‘That’s a lawsuit’: California homeowner leaves trash out without paying the bill, so the garbage driver comes up with a nasty solution
Some bills come back in unexpected ways
Not paying a bill usually means late fees or losing a service. However, one California homeowner ended up with a massive pile of trash on their property after a waste company decided to take matters into its own hands.
TikTok user @yamydiyworld111 shared footage of the incident, attracting 63.1K views. While garbage trucks can spark neighborhood confrontations, this dispute took a particularly messy turn.
The video claims a driver dumped trash over an unpaid bill, leaving viewers divided. However, ABC7 News reported that there was more to the story than an angry driver getting revenge.
Then came the part nobody wanted to clean up
The incident happened on April 6 in San Pablo, California, and involved a private dumpster rental company called Express Rental Dumpster. Its owner, Martin Perez, claimed that customers moving out of a house had rented a dumpster but failed to pay an outstanding balance of approximately $700. According to Perez, they repeatedly promised to settle the bill, but the payment never arrived.
The company reportedly tried charging the customer’s card, but the transaction was declined. Perez explained that disposing of the debris would have cost his business roughly another $1,000. He was unwilling to cover that expense after already losing money on the rental and transportation.
Things apparently became more frustrating when Perez discovered two $1 bills and a smiley face left on an invoice. He believed the gesture was disrespectful after his unsuccessful attempts to collect payment. Rather than taking the debris to a landfill, he decided to return it to the property.
A neighbor’s surveillance camera captured the truck unloading the dumpster’s contents onto the front yard. Within moments, a large pile of debris covered the property.
However, the payment dispute was not entirely settled. A neighbor told KTVU that the homeowner claimed to have already paid $700 for the service. That account contradicted the company’s version of events, leaving questions about what had actually happened to the payment.
The situation also affected nearby residents. One neighbor complained that the debris had remained outside for days, turning a disagreement between a customer and a business into a neighborhood problem. By April 15, nine days had passed since the dumping, and the mess was still causing concern.
The footage also raised questions about whether returning the debris was an acceptable response to an unpaid bill. Nearby residents were left dealing with the consequences.
Meanwhile, TikTok viewers had plenty to say about the company’s decision. One commenter wrote, “very Unprofessional. That’s A Lawsuit,” while someone else simply suggested, “Sue them.” Another viewer questioned the entire situation, writing, “BS no driver would even know about an past due bill.”
Others supported the company’s actions. “No pay no service,” one person commented. Another wrote, “Good for him.”
Despite the calls for legal action, San Pablo police determined that no crime had been committed after receiving reports of possible illegal dumping. The matter was referred to city code enforcement, which issued a violation notice addressed to the listed property owner.
Perez maintained that his crew had cleared debris from the street and sidewalk. He also acknowledged that he did not want to create problems for the neighborhood. However, the disagreement over the unpaid bill had already left nearby residents dealing with a mess they had no part in creating.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
Follow The Mary Sue:
