Can I be charged for my roommate’s delinquent utility bill from 7 years ago?

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Can I be charged for my roommate’s delinquent utility bill from 7 years ago?

I moved in to a house with my roommate and got the utility bills in my name. The gas company called me a little while later to tell me that because my roommate was living in the house with me the past due bill from her previous residence would have to be paid or they would shut my gas off and they did.

Asked on October 13, 2011 under Bankruptcy Law, Missouri

Answers:

FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 13 years ago | Contributor

Yes you can be charged for a delinquent utility bill of your roommate that is seven (7) years old. Whether you are obligated to pay for it is an entirely different matter.

The house that you shared with your roommmate had the utility bills in your name so technically the bill that you are writing about would be your responsibility. However, there is a thing called the "statute of limitaions" which is a time period where a person who claims an obligation owed has to file a lawsuit within a certain amount of time.

If not lawsuit has been filed against you for this utility bill, it would seem that under the laws of your state a seven (7) year old bill would be barred under your state's statute of limitations from being able to be collected upon.

Good luck.


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