Roommate secretly overcharges woman $80 monthly for utilities, then asks her to help pay her share of rent that month: ‘I’m not covering for her’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Oct 25, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

A woman's roommate overcharges her $80 for household utilities going back months, and then expects her to help pay her share of the rent that month. We're all in the struggle financially. The current state of the world doesn't make things much better. Even still, most of us don't resort to theft and sneakiness so we can keep our heads above water. Once we start acting immorally, what makes us different from the other evil people out there? If you're in a financial pickle, the best thing to do is be honest about your situation; you never know who might be waiting to help you on the other side of the confession. The woman in the story below didn't get the chance to offer her help to her roommate because her roommate decided to steal from her for months instead. Well, she probably should've been pocketing that extra $80 a month to save for rent. Scroll below to continue the story.

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    a photo of a woman holding money and a pen with her head in her hands, a background of stacked bills
    via Karolina Grabowska For Unsplash+

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • In this scenario, the phrase “do what you have to do” is dangerous. Sure, every day in this world is survival rather than living. Times are tough. How do we reconcile with someone we share a roof with who steals from us? Will we ever be able to trust another roommate again?

    The roommate here doesn't consider the long-term effects of her continual theft and instead turns it around on the woman. She claims she is being punished for “being honest,” but in actuality, she is being punished because she lied for months about a larger utility bill. You reap what you sow.

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    "AITJ for refusing to help my roommate with rent after finding out she’s been secretly charging me for utilities I already pay?"

    I (28F) live with my roommate Kira (26F). When I moved in last year, she handled setting
    via Basic_Code_3112
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    up all the bills electricity, water, Wi-Fi and I just sent her my half every month through
    via Basic_Code_3112
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    Venmo. Last week I got an email from the internet company addressed to me (since I used
    via Basic_Code_3112
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    my name for the Wi- Fi install). The bill was only $55 not $110 like I'd been paying Kira monthly.
    via Basic_Code_3112
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    I checked the other utilities and found the same thing. She'd been overcharging me
    via Basic_Code_3112
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    about $80 total each month. I confronted her, and she admitted it. She said
    via Basic_Code_3112
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    it was for my share of household supplies and little things she covered. I
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    told her that's not how it works you don't secretly add charges without telling me. She
    via Basic_Code_3112
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    a stack of utility bills on top of a wooden desk
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+
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    started crying, saying she's been struggling financially and didn't know how to ask for help.
    via Basic_Code_3112
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    Now rent is due, and she says she can't pay her half this month. I told her I'm
    via Basic_Code_3112
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    not covering for her after this. She called me cold and said I'm punishing her for being honest.
    via Basic_Code_3112
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    AITJ for refusing to help her now that I know she's been lying about money?
    via Basic_Code_3112
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    Dry-Bandicoot-2556 She didn't ask for help she stole from you and then cried when caught. Financial stress is real, but secretly upcharging a roommate isn't survival, it's manipulation. You're not heartless for setting a boundary.
    via Dry-Bandicoot-2556
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    NextSplit2683 "....Secretly upcharging a roommate isn't survival, it's manipulation". Yes that's it right there. OP's roommate is a thief. Makes you wonder what else she's lied about, and what else she's stolen from OP. It's time for OP to freeze her credit.
    via NextSplit2683
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    Spiderisinmyhead Punishing her for being honest? Lol that's classic. She's mad she got caught and is now deflecting.
    via Spiderisinmyhead
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    Kooky_Leopard1643 NTJ, of course you'd be angry about being duped like this. It's dishonest and a form of theft. The fact that she's not sorry for doing this to you by saying that you're punishing her for being honest is clear that she doesn't think she was wrong in the first place. Once trust is broken, it's very hard to gain it back. If she was honest from the start, and needed help, I'm sure you wouldn't be thinking twice like you are now. She's awful!
    via Kooky_Leopard1643
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    Her inability to manage her own finances, and then cheating you for extra, and then guilting you is abysmal behavior. I'd ask to start seeing official receipts/ invoices to items that you're needing to pay from now on or look to move out. You are absolutely NTJ and right to be angry about finding out she's been overcharging you.
    via Kooky_Leopard1643
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    Saccucci-Ronilda Absolutely, thats straight up sneaky and not okay at all. No way id cover for someone after finding out they've been lying like that, trust is gone for sure.
    via Saccucci-Ronilda
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    barleygood NTJ Is she seriously thinking that admitting a crime she was already proven guilty by you is being honest? ✓
    via barleygood
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    BeautifulChaosEnergy Those are crocodile tears. Figure out exactly how much she's over charged you and deduct it from next month's rent And start looking for a new place to live. This is only the beginning of her bulls
    via BeautifulChaosEnergy

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utilities rental stealing house tenants legal tenant apartments reddit story wifi renting reddit thread Reddit illegal roommates theft entitled people apartment
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