Blocked toilet. Who should pay?

[Letmegonowihavehadenough]

I am going through a divorce and live in the family home at present which is currently on the market. He moved out. My toilet is blocked and we cannot use it for this reason. My stbxh won’t go halves to get the problem fixed saying it’s my fault for blocking it. Over the years it has occasionally got blocked and we have been able to unblock it. My dad has a long thing that goes far into the toilet but it can’t be unblocked and I have tried products including bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar along with other branded unblockers. Nothing except poo/wee and toilet paper had been put down it. I can’t afford to pay to get it unblocked by myself and it has been like this since November. AIBU to think my stbxh should pay half?

You need to ask for a food bank referral.

Because he wants 70%! I paid half of the deposit and mortgage do why should he get 70%?

It's like Joeys fridge...... its Joey's problem to pay for!

Of course I am going to spend money on legal fees when I know I am entitled to 50% and will get more if I fight it. I will gain more when I am
granted 50%

OP. Mop, put a plastic shopping bag round the top and plunge it hard. You need your create a vacuum basically.

I find plungers useless. This mop and plastic bag works for me every time.

Have you had the manhole covers up outside, when ours has been blocked it usually needs them up and the drain rods out to give the whole lot a good rodding

How much is the difference between 50 and 70% If you’ve already spent 35k in fee’s. Sometimes it’s better to cut your losses and run than poop in a bag and starve over principal.

You’ve been shitting in plastic bags since November? They cost 5p a time.

Are there manholes in your garden, do you have a garden? Or is this an apartment, it sounds like the problem is not actually at the toilet itself, it could be further down the pipes. I have a toilet that blocks regularly and it's because there is too sharp a right angle turn into the pipes just outside the wall and the blockage happens out there but you would think it was in the toilet itself. Water will eventually drain away slowly from the bowl and doing all of the suggested especially the bucket of water from a height will sometimes work and other times will flood the bathroom! If the problem is outside and you are unable to fix it yourself, I'm well used to it at this stage and have the rods, then you'll just have to call someone to help.

If it's a bag for life it's 30p!

This sorted my very blocked toilet when nothing else had worked. I used a whole bottle of washing up liquid

Perhaps a neighbour might have drain rods you can borrow. Our drain rods have rodded many a neighbours blockage.

Unravelled old wire coat hanger usually does the trick. I have a similar recurring problem with one of my loos and have an "item" next to each loo for this very reason, last used on Friday! I'd tell you what that item was if it didn't give me away to anyone that has ever been here, because it's really not a usual thing to use and I can't even remember how it ended up that we now use them. Sorry. Not helpful really am!?

I missed that bit.. that's actually really bad.

If it it really has been since November @Letmegonowihavehadenough you need to do something its not fair to be shitting in bags all that time. Even more so if you have children . Is it not making the house smell?

People have suggested other ideas like the mop idea which is definitely a good idea and works. They have also suggested checking/unblocking your manhole yourself. You are passed squirting liquid now.

Do you have home emergency cover on your insurance? If so they might be able to help.

You sound - understandably- distressed and at the end of your tether. Is there a friend of a friend who knows a plumber who might be happy to help out?

Alternatively, your dad has obviously tried to help. Have you explained to him how desperate you are feeling and ask if he can just get it sorted for you ? You can pay him back later. It might be that your dad doesn't know the severity of the financial and emotional situation you are in. Please talk to him.

And come back here for emotional support too, many have been in your (literally!) shitty situation and can understand and lend a sympathetic ear.

Ffs, op 🙄. Pay the bloody bill and stop living like an uncivilised barbarian!

Pooing in a bag since NOV? Your poor kids.

can your Dad not sub you? Get a deal with the company & pay it off??

Absolute game changer isn't it. I've recommended it to so many people

Can you not move in with your parents for the time being till the house is sold. Tell them how bad you're struggling and not eating. Even if you slept on there couch would be better than starving yourself and not heating the house up

If you sign up to British Gas homecare including plumbing you pay approx £20 a month and only £60 one-off fee for each job to be sorted. You would have to check it includes blocked loos though and drains. We’ve used it before and brilliant for leaks that have to be investigated and need new parts etc as they keep coming back until the issue is fixed

I don't BELIEEEVE it.

Are people coming to view the house?

Its your problem
Fwiw im in a new build and when our loos seem blocked quite often its the pipes at the other end, not toilet end. Theres a drain hole right ouside our front door. I take off the cover, use the poo stick ( broom handle) to shift the blockage and get the waste moving, and bobs your uncle. Happens to my besties loo as well ( different new build estate, same issues ) Worth a try.

Can't your parents give you the money to unblock the toilet?
My husband paid his ex wife's lawyer fees when they got divorced as she didn't work - don't they mandate that sort of thing now?

Unless your house is owned outright and worth a lot of money you’ve literally spent your half in legal fees. All you needed to do was fill in the paperwork and turn up at court. Would have cost you under £10k and let a judge decide