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$140 sewer bill turns into foreclosure notice and $50,000 tab for homeowner

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Steelersfan904
Regular Contributor

$140 sewer bill turns into foreclosure notice and $50,000 tab for homeowner

OUCH! How is this even possible!?

 

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/140-sewer-bill-turns-foreclosure-notice-50-000-185124272.html



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drkaje
Senior Contributor

Re: $140 sewer bill turns into foreclosure notice and $50,000 tab for homeowner

$140 probably seems like a great deal, now! Smiley Happy


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trumpet-205
Valued Contributor

Re: $140 sewer bill turns into foreclosure notice and $50,000 tab for homeowner

I'm more interested in how can he left a bill unpaid for 4 years without even realizing it. Impossible in my eye.

 

I'd say the homeowner did lie about this part.

Message 3 of 8
FrugalRican
Blogger

Re: $140 sewer bill turns into foreclosure notice and $50,000 tab for homeowner


@trumpet-205 wrote:

I'm more interested in how can he left a bill unpaid for 4 years without even realizing it. Impossible in my eye.

 


A lot of posts in the myFico forums would love to disagree with you.

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drkaje
Senior Contributor

Re: $140 sewer bill turns into foreclosure notice and $50,000 tab for homeowner


@FrugalRican wrote:

@trumpet-205 wrote:

I'm more interested in how can he left a bill unpaid for 4 years without even realizing it. Impossible in my eye.

 


A lot of posts in the myFico forums would love to disagree with you.


Memory becomes perfect when it's time to app for a mortgage.


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trumpet-205
Valued Contributor

Re: $140 sewer bill turns into foreclosure notice and $50,000 tab for homeowner


@FrugalRican wrote:

@trumpet-205 wrote:

I'm more interested in how can he left a bill unpaid for 4 years without even realizing it. Impossible in my eye.

 


A lot of posts in the myFico forums would love to disagree with you.


I disagree. If a bill is unpaid there will be numerous collection attempts before it even goes to collection agency/private company. And sewage bill is part of the water bill, so how can one be so blind when the water service is cut off? Even if this sewage bill is a separate bill city government will be knocking this houseowner's door long before charge off.

 

When you owe something, you are going to be harrased. No debt owner is going to sit around for 4 years before taking action on it.

Message 6 of 8
drkaje
Senior Contributor

Re: $140 sewer bill turns into foreclosure notice and $50,000 tab for homeowner

@ Trumpet,

 

It was sarcasm.

 

People frequently post about the unfairness of Zombie debt popping up at mortgage time.


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cjd
Valued Member

Re: $140 sewer bill turns into foreclosure notice and $50,000 tab for homeowner

I don't necessarily agree. Maybe the 4 year part is unbelievable but it is possible to get served a collection notice without being harassed.  A year ago I called my electric company to switch my service to a new apartment in the same complex. For some reason this required me to have a different account. It was just after the end of the billing cycle so they told me any balance would be transferred to the new accont. Fast forward a year and I get a letter from a collection agency saying I owe this debt of ~ $10. They have my address, email, and phone number (I know because they called me when I filed a complaint about it taking 3 hours to get my service transferred). Yet, no notice of an outstanding bill. When I called to get it figured out, it took three phone calls to different people to get it straightened. I asked for a new copy of the bill to be sent by email this time, since apparently the last one got lost in the mail but agreed to pay the balance anyway without knowing what I was being billed for. It's a good thing I did because I still haven't received a bill.



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