A year ago our brand new water meter inspection hole was damaged. The insulating cover was totally smashed, and the interior workings all twisted to one side. The miscreant promised to replace what he'd broken.... I didn't hold my breath.
I recently allowed some builders to help themselves to water from this particular supply, and they spotted at once that it was leaking. The open/closed valve had been crushed, and cracked, and had to be replaced.
I phoned the plumber and he came almost at once. He re-positioned the meter (it now points upwards again), and replaced the broken valve (the new thing with the red bit). A small enough job, but it cost us exactly €40.
OK, I can hear you all saying 'Stop being such an old skinflint Cro; €40 isn't a lot, and you should think yourself lucky that it wasn't twice that'.
Well, the annoying bit is that we've ended up paying for someone else's thoughtless damage. I feel as if someone has just smashed all our windows, then presented us with the bloody bill.
And the insulating cover? No, I'm still waiting.....
I'd be fed up too.
ReplyDeleteI'd say €40 too much. ...
ReplyDeleteSend them a bill.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to, but I reckon I'll just have to absorb it.
DeleteHow annoying....just wanted to call in to say that your' comment about potential cold mornings, but glorious afternoons helped me make the decision to spend a week in our house in Caunes Minervois last week.... a great decision. I had a wonderful time, the trip did us both so much good....so thanks ! J.
ReplyDeleteAnd now it's blowing a mighty gale... Nasty!
DeleteBummer Cro! It is the point of the thing, not the money.
ReplyDeleteIt's not the amount, it's the principle of the thing. Why should you have to pay for someone else's screw-up?! What a mess.
ReplyDeleteThis doesn't solve your real problem--that is, living next door to a blooming idiot but....
ReplyDeleteI guess I just don't understand but who owns that meter? If it's owned by a water district, why didn't they replace it? A leaking meter is irresponsible as they are losing valuable treated water. They should want accurate meter readings to bill you for water consumption. And would surely want to cover it now that you've had it repaired, something they should have done.
Sorry, Cro. I'm sure I don't have all the information and don't understand how things work in France so forgive me for being clueless. It just seems odd and unfair to you.
Everything before the meter is their business, and everything after is mine. Unfortunately the bit that was broken was on our side, so Muggins (me) has to pay the bill. The water isn't being used as yet, as our barn restoration is a slow on-going project. I don't think a lot of water has been wasted; thank goodness.
DeleteIt does seem that mr orange wall owes you 40 euros and ought to cough up.
ReplyDeleteI would not have been nearly so patient.
...not a good neighbour...what goes round and all that!....keep your pecker up as aunt Helen always told me!!
ReplyDeleteIt must be galling Cro but in the long run, if you smile and suck it up as they say, then karma will be on your side eventually.
ReplyDeleteAn old tyre cut in half will make a good cover. Sue
ReplyDeleteThanks for the additional information, Cro. Now it makes sense....'cept the part about your neighbor being on YOUR property, causing damage, and refusing to pay. Is he refusing to pay or conveniently forgotten? If he's forgotten (which I doubt too) but let's just say he has. Perhaps, sending him a copy of the bill is just the boot in the butt he needs.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't mentioned it to him. He's an unpleasant person, and the less I have to do with him the better. I think this is the end of the story, and no doubt we'll eventually have to replace the cover ourselves too!
DeleteOh. Then you're right...let sleeping dogs lie. You're the bigger man.
ReplyDelete