Two innocent questions may have cost me a lot of money

Biodegradable

So I was viewing a house about a month back after needing to relocate for a new job. On the day of the viewing, at one point when myself and the owner were in the living room, I asked about the TV. I was really only asking for the sake of making conversation, as there wasn't much else to say about the living room. That day I also asked if he had his own well or if he was on the town's water supply. He said he needed to have something done with the filtration and while he was saying so he was interrupted by a phone call. When he was off the phone I didn't bother asking him to continue what he had been saying.

But as we continued to talk about various things before I left the house, he would say "and I can always get Sky in". Then we would talk a bit more and then he would say it again. I guess it was just out of politeness that I probably replied "yeah yeah, I'll think about it", even though really I knew I wasn't going to think about it at all because I didn't want it. I didn't think much of the fact that he made several references to Sky at the time, but I'd say he must have mentioned it about four or five times between talking. I was dealing with his mother on the phone about a week prior, and after she clarified the rent price, she also texted that he could also get in Sky TV for €15 each per month if I wanted. I didn't think much of it that time either.

So anyway the first night I arrived to stay there, after a few minutes talking he mentioned about how he'd got Sky in, that it would be €15 a month and that they were due to call in a few days. Seeing as I was only just in the door and I didn't want to kill the mood! What I felt like saying was to him was "you shouldn't have jumped the gun on that one... if you're expecting me to pay for it I'd liked to have had a choice in the matter first!". But of course I had to be all polite and sh1t. I told him that I'd never actually agreed to that with me. He replied with "I just wanted to be sure you have the best experience here". When I asked if he could cancel it he said "oh I can't cancel it now". He then started waffling about how (without Sky) that the WiFi could go down while I might doing something important". I felt like saying "well that's very kind and all but I'm not paying for it". The WiFi he already had in was fine! By the way, that night he also mentioned something about how he had somebody due to arrive about the well, and that the water wasn't drinkable for the time being unless it was boiled.

He then said "well have a think about it", and me being me said "okay". This of course meant that there would be the inevitable moment when I'd have to revisit the issue! It's kind of funny because on the day of the viewing I should be straight up with him if I'd any issues, and here was I thinking that I'd come across as an asshole for being straight up. In the end I chose the wording of "I don't know if I can afford it". With that choice of words I thought it might make him think "oh feck I never thought that this guy might be really tight for money". He said it was alright and that he was going to go ahead with it anyway. I'm pretty sure he cancelled it because there was no sign of Sky after the day he said they were due to call! I didn't like the situation it put me in though. There was I looking forward to turning over a new leaf and this has to be the first start.

Anyway I suddenly had to leave the house after a week for reasons I'd rather not disclose (completely different matter). I had put down a month's rent. I stayed in his house for a total of nine days. I was hoping he's give me back some of the €400 deposit. Of course it was entirely up to him as there was no lease. When I addressed this, he referred to how he had forked out €400 for a water treatment system for the well. Bullsh1t! He also added "I know you didn't want the Sky but I got in the Sky and I rearranged the room, etc."

Now he probably would have kept the deposit anyway, but it just goes to show you often need to anticipate other people's mistakes. That sh1t with the Sky annoyed me. The week prior to moving in I was on the phone to him trying to get him to go down in price, and then all of a sudden he thinks I'd be willing to pay more! For a while I was actually thinking "oh look I'll let it go, and just pay the €15 a month" for the sake of getting along. But why should I always be appeasing people?

McDermotX

Huh ?

skinny90

Cool story..could have used a lion tho

smelly sock

What?

irishman45

Thats a long story about 15 quid a month. Probably be happy to pay it to be honest if the place was close to work and rent was reasonable. The Landlord might also bring up been your pimp as well and charge a ton of money for people to come in and ride ya.

Biodegradable

irishman45 wrote: »

if the place was close to work and rent was reasonable.

No, it was almost twice as far as he told me it was. And the rent was expensive.

kneemos

Slowed a bit in the middle, but thought the finish was good.

NSAman

Is that the best attempt for a Booker Prize?

KevRossi

Sky for €15 a month?

Sky TV, or a view of the sky?

Cee-Jay-Cee

Cool story bro...I think.

Gregor Samsa

That’s an awful lot of words.

You could have just used a few of those words to clear up the situation about not wanting Sky. Then you could have used a few more of them to deal with the water filter comment.

You’d still have loads of words left over that you could use to make a post that made some sense.

irishman45

Biodegradable wrote: »

No, it was almost twice as far as he told me it was. And the rent was expensive.

Why did you give the deposit if it was twice as far from work. Ever hear of google maps?
Its a magnificent tool that lets you lookup the distance of two addresses or more.

Biodegradable

irishman45 wrote: »

Why did you give the deposit if it was twice as far from work. Ever hear of google maps?
Its a magnificent tool that lets you lookup the distance of two addresses or more.

He said it was 7 minutes. It was actually 10 minutes. The fella himself drives at a ridiculous speed.

I did drive the distance into the town after I first viewed the house just to see what it was like. It was a bit longer than he said, but there wasn't very many other options.

o1s1n

Thanks for helping with my insomnia this evening OP.

tdf7187

For some reason I'm reminded of Olivia Lee's estate agent sketches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ECsXHbUNcg

Leg End Reject

Biodegradable wrote: »

He said it was 7 minutes. It was actually 10 minutes. The fella himself drives at a ridiculous speed.

I did drive the distance into the town after I first viewed the house just to see what it was like. It was a bit longer than he said, but there wasn't very many other options.

3 extra minutes really makes a commute unbearable. A 10 minute drive each way is torturous. Lucky escape.

J Mysterio

o1s1n wrote: »

Thanks for helping with my insomnia this evening OP.

Its midnight. Insomnia doesn't start till later.

Roger Hassenforder

Biodegradable wrote: »

"I just wanted to be sure you have the best experience here".

...


Anyway I suddenly had to leave the house after a week for reasons I rather not disclose.

Worst denouement ever.
1/10
Would not recommend to a friend

kneemos

Roger Hassenforder wrote: »

Worst denouement ever.
1/10
Would not recommend to a friend

Left it hanging for the sequel I reackon.

Roger Hassenforder

kneemos wrote: »

Left it hanging for the sequel I reackon.

He's haemorrhaging readers, i cant see him turning this turd of a jerimiad around

Losty Dublin

Biodegradable wrote: »

So I was viewing a house about a month back after needing to relocate for a new job. On the day of the viewing, at one point when myself and the owner were in the living room.....

But why should I always be appeasing people?

Was he a crap ride, or wha?

Roger Hassenforder

TBF, I think he dodged a bullet

Edit: the landlord guy

yabadabado

I'd be shocked if Spielberg isnt on the phone to the OP to snap up the rights to this.

Wayne Jarvis

kneemos wrote: »

Slowed a bit in the middle, but thought the finish was good.

That's what she said.

listermint

Is this story biodegradable?







One can only wish

So the Butler didn’t do it?

Biodegradable

Roger Hassenforder wrote: »

TBF, I think he dodged a bullet

Edit: the landlord guy

After being there a few days, I noticed the remains of a burned out mattress in his backyard. And I didn't notice that he had tattoos all down one arm until the first day I stayed there. It gave me a bit more of a bad feeling I suppose.

Oh, and he also smoked and owned bull dogs. Just to give you a sense of what sort of guy he was.

Roger Hassenforder

Biodegradable wrote: »

After being there a few days, I noticed the remains of a burned out mattress in his backyard. I didn't notice that he had tattoos all down one arm until the first day I stayed there. It gave me a bit more of a bad feeling I suppose.

Oh, and he also smoked and owned bull dogs. Just to give you a sense of what sort of guy he was.

Sketchy fcuker. Tatoos are a pure giveaway.

liosnagceann75

That's 5 minutes I'll never get back

dxhound2005

Biodegradable wrote: »

After being there a few days, I noticed the remains of a burned out mattress in his backyard. I didn't notice that he had tattoos all down one arm until the first day I stayed there. It gave me a bit more of a bad feeling I suppose.

Oh, and he also smoked and owned bull dogs. Just to give you a sense of what sort of guy he was.

The recycling centres don't take mattresses. Or maybe it caught fire when he was smoking in bed.

colm_mcm

Biodegradable wrote: »

He said it was 7 minutes. It was actually 10 minutes. The fella himself drives at a ridiculous speed.

How long does it take him I wonder?

Purple Mountain

TL, DR

the_syco

Biodegradable wrote: »

Anyway I suddenly had to leave the house after a week for reasons I rather not disclose (completely different matter). I had put down a month's rent. I stayed in his house for a total of nine days. I was hoping he's give me back some of the €400 deposit. Of course it was entirely up to him as there was no lease. When I addressed this, he referred to how he had forked out €400 for a water treatment system for the well. Bullsh1t! He also added "I know you didn't want the Sky but I got in the Sky and I rearranged the room, etc."

You can get your deposit back via the small claims court, as you're classed as a licensee.

colm_mcm

the_syco wrote: »

You can get your deposit back via the small claims court, as you're classed as a licensee.

If you choose to leave before the period the rent covered?

NewbridgeIR

Biodegradable wrote: »

Anyway I suddenly had to leave the house after a week for reasons I rather not disclose (completely different matter).

Why not?

Biodegradable

liosnagceann75 wrote: »

That's 5 minutes I'll never get back

Tales such as this are only interesting on hindsight. You may end up in a similar situation, and you'll see something like this coming.

Biodegradable

the_syco wrote: »

You can get your deposit back via the small claims court, as you're classed as a licensee.

As someone who often can't let things go, that mightn't be what I needed to hear. I don't know if it'd be worth the hassle