evilive:
You have done the right thing.

You experience; though painful, is more of a blessing to prospective tenants reading this and a blessing to you as well. One day, they will detect and the stupid greedy tenant that thinks electricity falls like rain will pay both the outstanding debts and the estimated consumption ever since the meter was installed.

The fact that someone could bypass for months and the power providers did not detect is a sign of failure. Your report alone should have given birth to investigations into history of energy purchase on that meter; this I'm sure must affect the landlord somehow.

My suggestions;

1. Propose sharing of the debt to your landlord and if he sees no sense in it,

2. (Subtly) threaten the landlord with formal report of bypassing meter on his property. Let him know the likely consequences.

3. If he will return your money, you can move out.

4. Take it as your debt, approach your energy supplier to discuss payment pattern; I think there is a way they spread it over a period of time.

5. Run on generator until house rent expires. But, remember they will bypass again to trap another unsuspecting tenants.

Well, if you end up paying the debt, you have lost nothing. Those people calling your action stupid are the almighty wise Nigerians that complain about everything, but find it difficult to do anything the right way. Check them, they always lack.

You can't threaten your landlord, going through that approach will only make ykubget quite notice and also the other tenants getting same, the remaining tenants that are also involved in the case can even be jailed by the landlord. If I where a landlord and you threaten me, bro you and everybody that is involve in prepaid meter bypassing will be jailed by me. Its very certain the landlord is not aware. In mine house, I have told all tenants, once the prepaid meter comes, Know body bypasses. Strictly on prepaid, don't want any tenants causing problems for me in the future

[s]

post=86611029:
This rubbish happens in most apartments in Lagos, which is a very bad thing.

Surely, you cannot pay for what you never owed in the first place, it is not done!
If you are a law-abiding citizen like all of us @[color=#006600][/color], just try to go explain this issue to a lawyer.

All the very best!

[/s]

Alitair:
Have you seen how your Over-sabi and Holy holy has attracted a debt to you

A house that is not a virgin house, someone had lived there and for some reasons bypassed the PPM and connected directly. Thy holiness thought it illegal to enjoy light and went ahead to report to PHCN, even when the PHCN staff overlooked you Over sabi and asked for money to correct the fault, you refused and now you are complaining.

As you be Eze-Ego, go and clear the debts na or better yet.... Go and build your house and leave the man's house for him.

You brought this on yourself dear sir so kindly bear the burden.

Average mindset of a typical Nigerian yet you want the country to progress and be on the right part or compete with other nations...

A county where honesty is seen as oversabi, doing right thing is seen as holy holy..

To you and the Over 100 people that liked this comment... Nigeria is what you people deserve...


Op don't allow them change who you are or succumb to bribing... Tell the Landlord to offset the debt or refund you back your rent as you can't deal with the situation...

Report the NEPA staff. The landlord to NERC for bypassing meter...

lexxyrule:
Take him to court, he's to provide the precious tenant. Firstly, arrest him first and let him know you'll follow legal proceedure if he's not cooperative

But expect increment and/or quick notice afterwards

so what’s the essence of arresting your landlord if it will only strain the cordial relationship you have with him? He should have sorted the NEPA guy with some cash and followed up the issue thereafter

this same thing is happening to me too , i told my landlord about it and he to me its non of his business but the PHED advised me that the only thing i can do is to be paying the money as i subscribe like for e.g if recharge for 2k they will give me credit of 1500, so that what i have being doing.

go and buy solar, like 500K sebi you no get sense ni

See Below:

Gnaeusmagnus:


The sad thing about most of the comments here is that many of them were encouraging him to continue with the illegal connection.

When I say that the main problem with power in Nigeria is that most Nigerians don't want to pay their light bills, and that even giving everyone a meter won't solve the problem because many Nigerians will bypass the meter and enjoy free light, people abuse me and call me names and say I am evil, or supporting Buhari (that I never voted for, not since 2003 when he ran)

The problem even existed in the days of NEPA and analog meters. Illegal connections, people not paying for power, etc.

And when DISCOS and GENCOS complain of lack of funds people will come and say they are lying.

Meanwhile, power cannot improve in Nigeria...until people stop lying to themselves and PAY THEIR BILLS.

I've said the same thing in many other threads.

A lot of Nigerians love stuff for free, including electricity. They contest any amount on their bills and complain of being ripped off, and even when the bill is fair they usually settle a token amount (roughly the average residential customer pays between 2k and 3k), or none at all, and demand for meter. When they finally get their prepay meters, they proceed to tamper with, or bypass, these meters just to get something for nothing. And the same customers will say Nigeria is not working, leaders are corrupt etc. They bribe DisCo staff to wipe or adjust their debt, or bribe to have their bills lowered. As if stealing energy is neither theft nor corruption.

I don't understand why ppl are blaming the Landlord here.
According to the OP, the Landlord said that he had never lived in the house since he built it.

So do you pple expect the Landlord to come and pay for expenses he never incurred?
They should be blaming the Chief Tenant(Caretaker) for allowing such to happen in a house handed over to him. The caretaker should recover the money from the ex-tenant or be made to pay for the debt.

okine4real:


You can't threaten your landlord, going through that approach will only make ykubget quite notice and also the other tenants getting same, the remaining tenants that are also involved in the case can even be jailed by the landlord. If I where a landlord and you threaten me, bro you and everybody that is involve in prepaid meter bypassing will be jailed by me. Its very certain the landlord is not aware. In mine house, I have told all tenants, once the prepaid meter comes, Know body bypasses. Strictly on prepaid, don't want any tenants causing problems for me in the future

You may be right, but don't forget, that the tenant in question is innocent and very sensible. If you were to be the landlord, in this same situation, you may not be as innocent as you're feeling right now. If a landlord gives me quit notice in this very scenario, do you think it will be a walk over for him because he owns the house? I will make him pay those debts (outstanding and estimated cheat) as my own contribution to his wisdom.

Besides, quit notice is not a death sentence.

okine4real:


You can't threaten your landlord, going through that approach will only make ykubget quite notice and also the other tenants getting same, the remaining tenants that are also involved in the case can even be jailed by the landlord. If I where a landlord and you threaten me, bro you and everybody that is involve in prepaid meter bypassing will be jailed by me. Its very certain the landlord is not aware. In mine house, I have told all tenants, once the prepaid meter comes, Know body bypasses. Strictly on prepaid, don't want any tenants causing problems for me in the future

You may be right, but don't forget, that the tenant in question is innocent and very sensible. If you were to be the landlord, in this same situation, you may not be as innocent as you're feeling right now. If a landlord gives me quit notice in this very scenario, do you think it will be a walk over for him because he owns the house? I will make him pay those debts (outstanding and estimated cheat) into the right wallet as my own contribution to his wisdom.

Besides, quit notice is not a death sentence.

Op, you did the right thing.
Reduce your stress and pay the outstanding bill so your line can be reconnected.

Then visit your landlord and appeal to him to reimburse you fully or partly.

If he refuses to, let go. God will give you far more than you'd have lost. Meanwhile you will sleep well. NEPA issues can cause a person to have HBP.

clintwealth:
this same thing is happening to me too , i told my landlord about it and he to me its non of his business but the PHED advised me that the only thing i can do is to be paying the money as i subscribe like for e.g if recharge for 2k they will give me credit of 1500, so that what i have being doing.

I hope you are getting receipt for the 500 difference or be prepared to start afresh when new officer is transferred to that station.

Openedheavens:
I need nairalanders' advice concerning my present predicament.

I rented an apartment late last year and discovered my power wasn't disconnected despite having not made any recharge on the prepaid after 2 weeks.

I called my landlord brother who let the place out to me, to inform him about my findings, but he insisted that I was enjoying the recharge from the previous tenant.

I tried checking the balance through the small box used for recharging but it wasn't connecting and I believed it was a network issue

After about a month, my curiosity heightened and for the fact that I hate to be involved in anything illegal, I decided to make further inquiries concerning the metre.

My neighbor and chief tenant who has been in the house for about 4 years told me that there's debt on the metre which made the previous occupant connect directly while by passing the prepaid metre..

I called a friend who once worked with Nepa and he made findings saying the debt on the metre is 118,000 naira. I got the number of the landlord and decided to put a call to him last December.

He claimed that the house has been on prepaid metre since the erection of the building. And said I should ask Nepa how the debt was accrued..
I agreed with him so I decided to make more findings concerning how debt got on the metre.

During this period, a nepa official came for inspection, he dropped his phone number as I was not at home. I called him and explained everything to him..

He gave me the summary of the transaction which showed that the house owed a debt while on post paid, which was transfered on the prepaid meter when it was installed.
The nepa official indirectly asked me to bribe him so he would leave the metre not disconnected which I didn't oblige to.

He came last week to disconnect the metre and I have called the landlord who refused to find a solution to the problem.

My landlord claims he hasn't lived in the compound for a day and wouldn't be responsible for it. I suggested that I clear the bill and deduct it from my next rent. He refused.

I have been in darkness for over a week now and running on generator without any solution in sight.

What's the best measure I can take towards resolving this issue?

It's a simple matter. If you have your rent receipt for the period you have stayed there, you can write to the National Electricity Regulatory Commission with your complaints that you did not consume the previous energy charged and inherited the debt from the previous tenant, state all the challenges you encountered from the Distribution company and its staff and also the response you got from your landlord over the issue.

You will all be summoned to their office in your state to iron out issues and a firm decision will be reached by all parties affected.

If you can't write, ask a lawyer to write your complaints on his letterhead for you. It will get prompt attention.

Another advice to all is that, if you vacate a rented property, always write to the utility companies (electricity and water) of your intention to do so. Otherwise the bills will continue to read in your name and they may decide to sue you in future.

Good luck boss

Sometimes like this, you need to apply wisdom+ minding your own business.

[quote author=Openedheavens post=86594150]I need nairalanders' advice concerning my present predicament.

I rented an apartment late last year and discovered my power wasn't disconnected despite having not made any ...
I had similar experience too. I packed into a house and I met 108,000 outstanding post paid light bill.
Luckily for us,the landlord was able to pay till the balance was 28,000. So we agreed on sharing the remaining 28k 50:50,of which we've cleared to zero naira.
You have to talk with your landlord about it and it's not a must you have to pay all at once. You'll have to agree with your landlord. If possible he can pay up everything, that will nice,if 50:50 ratio,that will be good.

Alitair:
Have you seen how your Over-sabi and Holy holy has attracted a debt to you

A house that is not a virgin house, someone had lived there and for some reasons bypassed the PPM and connected directly. Thy holiness thought it illegal to enjoy light and went ahead to report to PHCN, even when the PHCN staff overlooked you Over sabi and asked for money to correct the fault, you refused and now you are complaining.

As you be Eze-Ego, go and clear the debts na or better yet.... Go and build your house and leave the man's house for him.

You brought this on yourself dear sir so kindly bear the burden.

lol

Kendroid:
Did you just return to 9ja or what?
U should have bribed the NEPA official immediately & continue using free light.
The only option you have now is to clear the bill yourself or continue running generator!

YOUR CHOICE!!

Bribe? Yet you crying for a better country

great664:


Bribe? Yet you crying for a better country

As en no bribe them now, the country don better?

Alitair:
Have you seen how your Over-sabi and Holy holy has attracted a debt to you

A house that is not a virgin house, someone had lived there and for some reasons bypassed the PPM and connected directly. Thy holiness thought it illegal to enjoy light and went ahead to report to PHCN, even when the PHCN staff overlooked you Over sabi and asked for money to correct the fault, you refused and now you are complaining.

As you be Eze-Ego, go and clear the debts na or better yet.... Go and build your house and leave the man's house for him.

You brought this on yourself dear sir so kindly bear the burden.

No mind d guy, na hin use hin hand put gbese ontop hin head

OP, since u cant do what the nepa official said, pls why cant u do like jesus as well, atleast u hav bn doin like jesus from the beginning, why dnt u kuku complete it by payin the debt??

its not much..its only 118k pere.

So u want to use ur over sabi and holy holy put the landlord into gbese abi?? gbese dat he himsef did not accrue according to ur story

Find out what the bill was as @ when you moved in, anything after that is yours.

Write officially to the power company asking for a full & final settlement also presenting your tenancy agreement as an evidence of when you moved into the apartment.

If they come after you for the outstanding bill, pay it & deduct it from the next rent. It’ll be difficult for him to evict you cos he has character issues too.

Openedheavens:

My landlord claims he hasn't lived in the compound for a day and wouldn't be responsible for it. I suggested that I clear the bill and deduct it from my next rent. He refused.

You have two option,
=> Demand for another prepaid meter from Power Authority

=> If they refuse, take the case to court and let court other the Power Authority to grant you your own prepaid meter as you cannot be help responsible for a bad debt.

Lexusgs430:



Wetin the landlord chop...... It's the landlords debt.......

No it is not. The tenant who did it has left the flat. Read the story

the truth is that ofe must be blown is that clear?

Openedheavens:
I need nairalanders' advice concerning my present predicament.

I rented an apartment late last year and discovered my power wasn't disconnected despite having not made any recharge on the prepaid after 2 weeks.

I called my landlord brother who let the place out to me, to inform him about my findings, but he insisted that I was enjoying the recharge from the previous tenant.

I tried checking the balance through the small box used for recharging but it wasn't connecting and I believed it was a network issue

After about a month, my curiosity heightened and for the fact that I hate to be involved in anything illegal, I decided to make further inquiries concerning the metre.

My neighbor and chief tenant who has been in the house for about 4 years told me that there's debt on the metre which made the previous occupant connect directly while by passing the prepaid metre..

I called a friend who once worked with Nepa and he made findings saying the debt on the metre is 118,000 naira. I got the number of the landlord and decided to put a call to him last December.

He claimed that the house has been on prepaid metre since the erection of the building. And said I should ask Nepa how the debt was accrued..
I agreed with him so I decided to make more findings concerning how debt got on the metre.

During this period, a nepa official came for inspection, he dropped his phone number as I was not at home. I called him and explained everything to him..

He gave me the summary of the transaction which showed that the house owed a debt while on post paid, which was transfered on the prepaid meter when it was installed.
The nepa official indirectly asked me to bribe him so he would leave the metre not disconnected which I didn't oblige to.

He came last week to disconnect the metre and I have called the landlord who refused to find a solution to the problem.

My landlord claims he hasn't lived in the compound for a day and wouldn't be responsible for it. I suggested that I clear the bill and deduct it from my next rent. He refused.

I have been in darkness for over a week now and running on generator without any solution in sight.

What's the best measure I can take towards resolving this issue?

Sorry to quote you.
Unfortunately, you're a prime example of a good citizen in a bad country.
Now calculate how much you've spent buying fuel and how much you could have used to bribe the NEPA official and you immediately look stupid.
Let me tell you, I have this same issue in my compound. If you investigate, you'll find that the debt put on the PPM is bogus and not the fault of either the landlord or the former tenant. I have a friend who fell victim of such too. He just woke up one morning to find 97k on his PPM. After extensive investigation and back and forth with NEPA guys, it was found that the debt was put on his PPM "by mistake". Oya reverse it, mba. NEPA (AEDC) hibernate. He had to bribe one of them to bypass him so he could get light after three weeks of running gen.
A guy on the first page made a very comical comment on your holy holy. He ain't wrong.
My suggestion is if you can get NERC to look at it or CPC you will end up paying nothing. But if not, simply bribe the NEPA dude and move on. Cause getting a lawyer will almost cost you same as that bill on the PPM itself. Even our God knows we're in a hell hole and have to do all we can to get by. You're not the problem. Nigeria is.

Alitair:
Have you seen how your Over-sabi and Holy holy has attracted a debt to you

A house that is not a virgin house, someone had lived there and for some reasons bypassed the PPM and connected directly. Thy holiness thought it illegal to enjoy light and went ahead to report to PHCN, even when the PHCN staff overlooked you Over sabi and asked for money to correct the fault, you refused and now you are complaining.

As you be Eze-Ego, go and clear the debts na or better yet.... Go and build your house and leave the man's house for him.

You brought this on yourself dear sir so kindly bear the burden.

You and everyone who liked this gibberish you spilled are very stvpid. Don't even quote me as you obviously lack debt of reasoning. No point trying to pour water in a basket.

NeoWanZaeed:


Na 9ja we dey.. no bribe nothing go happen .

Bribe them and leave the money for meter for next tenant

just imagine what you are saying later we will be blaming politicians for why Nigeria is corrupt

In my own opinion I would have advice you to sue him to court. But suing him to court will involve money, you understand what I mean by money. And our judiciary system of government is a total mess and corruption rules the heart of the judges.
Your landlord may use his power and political connection to intimate you if you attempt suing him.
I'll advice u to pay the little I can, just try. I know it is painful and frustrating but you've to do it.

It'll surely frustrate you more if you don't pay the bill. Am not asking u to pay all of it, but at least pay a little of it and ran away from the house when your house rent expires okay.

Alitair:
Have you seen how your Over-sabi and Holy holy has attracted a debt to you

A house that is not a virgin house, someone had lived there and for some reasons bypassed the PPM and connected directly. Thy holiness thought it illegal to enjoy light and went ahead to report to PHCN, even when the PHCN staff overlooked you Over sabi and asked for money to correct the fault, you refused and now you are complaining.

As you be Eze-Ego, go and clear the debts na or better yet.... Go and build your house and leave the man's house for him.

You brought this on yourself dear sir so kindly bear the burden.

must you talk... people like you are part of Nigeria's problem

Alitair:
Have you seen how your Over-sabi and Holy holy has attracted a debt to you

A house that is not a virgin house, someone had lived there and for some reasons bypassed the PPM and connected directly. Thy holiness thought it illegal to enjoy light and went ahead to report to PHCN, even when the PHCN staff overlooked you Over sabi and asked for money to correct the fault, you refused and now you are complaining.

As you be Eze-Ego, go and clear the debts na or better yet.... Go and build your house and leave the man's house for him.

You brought this on yourself dear sir so kindly bear the burden.

me sef dey vex for the matter

Eze-Ego indeed

xpmode:


You have two option,
=> Demand for another prepaid meter from Power Authority

=> If they refuse, take the case to court and let court other the Power Authority to grant you your own prepaid meter as you cannot be help responsible for a bad debt.

Eehn!! Another meter gini? Impossible!! Besides, he'll have to pay a minimum of 38k to get a new meter which will not happen. No DISCO will give you a new meter simply because the one there has debt on it. If he takes it to court, the legal fees will almost equal the debt on the meter so.. what is his gain. He should just bribe that good NEPA guy and move on.