Overwhelmed bills, needed fixes where to start

**ansley** · 08-28-2009, 12:38 PM

We got one insurance statement for ds's surgery. Not sure how we are going to pay it and that statement doesn't include staff, location, meds and etc.

A while back we had a leak in the main bathroom. The floor is almost completely rotted under the tub. There is a big hole in the floor. DH decided to just shut the room off until we can get it fixed. This morning DD needed to use the BR and DS#1 was taking a bath in ours so I took her to the main one. Every surface in there is covered with mold. That has got to be fixed.

The neighbor has their water runoff going into our yard. It looks like at some point they made a trench to wrap around our house to drain our back yard and the neighbor's into the ditches along the road. I noticed little holes cropping up along where the drainage appears to go. DH said there was pipe there and not to worry about it. Well, over time it has shifted and is now washing out under the foundation of the house. So far it is only under an added on shed but it is getting worse. The 2 younger dc have stepped off in some of these holes and the holes are getting bigger. I am thankful that the dc didn't get hurt but I know that a leg could have been broken. I also know that if a visitor should get hurt it would be our responsibility.

I don't think DH knows what to do (his family always rented) and I am at a loss (my dad fixed what needed fixing and he didn't show his girls anything, no boys). I don't know where to even start.

I could call a general contractor or construction place but have no money to pay them. If I find one that would give a free consultation, could they tell me what needs fixed, approximate price and order of importance? Is there a better alternative?

I just need pointed in the right direction.

DH is just now on board with a budget and we did our first one for this month. Next week I plan to post how we did and the Sept budget.

TIA

**kita** · 08-28-2009, 12:54 PM

Don't worry about the surgery until the complete bills come in. I had surgery and there is often an agreement between the hospital/insurance company that lowers the cost of the surgery. The final number will be listed as "Patient responsibility" But do make sure everything listed is something that you received because some insurance companies will give extra credit for finding fraud. Often it isn't fraud just sloppy accounting, but if it helps you...
The mold is another issue. It will only get worse if you ignore it and it puts your family at risk. I was looking at purchasing a house with mold and called companies who gave me estimates for free. I was surprised at how little it was. Of course that was only for killing the mold. NO new drywall etc. But you must do that as a min. They might take payments.
The yard is another issue. I'm not sure, but it might be the responsibility of the neighbors.
And for all....check your homeowner's insurance. You would still be left with the deductable but better than nothing. And the mold-killers might be more willing to take payments on the deductible if they know they will be getting the rest from the insurance company.

**ansley** · 08-28-2009, 01:36 PM

Thank you so much for the response. I have asked DH for the home ins phone#.

I don't think the health insurance will pay much of anything as this was not an approved provider. My ins doesn't have a pediatric dentist and none of the regular dentist (we talked to 2) would put a 2yo to sleep but agreed it was necessary. I was told to contact the ins and see what they will do as they do not have a pediatric dentist.

The house ins would not pay on the hole in the floor. Would they pay for the mold to be taken care of even if it was caused from the hole? I don't think DH has ever asked about the yard issue. To be honest I didn't think about it because I thought it only covered the house. As for the neighbors, even if they fixed the drainage on their property we would still need drainage on ours. There is a big hill right behind our house and we would need something to keep that water away from the foundation.

**Greebo** · 08-28-2009, 02:03 PM

The mold isn't coming from the hole in the floor, the mold is coming from moisture in the room. Mold will grow where its regularly damp. The leak isn't fixed, or there's another one, and that room needs to be ventilated for the moisture to get out.

**ansley** · 08-28-2009, 03:12 PM

The washing machine drains under house (almost directly under that bathroom) and that is where the water is coming from. I said the hole because if it wasn't there the mold wouldn't be in the room, probably under the floor but not on walls, sink and etc. I discovered today that the window is open. Would that be enough ventilation?

**Greebo** · 08-28-2009, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by ansley

The washing machine drains under house (almost directly under that bathroom) and that is where the water is coming from. I said the hole because if it wasn't there the mold wouldn't be in the room, probably under the floor but not on walls, sink and etc. I discovered today that the window is open. Would that be enough ventilation?

If your washing machine is dumping under the house, no.

Your dumping 20 gallons of water underneath it every time you run the washer.

You need a plumber to install a proper drain.

No point fixing the bathroom while you're flooding underneath it.

**Greebo** · 08-28-2009, 03:32 PM

What I mean is - all that water you're dumping - that hot, steamy water - under the house - that's going to degrade the integrity of the wood. Wood *rots* when its wet. It's not just gonna get moldy, it's gonna get destroyed.

**ansley** · 08-28-2009, 04:12 PM

Greebo, you bring up good points. That is why I asked if I find a contractor that would give a free consultation, could they tell me what needs fixed, approximate price and order of importance? As I said in the first post my dad did all repairs and didn't think it was girl/women's work and dh's dad just let the landlord fix it or they moved.

I have not gotten a call back from the home ins co. My mom said she would see if the guys that added on a room for her will take a look. I told her to make sure they knew mold was involved because some don't want to deal with that.

I just found out that the total surgery bill is 15,000 before ins. It could be worse but when there is no money to pay it, it might as well be a million.

**never2late** · 08-28-2009, 05:55 PM

I have no idea where you live, but is there any kind of assistance available? I know where I live there are church groups, community groups, etc., that can perform some services (and depending on what volunteers they have, some even have skilled people) for you if you qualify. I know a neighbor of mine has had a group over several times. The have replaced her kitchen floor, put in a new front door and a number of other projects.

**ansley** · 08-30-2009, 05:00 PM

not much help around here. we always miss out by a couple hundred a yr. I asked once if I could pay the difference in our income vs the limit and they pay the rest. They thought that was funny.