May 24, 2004

• Bathtub Banshee

  
  

  Oh, did I mention there is a gaping hole in my bathtub? And that it has been there for months, seriously inconveniencing my bubble-bathing habits? And that although my boyfriend ( “El Destructo”) accidentally put it there by bumping his knee against the side of the tub while reaching for the soap one evening, causing a flood and a massive cave-in? And that I’m pretty sure bathtubs, at least not crappy defective ones, are supposed to randomly give way under such circumstances? And now my management company, to whom I pay inordinate sums of rent despite the fact that they have still not made basic repairs to my apartment, have been aware of said hole for months and still not done anything about it? And are now threatening ME with an attorney because I have not been forthcoming in forking over further ridiculous sums of money, nevermind without a contractor’s itemized estimate,  to have the bathroom repaired (more like renovated, ha) for something that is clearly not my liability.  

  
  

  an excerpt from an email i sent to them last night, upon recieving the third threatening message from them in a week (but hmm…there still a hole in my tub?!):

  
  

  “…..I am more than willing to have someone come and fix the tub, considering it has been months since the problem was brought to your attention and I had expected it to be addressed considerably sooner. Frankly, I am finding it a little frustrating that I have to play phone and email tag with you in order to make these “arrangements”, when maintenance could have simply come over in the first place and at least made a temporary repair to the bathtub.

  
  

  Allow me to be very clear with you on the point regarding any cost of repair. I absolutely do not feel that I am liable for any damage to the tub itself, the floor beneath, or anything else having to do with damage to the bathroom caused by flooding or water leakage. First of all, I do not feel I should  have to pay for the hole in the bathtub, seeing as it was obviously defective or poorly installed in he first place. If anything, your company, the landlord, or the contractors who installed it should be liable to me, considering my boyfriend could have been seriously hurt when the tub caved in. Secondly, any damage caused to the floor underneath from the initial flood is not my responsibility, for the same reason outlined above. I would also add that any water damage, however nominal, which resulted from any delay in repair on your part is hardly my responsibility either. Nor would I consider paying for any damage, even if it was my fault, without first recieving a written estimate from a licensed contractor which explicitly outlined any structural damage done as well as an itemized list of repairs to be completed. So if you are concerned about getting any “$” to fix the bathroom, you will have to seek an alternate source.

  
  

  I am sorry if this makes the situation more difficult for you. I feel I have been more than patient in this matter, considering this is the second time during my lease that your company has not been forthcoming in making critical repairs.

  
  

  thank you,

  
  

  Ann R “

  
  

  Not to mention that I checked out the creepy basement under my apartment, and I found a huge pile of scrap wood from the last renovation piled on the dirt floor, among other trash and crap, right beside the two gas furnaces which heat my building. Now, I’m pretty sure that’s hardly up to code. I think I shall be making a few nasty phone calls today.

  
  

  Yeah, don’t f**k with the Annie.
  

  • 8:12 am
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