OTHERS ARE TO BLAME!!!

[cytoglycerine]

For your reading pleasure, I would like to submit a story told to me by a friend of mine. The story is about a co-worker of hers and the co-worker's husband, and it is a prime example of people being completely unwilling to accept personal responsibility and the consequences of their actions.


This couple - we'll call them Jane and John - own a house that they purchased together after getting married. This house has a deck that the previous owners installed, but the couple didn't like the way the deck was placed against the house - Apparently it was slightly off centre, and didn't look "perfect", so in August sometime, they rented some machinery and attempted to shift the deck to a more desirable location against the house. Before doing this work, they neglected to call the hydro or gas companies to see where the underground lines were, and wouldn't you know it, they ended up rupturing a gas line. Turns out that the previous owners called the utility companies before building the deck, and knew the location of the gas line. The deck was built slightly off centre on purpose in order to avoid rupturing the gas line.


Fast forward to yesterday. Jane and John get a bill from the gas company for.....[drum roll]...$30,000!!! Ouch! But of course, instead of accepting responsibility for their actions, they're pulling out all the stops to put the blame on anyone but themselves. At first, they tried to say they shouldn't be held liable for the damages because they "didn't know" that it was their responsibility to check with the hydro/gas companies ahead of time. Of course, that won't work, as ignorance is not a valid defense. Now they're trying to say that this is the previous owner's fault because they knew the gas line was there and built the deck too close to it. How that makes this issue the previous owner's fault is beyond me...I'm totally blown away by the lack of responsibility this couple is showing. Don't get me wrong, I would be PISSED to get a $30,000 bill for such a stupid mistake, but that's life, and that's what happens when you don't do your homework.


And with that, I'd like to invite you guys to share the best example you've witnessed or heard regarding a lack of personal responsibility - because as we all know, OTHERS ARE ALWAYS TO BLAME!! ;D

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

That is a great story.

[Plain Old Petunia]

Love the story.

[Deleted]

It seems like it would be a lot of work to move a deck. I am picturing completely taking the deck apart and reassembling it.

[cytoglycerine]

Jan 28, 2011 17:33:58 GMT -5 @pooks1976 said:

It seems like it would be a lot of work to move a deck. I am picturing completely taking the deck apart and reassembling it.

Yeah I thought that too...I'm not sure exactly how they went about doing this, I just know the end result.


Gald you're all enjoying the story - but share some of yours too, okay!!

[MN-Investor]

I don't know about the responsibility part, but I do have a dumb neighbor story.

A Friday afternoon in August, my sister is visiting, and I'm making a grasshopper pie when the power goes off. A beautiful, sunny Friday afternoon. Turns out the neighbor down the street decided to take down a large tree on his lot. Ended up bringing the tree down on the power line. My DH chatted with the linemen later. They made sure that that neighbor was the last one to have his power restored!

I suppose the neighbor was trying to save money by doing the work himself. I wonder if the power company charged him for the work he caused.

[tiredturkey]

My neighbor and his wife didn't have valid drivers licenses or any insurance on their vehicle. One week after the husband was arrested and jailed for outstanding traffic tickets and failure to maintain insurance and no drivers license, his wife ran a yield sign and t-boned another neighbor. She also went to jail for no drivers license, no insurance and an outstanding warrant resulting from her failure to comply with a previously court-ordered payment plan to settle all her traffic tickets. Damage to the other vehicle was about $4,000 and the owner expected my aquaintances to pay for it, surprise!. They didn't think they should have to pay because, are you ready?, it wasn't their fault they couldn't afford to pay for insurance and tickets because "something always comes up". Oh yeah, it surely does, your stylish new clothes, your new furniture, the night out at the club you mentioned, the $3,000 headstone for your father, they all come up real regular like.

[Plain Old Petunia]

This is nowhere near as funny, but...

I have a co-worker who pulled out in front of a motorcycle cop one morning on her way to work. He had to swerve to avoid hitting her, so pulled her over and gave her a ticket. She complained over and over that it wasn't her fault she couldn't see him, because the sun was in her eyes. Therefore, she should not have to pay the ticket.

I was so amused about the whole thing because...the cop was my ex-husband.

[Deleted]

Is there a hitting your forehead with your hand icon, cause I sure need it now.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

I love it. It's pretty typical. I guess that's modern America- do whatever you want, send the bill to someone else.

[DVM gone riding]

anne or or take your pick! they are to the right of the quick reply box

[dragon2008]

Quote:
It isn't necessarily a question of "stupidity or negligence" but just the fact that they truly did'n't know.

Every utility bill I've received mentions to check your gas/water lines before digging. And "young and dumb" doesn't give you a pass on the whole responsibility argument - are you not responsible for your actions, whether committed in ignorance or with knowledge, whether young, old or in-between?

[vonnie6200]

Dave Ramsey quote "Stupid tax"

[dragon2008]

I don't know everything either, but I try to accept what I did and not push it off on another when I've made a mistake.

And speaking of that - not accepting responsibility for one's actions is a pet peeve (not that you would have guessed). Shouldn't have taken it out on you, Ms. Snicklefritz. Sorry.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I wonder if they should submit the gas company claim (based on their negligence) to their homeowner's insurance company in the off-chance that their insurance covers this? (After all, insurance covers negligence....)

[Deleted]

Jan 28, 2011 21:24:51 GMT -5 ❤ mollymouser ❤ said:

I wonder if they should submit the gas company claim (based on their negligence) to their homeowner's insurance company in the off-chance that their insurance covers this? (After all, insurance covers negligence....)

Great point but I wonder if they would cover it since no damage was actually done to the "house" itself.

[cytoglycerine]

Jan 28, 2011 19:43:55 GMT -5 Lady Gaga Gaga Snerd said:

First of all, when you buy a home, let's face it. You don't know all these things about home ownership. It isn't necessarily a question of "stupidity or negligence" but just the fact that they truly did'n't know. Those were issues I would have never thought of as a new home owner when I was young so I don't think people should be so quick to point the finger. It was simply a very expensive mistake and life lesson.
As for responsibility, it is highly unlikely they can hold the previous owner responsible for anything. So, they do need to grow up about that. Your house, your responsibility.
However, I would wonder why the gas company wasn't aware of a giant leak either and have taken some corrective measures or at least called the homeowner when some giant bill that was highly unusual was accumulating. Also, this might be something covered under their homeowner's insurance as well.

It's not the fact that they "didn't know" to call before digging that makes this couple unsavory - it's that they're absolutely flat out refusing to accept the fact that, even if they truly didn't know to call, it is STILL their responsibility to deal with the consequences. They're pointing the finger at anyone but themselves. If the story unfolded such that this incident happened, and now the couple was panicking, and asking for advice on where to get the cash from their budget/assets to pay for this, then I would actually feel sorry for them. But, they're clearly trying to weasel out of it, and that doesn't speak well for them.


The large bill wasn't a result of the gas line leaking for months - the $30,000 is to pay for the repairs to the gas line that the gas company had to make. And from what my friend told me (remember, this is all hear-say, after all) the couple was aware that they would be held liable for the repair costs, but they didn't know how much it would be, and since this incident occurred back in August, and they hadn't heard anything yet, they were conveniently ignoring the problem in hopes it would disappear.

[cytoglycerine]

Jan 28, 2011 20:11:06 GMT -5 dragon2008 said:

Quote:
It isn't necessarily a question of "stupidity or negligence" but just the fact that they truly did'n't know.

Every utility bill I've received mentions to check your gas/water lines before digging. And "young and dumb" doesn't give you a pass on the whole responsibility argument - are you not responsible for your actions, whether committed in ignorance or with knowledge, whether young, old or in-between?

Utility companies put that warning on our bills here too - and there have also been commercials put out by the utilities urging people to call before digging because ruptured power/gas lines are your responsibility if you don't call ahead.

[cytoglycerine]

Jan 29, 2011 4:20:48 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Jan 28, 2011 21:24:51 GMT -5 ❤ mollymouser ❤ said:

I wonder if they should submit the gas company claim (based on their negligence) to their homeowner's insurance company in the off-chance that their insurance covers this? (After all, insurance covers negligence....)

Great point but I wonder if they would cover it since no damage was actually done to the "house" itself.

I'm not sure if the couple has looked into the possibility of insurance covering this. I personally would consider that to be an acceptable way to solve the problem, seeing as that's what insurance is for. Who knows, these two may not even have insurance...From what I heard, their first phone call was to a lawyer to see how they could get off without paying.

[Frugal Nurse]

Jan 28, 2011 20:13:30 GMT -5 Lady Gaga Gaga Snerd said:

Yes, there are times you are dumb. Sorry, I don't know everything about everything and neither does anyone else. Sometimes you learn life the hard way and sometimes you don't.

Around here there are commercials on the radio that say "call before you dig". It is also posted on every utility box, meter, and utility bill. If you google how to build a fence, deck, or anything really, one of the first bits of advice you will read is it call utility companies to make sure there are no buried lines. If a person doesn't heed these warnings, they are just dumb, not ignorant.

[cytoglycerine]

Jan 29, 2011 9:41:43 GMT -5 Lady Gaga Gaga Snerd said:

Sorry. I don't hear every warning, have read everything about everything or know everything. That is great that you all were 100% informed and knowledgeable about everything and anything that ever was, is or will be. I didn't even know or think about underground gas lines until I decided to install a fence, had some estimates and one of the contractors mentioned checking gas lines and I thought "oh yeah". Sometimes people just don't know. I don't really get people who decided everyone should know or "should have known" everything that they do. There are plenty of things that i have learned in life after the fact. But, kudos to all of you geniuses!

Again, I reiterate that my low opinion of this couple stems from them trying to weasel out of their responsibility to pay for the damaged line, hence the thread subject of "Others are to blame". It is NOT because they didn't know to call ahead. Anyone could have made this mistake, and yes it's a very painful and very expensive mistake. But just because you don't know your responsibilities, that does NOT absolve you of the liability, period. That is what this thread is about. Please stop making it out to be about something else.

[cytoglycerine]

Jan 29, 2011 10:16:10 GMT -5 Lady Gaga Gaga Snerd said:

cyto - I agree with your point. I wasn't arguing with you.

Okay then...Glad we sorted that out! ;D

[cytoglycerine]

Jan 29, 2011 10:24:22 GMT -5 Lady Gaga Gaga Snerd said:

Once you get to know me, you will see that I am compelled to explore even the slightest nuance of every single post ever written to the nth degree!

LOL! I don't post a whole lot, and many of the regulars here don't know me, but I've been a part of this community for years...I've read hundreds of your posts and I am aware that you like to take the role of Devil's Advocate sometimes. But that's cool, I respect that. You can't always accept everything at face value.

[Taxman10]

Jan 29, 2011 9:41:43 GMT -5 Lady Gaga Gaga Snerd said:

Sorry. I don't hear every warning, have read everything about everything or know everything. That is great that you all were 100% informed and knowledgeable about everything and anything that ever was, is or will be. I didn't even know or think about underground gas lines until I decided to install a fence, had some estimates and one of the contractors mentioned checking gas lines and I thought "oh yeah". Sometimes people just don't know. I don't really get people who decided everyone should know or "should have known" everything that they do. There are plenty of things that i have learned in life after the fact. But, kudos to all of you geniuses!

Thank you, thank you....

;D

[cytoglycerine]

Jan 29, 2011 10:33:23 GMT -5 Lady Gaga Gaga Snerd said:

Devil's Advocate! I prefer to view it as an exhaustive exploration of all points of view so I am providing a great service!

Hey that was a compliment!

[MN-Investor]

Snerdley - For how defensive you are, I'm real curious about the things that you've done that, after the fact, someone told you that you should have known better! You must have some real stories.

By the way, no one expects everyone to know everything. However, if you buy a car, you should read the owner's manual (what? I have to change my oil every so often?). If you own a house, you should make an effort to learn basic maintenance, etc. There are probably library books for new homeowners.

The other thing is that you need to think things through. Some people make a decision and don't consider all the variables and possibilities. For example, suppose you are interested in hanging a flat panel TV on the wall. Where would the electrical wiring go? What about cable to it? Where are the wall studs located on that wall? Will the sun glare on the screen in that location? It's easy to make a decision, to take an action. It's not so easy to make a correct decision or to take the correct action. And, as the OP's neighbors found out, not thinking things through first can be expensive.

[cytoglycerine]

Jan 29, 2011 10:39:02 GMT -5 MN-Investor said:

And, as the OP's neighbors found out, not thinking things through first can be expensive.

They're not actually my neighbours. In fact, I don't even personally know this couple - I was told this story by a friend of mine. The woman half of the couple is my friend's co-worker.

[Deleted]

Thanks dvm! I feel better now.