Gordon Anderson says some people are going to get caught short if the Whanganui District Council require people to pay invoices before reimbursing them.
But the council say there is another option.
After a water main burst at Mr Anderson's Great North Rd property council contractors were called out earlier this month to fix it.
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"The response to fix it was pretty good," he said. "They got the job done and they were out there in the rain."
But the break had caused grit and silt to get into filter system and house pipes requiring a plumber to flush it out.
Mr Anderson was told he could get his own plumber in to do the job and then fill out a claim form and get it paid for by the council.
The invoice is for $178.25.
"I juts thought 'sweet as, I'll take it in, fill it out, job done'," he said.
He didn't realise he would first have to pay the bill himself and then get reimbursed.
"I think this is ridiculous," Mr Anderson said.
"I don't think it's a fair go on anyone, if someone's short a few dollars."
He was concerned many would not be in a position to afford to pay a bill and then wait to get reimbursed.
He said the system needed to be changed so council footed the bill directly.
Whanganui District Council finance general manager Mike Fermor said because council did not own the property in this situation organising or paying for the work directly could affect its insurance cover.
But there is another way.
Mr Fermor said if someone did not have the ability to pay they could organise a quote instead but they would only be paid the amount in the quote.
"They can organise a quote or an assessment so we have an idea of how much the work will cost," he said.
"If the claim is approved by the council, we will make a payment to the resident.
"The time it takes to process the claim depends on when the claim form arrives with our finance team who will try their best to process it is as soon as possible."