Job Discussion Forums

[StayingPower]

Little lost here, after the big rain we'd had Mar. 6-8, received electrical shocks from the house I'm renting, called power company and found electrical leak or hot spots.

Told landlady, evasive, no response yet, wondering about the next big rain, safety. Told her maybe give me back my deposit, I go, said No.

What can I do?

Hey, it's good to be back on the board.

[LKJ]

Move house.

I hope this helps.

LKJ

[timmyjames1976]

Don't pay any more rent until things are fixed.

[BigWally]

agree with the withholding of rent, but why not ask a Taiwanese friend if they know someone who could come look at it for you (maybe with only minimal cost) to get an idea of the cost of repairs....if its feasible just do it yourself

[timmyjames1976]

[StayingPower]

Thanks for your imput. I'd tried all of the above, but the landlady'd seemed bent on concealing the matter. So I, and with my only optiom, called authorities and have had a big battle. Not sure where I stand right now. But this is the meat of the matter.

Two electricians-one of her choice and one of mine-plus the police, swung by. They investigated. Took an hour.

Problem is, I'd built a pond in the front yard. It's about 18" deep, remember scraping a pipe. Would've inquired as to power lines etc, beforehand, but that's a task, esp. without my expert Chinese language ability and since my landlady was very finicky, or domineering. I just wanted to get the job done though, and that for personal purposes.

Well, their conclusion was, it's the pond! I laid it with liner and had thought, Well, if I hit a power line, this'd be the end of my fish. Nothing happpened. Then, the big rains came Mar 6-8th.

So I'm consternated. I think it was an act of losing face. I thing it's an electrical leak stemming from a sliced wire somewhere, perhaps this decision just an act of saving of face. I don't mind this fact.

Fact is, however, if it's not, A HUGE LAWSUIT COULD ENSUE!. I'm not the type to sue, but this is lifet threatening, IF THE LANDLADY IS LYING. I think the problem stems from the house itsself, as the pond abutts the front porch.

Really weird, and I need absolute certainty, or a definite conclusion, since I've my suspicions as to why the landlady would try to cover up the matter in the first place and had had a 10,000 NT electrical bill(without anyone living there,) given to her before I'd moved in.

I think she knows. I don't want a tort case, but some suspicious activities have occurred as a result. My school was called by immigration(the landlady's daughter works for the government,) complaints have been made out of the ordinary, since I rescue stray dogs and have had them there for over two mos without conflict; and acts of possible set-ups, to oust me from Taiwan.

This makes me want to ask: Is there any organization I can look to for help? I know AIT, but I NEED REAL AUTHORITY, was told to perhaps seek TaiPower, since I've been told they "have to" investigate electrical problems.

Thing is, the police were good. But they're only keepers of the peace. I'm now having to pay a 6000NT repair bill, all of my own volition. Yet could it have been the pond and are electric lines buried underground?

I know one way to prove this decision, yet am worn out.

[BigWally]

It sounds like you're making some progress. Keep at it, this definitely sounds like someone is trying to avoid losing face.

As for my earlier post, I want to clarify that I wasn't suggesting to do the repairs yourself, but rather, if the cost was feasible just pay for it yourself and let the matter disappear.

[StayingPower]

System overload, something we all should be aware of, since it's "common sense", (according to most Taiwanese,) that you know the capacity of electrical output when you move into a place verses the aqe of the buidling and usage from you.

So I've learned. Or is it a lack of skilled work done on the house, cheap housing, a sort of slum-lord mentality?

So I believe, yet let it rest. For now, disclosed.