Why do some people do this?

[bagpussinamerica]

Ok, this is really off topic. I happen to have a very wonderful neighbour. But honest to God, she has a way of really getting to me when it matters the most. I hate to say it, but I think she loves the drama of it. Who knows. The most recent is this. Lately I have been hearing the noise of water running in the house. I called the water board and they sent a guy out who tells me there is a leak between my house and the shutoff outside. Probably just seeping into the stones. No damage in my home. I have called a contractor and he says don't worry. But can cost anywhere between $200 and $900 to fix. Depends on if the pipe is plastic or galvanized and if the foundation to the house has been breached. Then he says, but bear in mind that he has done several of them in my area and the homeowners insurance has covered it. I heard this from someone else as well. But my neighbour says no....no insurance company will cover such a thing and she should know since her daughter used to work for an insurance co. Then she tells me it is probably galvanized pipe cause hers was...so it will probably cost me $900. And it HAS to be done now since it will probably get into the foundation soon. All of which the contractor said not to worry about. Oh, then she tells me that when they had a leak, she almost got taken off of any insurance co because once you have a water issue, no insurance company will every touch you again...so best you don't claim against it. So now I am back home and worried beyond any help at all. What I need is a stiff drink.

[Bummer Knees]

My daughter would call this "high school drama"

Don't listen to this person!

[jayne]

Bags,last icestorm we had a busted pipe it cost less than 5 dollars to fix but did take an hour or so...if yours is buried it is gonna cost more....do you know anyone who could fix it for you? call your insurance company they may take care of it without anything but your deductable.....so sorry girlie

[AQA]

I think I would have just blow the neighbor off. Then I would have have called my insurance adjuster and asked them.

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

I would say, why not just call your Insurance Agent. Then simple ask them, or ask them to find out for you. This way you didn't make a claim yet. Information is knowledge...

[bagpussinamerica]

that would certainly be the easy thing to do. My home is in my sisters name....having lived in England for more than 30 years left me with no credit here. I pay for everything...but all of the paperwork etc is with my sister and she can't find the insurance papers. So she is calling the i.c. and getting them to send everything back. My neighbour is really the nicest person you could ever know. And always there to help...but she does have a way of knowing everything. Usually I just brush it off since most of the time it has nothing to do with me. Not so easy this time.

Yes, my pipes are buried very deep and most of it is surrounded by thick rock. A real bugger to get to. So I do expect real damage to the landscaping. And it looks like the front step to the house will go as well. Still. I am going to take confidence with the contractor, who seemed to know more about it anyhow. He is also the same man who took care of my neighbours pipes when they leaked. In her case, however, there was another larger leak coming from the main pipes to the house and that flooded their basement. I don't have that problem.

Always one thing after another. I did get one laugh out of the whole thing. I came home really upset and mentioned what my neighbour had said to my friend. She said that she had the impression that my neighbour always seemed to have to know it all. Which is exactly what my neighbour said about my friend. I did laugh....obviously I couldn't share that little jest.

[Still in Limbo]

I would have to Think that the Water Co. and a Contractor may know a bit More about Pipes than Your Neighbor, and it seems Her Situation was Different than Yours, so I would go with the 2 Other Sources. If You live in an Area that Has Winter, I Believe the Frost Line is 16 or 18 Inches, so Your Pipe is at Least that Deep! Just keep an Eye on Your Water Bill and Your Basement, and if the House is Mortgaged, Your Sister can Find Her Ins. Info. on Her Year End Statement that Shows where Her Escrow Monies Went. I wouldn't Worry, and Just Keep an Eye on the Items I Mentioned, and if the Bill gets High, or You See Wet Spots in the Basement, then I would get Concerned!!

[1171]

touching/stiring anothers "fear" button has always been an easy way to get attention and, if so inclined, manipulate their behavior.
she's just doing what today's media has taught everyone.
besides avoiding these purveyors of fear and those that use fear tactics, information rather then alcohol, is often a better innoculation

[bagpussinamerica]

Yes, well I spent most of the evening going through the internet to find out what I could. Nothing really encouraging though. I keep a look out in the basement for water etc, and everything is fine there. No damp spots etc. My water is on a well, so I don't actually have any idea of what the water usage is. I don't get a water bill as such...it is part of the mortgage. What I will do though, is start cutting back on every single thing and try to save at least $200 a month for three months...and I will get the tax refund from my sister for the taxes on the house. She figures that will be about $200. So, barring any emergency, once I have saved enough it will be time to do the work. The ground won't thaw here until April and sometimes a bit later, depending. Everything that I could find says that pipes breaks in the house are covered. Not pipes outside of the house. But again, these things also say "most" don't cover. I could be lucky. The problem is that this isn't normal wear and tear. The pipes that were put in were galvanized, which apparently is what every house up here is having problems with. Galvanized pipes give way. So it is the contractors who built the house. Unfortunately...they are long gone.