-- Posted by sexybabe at 1:25 pm on Aug. 1, 2005 I share a house with two other girls at university and we've had a landline phone installed in the house.....however, I can remember things being said about it but I don't remember an actual discussion taking place and me agreeing to it being put in   I have made a point of not using this phone so no links can be made between me and it by my housemates, but what on earth am I going to say when they ask me for the money for line rental?!  Being able to afford it is not a problem but I really don't want to pay because I don't feel it was discussed with me.  I feel a bit stupid actually, but I'm sure its not me!   Help somebody.... -- Posted by imitasian at 1:27 pm on Aug. 1, 2005 when the bill comes, tell them to split the costs based on the proportion of use so if girl A uses it 60% of the time, she pays 60% of the cost if you use it 0%, you pay nothing -- Posted by tybalt at 1:31 pm on Aug. 1, 2005 you all need to talk about it.  tell them that you haven't used the phone and will not use it, so you don't expect to have to pay. remember, if you're receiving calls, then you should really pay some line rental. make sure there is no doubt about how things are going to ber done in the future. i'm just getting a house sorted for next year - we're being careful to avoid problems like this -- Posted by angelgod2615 at 1:38 pm on Aug. 1, 2005 Quote: from imitasian at 3:27 pm on Aug. 1, 2005 when the bill comes, tell them to split the costs based on the proportion of use so if girl A uses it 60% of the time, she pays 60% of the cost if you use it 0%, you pay nothing I agree- I had they same problem and I had to pay 50% even though I rarely used the phone! -- Posted by sexybabe at 1:49 pm on Aug. 1, 2005 The line rental is a standard cost for the year though isn't it.  Obviously I'm not paying actual bills because I haven't used it or received calls on it.  But I can just see a big row will happen and they will make it look like I'm the one in the wrong when I'm not     -- Posted by Starborn at 1:56 pm on Aug. 1, 2005 Quote: from sexybabe at 3:49 pm on Aug. 1, 2005 The line rental is a standard cost for the year though isn't it.  Obviously I'm not paying actual bills because I haven't used it or received calls on it.  But I can just see a big row will happen and they will make it look like I'm the one in the wrong when I'm not     Then you better contact quickly and say on the phone that you want to talk some more on the phone or that you don't want to use that phone so you're not going to pay for it. And that's that. If you tell them right away then you guys can sort this out instead of waiting for the row to happen. -- Posted by justaguy at 2:02 pm on Aug. 1, 2005 Thats not really fair though. Say you need to use it this one time for an emergency. Do you really plan on paying like $1 for the call? Think of it like insurance, or just start using it. Just because you weren't consulted doesn't mean you should totally exclude yourself for reasons of "pride" or "being independent". Its a land line and you've already stated money isn't a problem. -- Posted by sexybabe at 2:20 pm on Aug. 1, 2005 Quote: from justaguy at 2:02 pm on Aug. 1, 2005 Thats not really fair though. Say you need to use it this one time for an emergency. Do you really plan on paying like $1 for the call? Think of it like insurance, or just start using it. Just because you weren't consulted doesn't mean you should totally exclude yourself for reasons of "pride" or "being independent". Its a land line and you've already stated money isn't a problem. I don't use the phone, I use my mobile.  I feel quite annoyed about not being consulted  properly and I would have said no to being part of it even if i had been consulted, its not just a pride thing.  The other two are more matey than me and the whole thing has made me feel like I'm insignificant and things don't need to be discussed with me or something. -- Posted by justaguy at 12:20 am on Aug. 3, 2005 Well explain that to them then. But when your phone battery fucks up and you need to make an emergency call, don't expect anyone to bend over backwards you know? Its like buying a fire extinguisher. You really should have one just incase even if you don't have a need for it right now. -- Posted by JennyColada at 6:54 am on Aug. 3, 2005 My roommate and I have cable TV, whether or not I were to use it the bill still has to be paid. You don't just pay for what you DO use, but what you CAN use. If the phone is there in your house and you have access to it then, in my opinion, you should help with the cost. But if you don't want to then you need to talk to your roommates about how you didn't really want to get a phone because you have a cell phone. Do they have cell phones? My roommate and I both have cell phones so we agreed purchasing a land-line would be stupid and pointless. Do you get along with these girls otherwise? Maybe they just figured that you'd agree, or maybe they don't have cell phones and (obviously) need a phone. I'm sure if you respectfully share your views they'll be open to hearing your side, most people are. -- Posted by sexybabe at 3:22 pm on Aug. 3, 2005 Quote: from JennyColada at 6:54 am on Aug. 3, 2005 My roommate and I have cable TV, whether or not I were to use it the bill still has to be paid. You don't just pay for what you DO use, but what you CAN use. If the phone is there in your house and you have access to it then, in my opinion, you should help with the cost. But if you don't want to then you need to talk to your roommates about how you didn't really want to get a phone because you have a cell phone. Do they have cell phones? My roommate and I both have cell phones so we agreed purchasing a land-line would be stupid and pointless. Do you get along with these girls otherwise? Maybe they just figured that you'd agree, or maybe they don't have cell phones and (obviously) need a phone. I'm sure if you respectfully share your views they'll be open to hearing your side, most people are. They do both have cellphones, but I get the impression that one of my housemates is the sort of girl who spends her money on silly things and throws money away know what i mean?!  I do get on with them both but they tend to discuss general things to do with the house with each other and not me.  To be honest, if you're living with other people then you have to discuss issues that require all people in the house to spend money, rather than assuming they'll agree   -- Posted by Atm150 at 9:44 pm on Aug. 9, 2005    Now, you're amnesiac....you don't remember saying yes to the phone line.  But actually,  you're the one who suggested it.     -- Posted by Flow Morphia Slow at 1:52 pm on Aug. 10, 2005 before the bill actually comes, tell your housemates that since you haven't use the phone, you weren't consulted and you didn't want the landline, that you don't want to pay for it. If they get pissed off, then pay for it, but tell them that you won't be using it/paying for it next time because you have a mobile phone.  Try to be diplomatic if you find yourself having to compromise. -- Posted by slide 86 at 11:28 pm on Oct. 9, 2005 You shouldn't have to pay it if you don't use it. I think your roommates would understand that. I would just talk to them about it. -- Posted by PapaDaca at 12:06 pm on Nov. 11, 2005 get a cell phone plain and simple! -- Posted by Practical Discretion at 11:13 pm on Nov. 13, 2005 You should chip into paying the "basic" charge.  However you shouldn't pay extra for calls that you did not make. -- Posted by DiamondRancher1 at 1:07 pm on Nov. 16, 2005 don't use it and you won't have to pay use it and you will