacing it, coupled with heavy rain. We weren't covered by insurance as it was wear and tear. But while fixing it, the roofer didn't realise just how rotten it was, and he put his foot through the ceiling! 
Rather embarrassed, he replaced the whole ceiling for a fraction of the normal price.
Glad you got your yucky problem sorted out so well!
(although not sure whether you meant the house had to have been built before 1937 or the sewer...)
We've had a few (smaller) problems that have been sorted out for free. One was when our toilet broke. We phoned our insurance company just because they provide this service where they recommend a local service person, and they managed to get us a plumber. We didn't expect to be covered by the insurance, but the plumber told us that the work was all part of the service too! We were confused and relieved. (And didn't like to ask too many questions!)
Then more recently our bathroom roof 'went', due to us not replacing it, coupled with heavy rain. We weren't covered by insurance as it was wear and tear. But while fixing it, the roofer didn't realise just how rotten it was, and he put his foot through the ceiling! Rather embarrassed, he replaced the whole ceiling for a fraction of the normal price.
Glad you got your yucky problem sorted out so well!1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
11 Aug 09
Th sewer has to be older and must be shared with more than one other property. The free bit only covers the part that leads off your land to the main sewer and not anything closer to the house. We got "lucky" in that respect. I have sometimes wondered about those trades people that insurance companies recommend. But if they come for free then it's worth having them. I don't bother with these insurance services that cover drains etc. Dyno-rod wanted £18 a month. That's a lot of money for something that Wessex Water have to do for free!
1 person likes this
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
11 Aug 09
Hi p1key,
OMG!!! what a stink it must have made, yuk!!! lol! I bet you were dreading to pay for it and that was shear luck that p1ke towers was built all those years ago, not like ours as, my house was built in the 80s and if that should happen to us, we sure will have to pay for it. Glad its all done now, phew!!! hugs.
Tamara
xxxx
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
11 Aug 09
Hey P1key! I am so happy that your sewage problem was sorted
out and you didn't have to pay for it! And yes, in this case
I guess your "old" sewer saved you some money! I'm sure the
picture of what you had floating down the street will always
be a memory though! I do have to say that with the many
problems that I have had to endure in my old apartment buiding
we did have a water main burst, but thankfully no sewer pipe,
at least not yet and not that I know of! (I hope I won't be
sorry I said this!) Glad it all worked out so well for you
though and it only cost a cuppa!
1 person likes this
@xmapril (75)
• China
11 Aug 09
age has its advantages?
what does this title mean?
does the title have anything to do with your article?
i know the boss send a person to solve your problem for free,
do you mean you are not charged because the sewer is very old?
i hope i guess right .
1 person likes this
@camomom (7535)
• United States
7 Sep 09
If you saw my latest discussion about our vehicle problems, which I'm pretty sure tgat you did, the answer to that is a big YES.
