REIDSVILLE, NC:: Loraine Crow was just walking around her house when she heard something from under the house. She walked outside went around the house and opened the storage area and saw water pouring out from one of her pipes, “It was just gushing out from right here,” said Crow.
It was just the beginning of what has become a financial leak on her bank account, “I’ve gained weight, I’ve been unable to sleep, unable to eat because I feel this is such an injustice,” said Crow.
Here’s what happened in the weeks and months following the pipe burst. Crow received a $500 water bill and a $1,000 sewage bill. Crow charged for water that gushed from the pipes and the cost of the sewage, “The only way I should pay $1,000 is if the water went through the sewer system,” said Crow.
News 2 reached out to Rockingham County to see what could be done about the bill. The county telling us because it is billed for sewer services by the town of Eden it must pass along the cost to the customer.
The county did waive half the cost of Crow’s sewer bill even though it doesn’t know for certain the water ever went through the system. Crow appreciates the gesture but feels most of the bill should be forgiven since the water poured out onto her yard and did not go through the pipes.
The county did confirm they do not have a sewer meter like a water meter, so all water is calculated as if it went through the system, “the water went straight down, it didn’t go through the pipes that’s why I’m mad,” said Crow.
We then reached out to the city of Eden to see if it could do anything to assist Crow. The city of Eden sent News 2 this statement: The City of Eden provides sewer service to Rockingham County and does not have any interactions with or control over the individual accounts maintained by Rockingham County.
A representative with the city telling us Crow is not their customer, so it can’t reduce or waive any bill. Rockingham County telling us unless the city waives the bill it sends to them there is little else it can do to help.
Lost in all of this is the landlord who has told Crow it is her responsibility to pay for the bills, “He says we are responsible for it,” said Crow. News 2 has reached out to the landlord but has not heard back.
An attorney we spoke with told us Crow could have a case against the landlord if she wanted to take him to court, “Absolutely there is a chance, you see it all the time,” said David Daggett.
Crow is deciding whether to seek legal action or just pay the bills and move on.
A couple things you can do to avoid being in a similar situation as Crow is to get something in writing from your landlord before renting that they would assist with the cost associated with a burst pipe and take pictures and video to strengthen any complaint you file with the county or city.