Who should pay for the repair of the phone facility inside aparment? Landlord or tene

[rock31]

State: NJ

Who should pay for the repair of the phone facility inside aparment? Landlord or tenent?

I just moved in an apartment, and ordered the Verizon phone services.
After the service was turned on, still the phone was dead. I called Verizon, they said there might be jack or wire problem inside the apartment, they would charge for at least $91 if they repair the problem. Since they stated this problem existed before they start to provide service.

Then I called my landlord to see if the landlord can pay the bill. But landlord don't want to pay the bill.

So, I just wonder who should pay for this?

Thanks alot.
Rock

[MandyD]

My guess is you.

When you ordered your service, you were given an option to be covered for inside repairs for a mere few dollars a month. Apparently you chose not to take that coverage and now you're going to have to pay for it.

[rock31]

I searched website, and an article that state clearly landlord should provide jacks and wires inside the apartment. Check it out. [url]http://www.griswoldremgmt.com/RR-99-07-25.htm[/url]. Don't give out wrong information. By the way, I do purchased the option you mentioned. But it does not cover the existing problem before they start to provide services.

[MandyD]

Originally Posted by rock31

I searched website, and an article that state clearly landlord should provide jacks and wires inside the apartment. Check it out. [url]http://www.griswoldremgmt.com/RR-99-07-25.htm[/url]. Don't give out wrong information. By the way, I do purchased the option you mentioned. But it does not cover the existing problem before they start to provide services.

Um, why the hell wouldn't you have done this research BEFORE bothering us?

[danno6925]

Here's the REALLY easy way out of this before you pester anyone about anything:
READ YOUR LEASE.

Usually there is a clause regarding necessary repairs. Anything under a certain $$ amt is on you. over it, on the LL.

This is why you should read every contract you're asked to sign line by line.

[justalayman]

Originally Posted by rock31

I searched website, and an article that state clearly landlord should provide jacks and wires inside the apartment. Check it out. [url]http://www.griswoldremgmt.com/RR-99-07-25.htm[/url]. Don't give out wrong information. By the way, I do purchased the option you mentioned. But it does not cover the existing problem before they start to provide services.

Did you notice the answer involved California law. I may have missed it but I didn't see Joisey in the article.

Unless there is a law in Joisey that requires a phone line, the LL may have an out unless he included telephone infrastructure in your lease.

[FarmerJ]

Phone wiring is part of the structure and the LL needs to pay the bill , the only time it the LL is off the hook is when a unit has not had phone wiring in the past. other wise phone wiring is part of the structures systems and needs to be repaired by the LL no diff than if it was a broken light switch. MANY people inc LLs still cling to some idea that the phone wiring inside the building belongs to the phone co This is not so, Back in the 80s when the bell system broke up , the phone cos stopped taking responsibility for the phones and repairs then not long after did the same thing to all wiring beyond where the lines from outside connected to the inside wires , this wasnt just home wiring it was all wiring after the outside wires. DO this call your city housing inspections dept and ask them to come out and write a repair order. If the LL ignores the repair order then you have to decide whether you want to bring it in to small claims after you have paid the bill. Ill lay odds that your LL will lose this one in court. Infact contact the original phone co , example , in Mpls mn the original phone co was Northwestern bell, which became USwest which became qwest so if I wanted written information as to when they stopped maintaining inside wiring for free , Id contact them, likely they should have it in so called old library archive files. Bring it to court with you, same thing with your city /county inspections , if they have defined a homes wiring systems really well in ordinances and have listed phone wiring or even loosely mention other wiring systems as part of what the LL is to maintain bring that with you too.

[acmb05]

Save everyone a hassle and unscrew the phone jack from the wall. Take a look at the wires to see that they are all connected, if not then simply connect them and save yourself 90 bucks.

Most of the phone lines I have fixed, this has been the sole problem. It they are all hooked up then spend 5 dollars and buy a new phone jack and put it in. Unless a mouse or something in the wall has been chewing on the line there is almost no chance that the problem is in the line itself.

Also have you gone out and looked at the phone box outside and made sure the wire from the house is connected out there?

I would also call Verizon and have them have someone come out and check the connection outside. Have them make sure that the phone line is actually getting a signal to the house.
If it is then get a handy man to hook you up a new jack if you dont know how. It will run you about 20 bucks.