21-Year-Old Refuses To Pay Housemate Utility Bills, Doubting Something Fishy Going On

A 21-year-old fresh out of college starts channeling his grandma’s old-school rule about always getting receipts. When his housemate sends a Venmo request for utilities without attaching any statements, he asks politely for the actual bills. Silence follows. Repeated messages, calls, and attempts across apps get ignored completely.

This echoes an earlier incident in September when a similar request drew an annoyed reaction before the documents finally appeared. Two weeks of no contact later, he holds off on payment until he can verify the amounts himself.

A Redditor refuses to pay roommate-handled utility bills without seeing the statements.

The core issue here boils down to a simple request for verification: the young tenant wants to confirm the amounts are accurate and fair before reimbursing his share. It’s not about distrust from the start, it’s about building good habits in a shared space where money flows between people.

From one angle, the roommate’s frustration makes sense if he’s been handling everything smoothly and suddenly faces repeated asks. Some people see it as nitpicky or questioning their honesty, especially if past handovers felt burdensome.

But flip the script: refusing to share statements, especially after being asked multiple times, raises eyebrows. Why the defensiveness? It could be forgetfulness, annoyance at extra steps, or something off with the charges.

This ties into a bigger picture in shared living: transparency isn’t optional; it’s the glue that prevents resentment. Roommates frequently clash over finances because systems lack clarity, whether it’s uneven splits, surprise hikes, or one person fronting costs without receipts.

Julia Califano, a journalist on banking, small business, personal loans, student loans, and other money issues at SoFi, notes the importance of structured approaches: “You might give one roommate the responsibility for keeping track of monthly expenses and how much each roommate owes, as well as logging who paid what and when.”

This underscores why proactive documentation like forwarding e-bills or snapping photos of paper ones keeps things fair and drama-free.

In practice, requesting statements is standard and reasonable. Many who’ve been burned share stories of overpaying rent or utilities due to blind trust.

The consensus? Better to ask politely in person or set clear expectations than let ambiguity fester. If pushback persists, options include contacting providers directly for usage history (with permission) or, in extreme cases, exploring small claims for any proven discrepancies.

Ultimately, neutral ground lies in communication: a calm face-to-face chat, perhaps with a neutral third party like another housemate, can clarify intentions without escalating. Set house rules early and everyone wins. It protects budgets, preserves friendships, and teaches valuable adult skills.

Here’s the comments of Reddit users:

Some people affirm that the poster is not the AH for requesting to see the bills and emphasize it’s a reasonable and normal request.

Some people suggest directly talking face-to-face with the roommate about the issue since they live together.

Some people suspect the roommate might be overcharging or not paying the bills properly and advise demanding proof to prevent being fleeced.

Some people recommend practical ways to document payments and protect oneself, such as texting confirmations or saving records.

Some share personal lessons from past roommate experiences about the importance of getting receipts and not trusting blindly.

In the end, standing up for basic proof on shared costs isn’t unreasonable, it’s smart money management in a trusting-but-verifiable setup. Do you think withholding payment until receipts arrive crosses a line, or is it the only way to ensure fairness when communication breaks down? Have you ever dealt with a shady bill situation in shared housing? Drop your thoughts below!