# Should I have to pay? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 3, 2014, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-to-pay/680438 "2014-02-03T18:40:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![tadtooornamental](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@tadtooornamental](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tadtooornamental)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-to-pay/680438/41 "2014-02-09T20:19:50Z")
When I moved into my apartment, there were cable _hookups_ already in place, but there was no active cable service. When I had internet/cable hooked up myself, I had to pay an installation fee. However, the company I receive service from, CompanyC, didn’t like the way that the cables were run outside (all three technicians that have been to the apartment suggest it was CompanyD, as they tend to do things oddly), and they wanted to reroute the wiring to make more sense/give stronger signal/whatever. As it was their suggestion, I wasn’t charged anything for it. Not that this is going to help you too much, but since it was your apartment manager’s wish, I would assume he would pay for it. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-to-pay/680438/42 "2014-02-10T13:56:51Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > I would pour over your lease… \ I’m no mind reader, but I’m pretty sure you meant “pore” instead of “pour.” Unless you are suggesting that you would dispense dispense liquid onto a legal document… \ ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-to-pay/680438/43 "2014-02-10T15:38:49Z")
Now we’ve got that sorted out, can we start debating the difference between “installation” and “instalment”? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-to-pay/680438/44 "2014-02-10T16:33:23Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > 30 years ago cable was wired into the attic and then inside walls in a professional manner. It was expected. Now the installers are under the gun to do considerably more installations per day which can only be done by routing the wire around the house and drilling into the outer wall of every room connected. I’ve rewired a number of them for homeowners disgusted with the shoddy work. With all the competition in the communication business it’s a simple matter of money available to do things right. It’s not there. > > I would expect the landlord to pay for any alterations made to the existing wiring. This is the exact sitution in which (as a homeowner), I might be inclined to say to a tech, “What if I pay double – will you do the wiring work correctly then?” Sadly, I think probably any amount of money one throws at the problem will not solve the real problem, which is the subcontractors are contracted to get as much done as fast as possible, not _as well_ as possible. It’s frustrating when you actively try to pay more for better quality and are stymied at every turn. With regard to the OP, I strongly support your decision to move at the end of the lease. Watch your butt on the way out though. This sounds like the type of landlord/property manager who will stick it to you on cleaning charges just to nickel and dime you out of as much of your deposit as possible. Document, document, document. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-to-pay/680438.md?page=2)