Recevied Repair Charges from WaterCorp for Damaging Pipe

bizarredeal on 12/05/2019 - 11:03
Last edited 12/05/2019 - 11:43

I was visiting a friend at a newly built house. The drive way was not fully built, to describe this, the left hand side going up the drive way has the water line. The left hand side is not a straight line but cuts inwards and the the pipe is exposed with no covers (this additional information is not so relevant).

I happen to drive over the main water line which was exposed - bursting the pipe. We managed to tied this up and call up WaterCorp.

They arrived and repaired this in about 2 hours. WaterCorp took my details as I owned up for the accident.

2 months later I received a Sundry account charges (doesn't say its a fine) at $279.

I am just wondering if anyone has been in this situation?
What would you have done in this situation?
What if we informed WC it was a hit and run?
What if I don't pay up this account?
Is this charge reasonable?

Thanks

Edit: OK, thanks all OZBers. Think I wanted to hear what I wanted to hear. :)

Financial

closed Comments

  • whooah1979 on 12/05/2019 - 11:14
    +4

    The driver is liable for property damages while they're in control of the vehicle.

    • oscargamer on 12/05/2019 - 11:35
      +2

      Unless there is negligence on the part of another party.

      It could be argued that the expectation of a driver is that a driveway can be driven on, unless there is a sign to the contrary or a warning sign of an uncovered pipe….

      Just saying

      • whooah1979 on 12/05/2019 - 11:50
        +1

        The water lead-in didn't have the correct depth of cover. OP may try and go after the owner of the property or the company that constructed the water lead-in.

        • bizarredeal on 12/05/2019 - 12:05

          Yea owner is my mate and he was sorry for the events.
          He was already in talks with the builder prior of the groove and potentially someone driving over. So if you were reversing from the left hand side of the garage straight, it lines up with the water pipe due to the cut in. So basically you need to back out and turn away from the pipe.

          But it will be too painful to go the builder. I was happy to cover the cost for my mistake.

  • whooah1979 on 12/05/2019 - 11:17
    +11

    They arrived and repaired this in about 2 hours. WaterCorp took my details as I owned up for the accident.
    $279.

    $279 is cheap for two hours labour plus parts.

    • thatonethere on 12/05/2019 - 15:59
      +2

      Yeah it is an ozbargain. Keep their number for all your plumbing needs!

  • [Deactivated] on 12/05/2019 - 11:17
    +4

    Somebody ends up paying, so people who aren't accident prone will side against you. The charge sounds reasonable.

    Could I ask, if you don't pay, where do you believe the money comes from? My answer would be other customers who did nothing wrong.

    • Diji1 on 12/05/2019 - 15:55
      -4

      And yet for some reason you don't mention the waste of the overpaid CEO and board that were put in place when a Government department was corporatised that everyone pays for in every bill.

      Just keep worrying about the non-existent waste like an obedient fool.

      • [Deactivated] on 12/05/2019 - 16:14

        Get the CEO in here for an AMA, then. I call your tired, slacktivist bluff.

  • [Deactivated] on 12/05/2019 - 11:36
    +2

    Your question can be broken into two parts

    1. Did you do something wrong and/or cause damage?
      Yes you did. You drove over something unknowingly and you broke a pipe. Always check what you're driving over. If it was a steel rod and it ripped through your tires, you'd want compensation too.

    2. Are you expected to pay for the damage?
      Of course! No explanation needed.

    The less relevant third part is:

    1. Is $279 reasonable for someone to respond pretty much immediately, travel out and fix the problem?
      Yes. Yes it is.
    • AustriaBargain on 12/05/2019 - 18:00

      Always check what you're driving over, I suppose you always hop out of the car and inspect every driveway for pipes?

  • Cheeper on 12/05/2019 - 11:54
    +1

    You can try to be careful but sometimes something may not be set out sensibly and next thing you know you are up for $$$s.
    Without a pic of the driveway it is difficult to give an opinion.
    If you think there is negligence in how the pipe was positioned in relation to vehicles using the driveway then maybe you can deny total liability?

    • bizarredeal on 12/05/2019 - 11:59

      Thanks.
      I will try to explain this visually. The width of the garage door is wider than the drive way. When facing the driveway the left side is about half a meter inwards from halfway point. In this little groove like section is the pipe which comes out connecting to the meter. So I damaged the WaterCorp side.
      My mate was not happy the way the driveway cuts in. The visibility is poor once you enter. He was already in talks with the builder of this and potentially someone driving over the pipe and I happen to be a victim. But then its pretty much my fault in simple terms. He has infact got pots of plants high enough to be able to see from the car one the car enters the drive way. Its not point going to the builder.

      • whooah1979 on 12/05/2019 - 12:06

        the pipe which comes out connecting to the meter. So I damaged the WaterCorp side.

        It makes sense now. Almost every water meter in Australia is constructed in this way. The service provider pipe comes up from the ground where it's connected to the meter and then goes back into the ground.

        • bizarredeal on 12/05/2019 - 12:08

          Yep I explained above. If the car was reversing from the garage (from the left hand parking spot) in a straight line then it will hit the home side pipe.

  • GangGang on 12/05/2019 - 18:11

    Regarding the price. Not bad for a urgent fix in 2 hours for $279. Imagine if you called a local plumber from yellow pages.

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