Job Discussion Forums

[StayingPower]

Okay, I've screwed around a little here, this much I know. I'm currently undergoing a horrendous dilemma, and ask for anyones imput. So here goes.

I've rented a house here in Taiwan but due to the heavy rains Mar. 6-9th, I began to receive electrical shocks in an outside pond I'd built. I'd also received shocks, however, along the front porch and even the front door.

This being said, I immediately called the landlady. But it was a Saturday night, no electrician available She'd said she'd send an electrician come Monday. I, however, couldn't wait, and called TaiPower. They investigated the house Monday morning.

They found it to be hot, or giving off electrical currents. They used the best of technology. But I couldn't speak Chinese well enough to know what they really had said. Nonetheless, they'd said one half of the house was giving off electrical charges, and this they did via body language, or by pointing.

But the landlady now blames me, due to the fact I'd dug a pond in the front yard. I believe, however, she's wrong, and ask you all this: Should I enter into a lawsuit?

My thoughts are the following. I figure this is endangering the life of another, landlord negligence, and many other negative charges, not to mention I think they're trying to cover somethng up, because before I'd moved in, they'd received a NT10,000 electrical bill, wherein no one lived there.

I think TaiPower knows this as well.

[ithos]

Why can't the electrician just fix the problem?

Areas of a house don't just 'give off electrical currents' like they told you, something is wrong with the wiring. It is either a problem that has been there for ages, or one you caused with your shovel. I think if when you were building your pond you damaged something with a shovel you would know all about it.

Idk what the voltage is in Taiwan but I presume it is 110 as you are not dead. 110 won't kill a healthy person afaik but many countries where it is used don't bother with earth wires for this very reason so this would explain current running around the place and you getting shocked. If it were 230v it would be earthed and switches on your fuseboard would be constantly tripping but it sounds like this isn't the case.

What technology did they use? Really it is not a problem that technology will solve, it is just good old fashioned wiring, all they need is a phase tester and multimeter, don't let them rip you off charging you for the use of fancy gadgets.

Any previous problems with rats or mice? Is the house very old? Has it been recently renovated, any other DIY been done? Neighbours experiencing similar problems or just you?

Whatever you do don't start legal proceedings, this is a simple problem to end up in court in a foreign country for it would be insane.

[timmyjames1976]

I would NOT try and pursue this legally. The time and money that you would have to invest, and the fact that you did alter the area in question is not going to help you. This seems like a big headache. Can you move?

[StayingPower]

[timmyjames1976]

[Nevermind]