Latest news with #waterbill
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Brooklyn homeowner losing his house over 1 unpaid water bill that he didn't know about. Was his home 'stolen' from him?
Filmore Brown worked seven days a week for more than two decades to buy and keep his home in Brooklyn. By 2019, he had finally paid off the mortgage, believing he had secured his future. That was all taken away when strangers showed up at his door in the middle of the night with keys. Those strangers, he learned, had legal permission to enter. Brown is the top-floor occupant of a three-unit home that he bought back in 1996 and paid off the mortgage in 2019. He says he didn't know he had an unpaid water bill for $5,000. That $5,000 may have cost him his house forever — a home worth $800,000. "I don't want anybody to go through what I'm going through," Brown told local news outlet ABC7. "I cannot eat, I cannot drink, and I cannot sleep." Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it How $5,000 led to Brown's home being sold out from under him In New York City, people who have larger unpaid tax or water bills risk the city selling their debt to a trust. From that point on, the investors of the trust will attempt to collect the money with interest. If timely payments aren't made, a lien can be put on the house and the investors can sell the home at auction. That's what happened to Brown. His old water bill was sold into the trust system, but once that happened, it no longer showed up on his current bills. According to his attorney, Yolande Nicholson, Brown continued paying his new bills on time — thousands of dollars in property taxes and water bills since 2020 — but those payments never touched the older debt. "I didn't know, I just would've paid it," Brown said. 'There needs to be some type of notification that there's another bill out there that needs to be paid,' Nicholson told ABC7. 'There needs to be more done to make sure that hardworking older people who paid off their mortgage and have fixed incomes don't get into that kind of rut.' Brown's other lawyer, Alice Nicholson, added: 'He said he didn't know anything about this, and I believe him.' Systemic failure in New York City? New York City's Department of Finance insists it sent numerous notices before foreclosure proceedings began. Court documents show papers were served by the investors at Brown's address in November 2020 — at the height of the pandemic. But Brown, who lives on the top floor of a three-unit home, says he never saw them. Apparently, an individual from the lower-level units received it and never gave it to Brown. 'There are more than 6,800 liens that have been put into the trust just for unpaid water bills,' ABC7's investigation found — and the majority are in communities of color. The city has since pledged reforms, saying it has extended timelines, expanded outreach, and worked with nonprofits on door-to-door visits and calls to prevent cases like Brown's. 'Our goal is never to see a homeowner lose their property,' a Department of Finance spokesperson said in a statement. Still, attorneys argue the system disproportionately affects older and lower-income homeowners — often people who've paid off their mortgages and thought they were safe. Read more: Nervous about the stock market? Gain potential quarterly income through this $1B private real estate fund — even if you're not a millionaire. Not just New York The problem isn't unique to Brooklyn. Cities around the country use lien sales to collect unpaid taxes and fees, and cases like Brown's have surfaced elsewhere. In Baltimore, for example, a church was nearly lost to foreclosure over a $3,000 water bill. In Washington, D.C., local investigations have shown how small unpaid balances can snowball into property losses when investors step in. Consumer advocates warn that these systems, intended to help cities recover debts, often end up transferring homes from longtime residents to private investors. The takeaway for homeowners Brown's case shows how easy it can be for a small oversight or clerical error to spiral into a life-changing loss. Even when payments are made, once a debt is sold into a lien trust, it can slip through the cracks. Experts advise: Regularly checking property tax and utility accounts online, not just paper bills. Signing up for city notifications when possible. Seeking legal help immediately if you receive lien notices or foreclosure papers. As for Brown, while his local community and city councilor have rallied around him, the road to a resolution could be long. "It was stolen from me," Brown said. "It was my only dream." What to read next Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 simple ways to grow rich with real estate if you don't want to play landlord. And you can even start with as little as $10 Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chicago senior was billed a shocking $233K for water she never used — from a vacant home with no plumbing. Here's why
Imagine opening your mail and finding a water bill in the amount of a house. That's what happened to 82-year-old Diane Carli of Chicago. She was recently slapped with a $233,439.90 water bill for a vacant home that hasn't had plumbing for years. Carli says the City of Chicago is threatening to garnish her pension if she doesn't pay, leaving her in shock and fighting a battle she never expected in her golden years. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it A water bill nightmare Carli inherited the Back of the Yards property from her late husband in 2017. The home has been gutted for years, and no one lives there. 'There's nothing in there,' she told CBS News Chicago. Still, in late 2024, the city reached out and said a new water meter had to be installed. Despite her protests, since she didn't need water service, she allowed the installation. Within six months, a staggering bill arrived: over 500,000 gallons of supposed water usage, totaling more than $233,000. 'This is totally wrong,' Carli said. 'They're going to put me in the grave with this.' The Water Department has since sent the account to collections and threatened to take money directly from her pension. Even with help from her daughter and Alderman Raymond Lopez, the city has only offered to remove $25,000 in late fees, leaving the core bill untouched. She's not alone, homeowners get 'hosed' nationwide While Diane's case is extreme, erroneous utility bills can happen to anyone. Chicago has faced a wave of complaints about sky-high water bills in recent years. Local investigations, including CBS Chicago's 'Getting Hosed' series, have found multiple residents charged thousands for water they didn't use. Utility billing errors aren't unique to Chicago. Across the U.S., homeowners have reported phantom charges for electricity, water, or gas due to: Faulty meters or incorrect installations Clerical errors in billing systems Previous owners' unpaid balances rolling onto new accounts Leaks or burst pipes that go unnoticed Read more: Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can What to do if you get an outrageous utility bill Carli's ordeal highlights an important lesson for any homeowner: Don't ignore a surprise bill, even if it seems like an obvious mistake. Here are steps to take if you ever receive a shockingly high utility charge: Document everything: Take photos of the property, meters, and usage history. In Carli's case, photos showing a gutted home help prove there's no water consumption. Request an immediate meter inspection: Utilities can test meters for accuracy or replace faulty ones. Carli's new meter now shows zero usage, which could help her case. Dispute in writing: Submit a formal dispute to the utility company and keep copies of all correspondence. Involve local representatives or consumer protection offices: As Carli did with Alderman Lopez, reaching out to local officials can sometimes push your case forward. Consider legal or financial counseling: If a utility threatens garnishment or collections, a lawyer or nonprofit credit counselor can advise on your rights. Monitor your credit report: Utilities can report delinquent accounts to credit bureaus, which may affect your score if the dispute drags on. Relief programs and resources for seniors In 2024, the Chicago City Council approved a water bill relief program to help low-income homeowners and seniors, following years of complaints. If Carli's bill isn't wiped out, she could qualify for hardship assistance or legal aid to prevent pension garnishment. Homeowners elsewhere can check for similar local or state utility relief programs, which often offer: Payment plans Bill forgiveness for errors Dispute resolution support For Diane Carli, the fight continues, and she's far from alone. Billing errors can happen to anyone, and they can be financially devastating if not addressed immediately. Whether your water bill is $233 or $233,000, staying proactive, documenting your case, and knowing your rights are key to protecting your finances, and your peace of mind. What to read next Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 simple ways to grow rich with real estate if you don't want to play landlord. And you can even start with as little as $10 Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Solve the daily Crossword
CTV News
02-08-2025
- General
- CTV News
Chicago woman billed more than US$233,000 for water she never used in vacant home with no plumbing
A Chicago woman was billed US$233,000 for water she never used in a vacant home with no plumbing. WBBM via CNN Newsource A senior citizen's vacant home in the Back of the Yards neighbourhood racked up a staggering $233,000 water bill, despite not having any plumbing for years. Diane Carli, 82, said the city of Chicago is threatening to garnish her pension, and she's looking for help because the Water Department isn't backing down on an outrageous bill she says is clearly an error. You don't need 20/20 vision to see this house in the Back of Yards neighbourhood is abandoned. 'It's gutted. … There's nothing in there,' Carli said. It has sat vacant for years, with no plumbing. Diane inherited the childhood property of her late husband in 2017. In December 2024, the city contacted her, telling her a new water meter needed to be installed. 'Why would you need to come in when there's no water there, and I'm not asking for water,' she said. She allowed the city to install a meter, and within six months she got a water bill that was out of this world. 'I said, 'A bill for what?' And they said for water,' she said. Despite the vacant home having no plumbing, she's been billed for $233,439.90 since the city installed the meter. 'This is unbelievable. This is totally wrong,' she said. After the meter was installed, the Water Department said she used more than 500,000 gallons. They have placed her account in collections, and threatened to garnish her pension. 'I'm slow, I'm dumb, whatever you want to call me, but it's going to take an Einstein to figure this s*** out. I don't care what you say,' she said. Her daughter, Lisa, went to City Hall to fight the bill, with no luck. 'As soon as you touched our property and made entry into our property, now we have water bill of $233,000,' Lisa said. The family turned to Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th) for help, but he couldn't get the Water Department to back down. 'The most we got was yesterday, they said, 'Well, we'll take off $25,000 in penalties for late charges,'' he said. 'I've never in my lifetime seen a bill like that,' Diane said. For years, CBS News Chicago has uncovered countless Chicagoans who all got hosed by outrageous bills for water they never used, and it continues. 'One would think that, after six years of seeing your stories on Getting Hosed, people within the Water Department, people within the Law Department, and people within Finance would understands mistakes happen,' Lopez said. 'They're going to put me in the grave with this, because what do I do?' Diane said. The city recently came back and replaced Diane's water meter, which is registering zero water usage. Lopez and the family are fighting the city to eliminate the entire bill. Diane is far from alone with her water bill woes. For years, CBS News Chicago has reported on this issue with our Getting Hosed series, leading to the Chicago City Council approving a water bill relief program last year.
CBS News
02-08-2025
- General
- CBS News
Chicago woman billed more than $233,000 for water she never used in vacant home with no plumbing
A senior citizen's vacant home in the Back of the Yards neighborhood racked up a staggering $233,000 water bill, despite not having any plumbing for years. Diane Carli, 82, said the city of Chicago is threatening to garnish her pension, and she's looking for help because the Water Department isn't backing down on an outrageous bill she says is clearly an error. You don't need 20/20 vision to see this house in the Back of Yards neighborhood is abandoned. "It's gutted. … There's nothing in there," Carli said. It has sat vacant for years, with no plumbing. Diane inherited the childhood property of her late husband in 2017. In December 2024, the city contacted her, telling her a new water meter needed to be installed. "Why would you need to come in when there's no water there, and I'm not asking for water," she said. She allowed the city to install a meter, and within six months she got a water bill that was out of this world. "I said, 'A bill for what?' And they said for water," she said. Despite the vacant home having no plumbing, she's been billed for $233,439.90 since the city installed the meter. "This is unbelievable. This is totally wrong," she said. After the meter was installed, the Water Department said she used more than 500,000 gallons. They have placed her account in collections, and threatened to garnish her pension. "I'm slow, I'm dumb, whatever you want to call me, but it's going to take an Einstein to figure this s*** out. I don't care what you say," she said. Her daughter, Lisa, went to City Hall to fight the bill, with no luck. "As soon as you touched our property and made entry into our property, now we have water bill of $233,000," Lisa said. The family turned to Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th) for help, but he couldn't get the Water Department to back down. "The most we got was yesterday, they said, 'Well, we'll take off $25,000 in penalties for late charges,'" he said. "I've never in my lifetime seen a bill like that," Diane said. For years, CBS News Chicago has uncovered countless Chicagoans who all got hosed by outrageous bills for water they never used, and it continues. "One would think that, after six years of seeing your stories on Getting Hosed, people within the Water Department, people within the Law Department, and people within Finance would understands mistakes happen," Lopez said. "They're going to put me in the grave with this, because what do I do?" Diane said. The city recently came back and replaced Diane's water meter, which is registering zero water usage. Lopez and the family are fighting the city to eliminate the entire bill. Diane is far from alone with her wate bill woes. For years, CBS News Chicago has reported on this issue with our Getting Hosed series, leading to the Chicago City Council approving a water bill relief program last year.
RNZ News
10-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Watercare charges Auckland woman $800 bill due to faulty meter
Watercare admits up to 16,000 of its 40,000 EDMI smart meters were faulty. Photo: Supplied / Watercare Watercare has issued a public apology - via RNZ's Checkpoint - to a user facing an estimated $800 water bill, due to a faulty meter. The water provider now admits up to 16,000 of its 40,000 EDMI smart meters around Auckland are faulty, generating zero bills and leading to substantial catch-up bills. Two weeks ago, Lizzie from the North Shore told Checkpoint about a $410 bill that she refused to pay, until it was "based in fact and not just plucked out of the air". She subsequently received another, even bigger bill that equated to using 4342 litres of water a day. The Browns Bay couple now face a combined bill of about $1200. "This has gone beyond being mildly irritating," Lizzie said. "I can't figure out where this has come from. "I went back through our previous bills - our monthly water usage is somewhere between $65-75. The most it's ever been was $85 over a Christmas/New Year period. "I can't figure out why they're saying we must pay our overdue accounts immediately to avoid further action, when they were the ones that agreed we should cancel our direct debit, because the previous bill was over the time. "I don't know what's going on. I can't figure out how anyone could use this amount of water. "They don't value their customers, do they?" Checkpoint host Lisa Owens was able to pass on a message from Watercare. "They say they have made a mistake, and they'll get in touch with you directly to apologise and sort this," she said. "They said they sincerely apologise for the inconvenience to you, and they will get you a new water meter and sort out that large bill, which is an estimation." Lizzie responded emotionally: "I want to say thank you to you, but it shouldn't have come to this, should it? "Could you imagine a small business trying to operate this way - they wouldn't survive. "I'm really grateful for what you've done for me ... really, really grateful." Watercare admitted to Checkpoint it had made a mistake with the estimation, blaming a processing error by the service agent. It said it would re-assess the charge in line with past water consumption at that address. Of the 16,000 fault meters, 13,672 have been shifted to manual reading and the balance are scheduled to move to manual reading. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
