I share a common sewer line with two neighbors. The neighbor on the left was having sewer problems. I found out because he hired a contractor who came over and told me Left Neighbor had hired him, he thought the problem was the common sewer line and it would cost $600 for him to scope it out…“and that is just the beginning”…and as a “good neighbor” I should chip in. It bugged me, I call my plumber and three other guys, go the the Sanitation Dept, etc etc etc. LN’s contractor gives him a bid of $11,000. I get a bid of $6,000 and LN’s guy expresses amazement and drops his bid to $5,900 and emails me to say he does not understand why I would need other bids, he, himself, is reliable and I should trust him.
I did not trust the guy, and I told my neighbors I was more than willing to help pay for the work, but only if we hired someone I could trust. They told me they trusted him and were going to hire him. I pointed out that $5,900 split two ways was cheaper per person than $11,000 split three ways (which is what they would have been paying if I had trusted their guy)
Now they are taking me to small claims court to pay my “share”. Anyone with any experience or helpful advice?