Forging Utility Bills

[dlei]

West Virginia

I bought a rental property recently. The rental term is all utility included. I requested the utility bills in the past 12 months from the buyer before I got into contract and they looked good. But I am now in suspison of forgery of the utility bills. Is it legal for the seller to do this and what can I do to pursue this? What kind of punishment the seller cen get if I sue?

Thanks for your advice!!

[seniorjudge]

Get the utility bills from the utility company and compare them.

[lcannister]

Suspicion is NOT proof. Are the bills on legitimate billing material or copies from the internet? How much different are the bills you are getting that the ones you were presented? Substantial?

I would not expect to retire on what you MIGHT get in any small claims case you MIGHT have unless you are talking thousands a month difference, to many variables that could change sellers bills and the ones you are now getting.

[dlei]

Thanks for the quick response!!
I am pretty sure the seller deflated the number by at least $300 a month. So you mean I can get the seller's utility bills from the utility companies? I will if I can. The bills I got are faxes copies. If tt is obvious the numbers are forged, what can I do to pursue further?

[seniorjudge]

Originally Posted by dlei

Thanks for the quick response!!
I am pretty sure the seller deflated the number by at least $300 a month. So you mean I can get the seller's utility bills from the utility companies? I will if I can. The bills I got are faxes copies. If tt is obvious the numbers are forged, what can I do to pursue further?

Get the utility bills from the utility company and compare them.

[lcannister]

Originally Posted by dlei

Thanks for the quick response!!
I am pretty sure the seller deflated the number by at least $300 a month. So you mean I can get the seller's utility bills from the utility companies? I will if I can. The bills I got are faxes copies. If tt is obvious the numbers are forged, what can I do to pursue further?

You could file a small claims case I suppose as the least expensive method of perhaps recoverying some of the expenses. Or spend monies and get an Atty involved with proof of fraud, if there proves to be forgery. What might you recover, I have no idea.

[lcannister]

If it is not so you can determine fraud then keep this in mind, bills from one year to another can change substantially due to weather variances etc. Therefore, it could be last year was a mild year and this more sever, with a mere addition of more winds etc. Lots of variables that might have nothing to do with fraud.

Good Luck