NEW YORK CITY (WABC) — When someone calls 911, first responders will do whatever it takes to get to the lives they’re trying to save. Often, it includes breaking down doors, but who foots the bill for the damage caused?
One Queens woman found out, and getting the answer to that question isn’t easy, so she dialed up 7 On Your Side.
“I have a camera facing the door,” Sherri Teicher said.
Pulling up the Ring camera footage on her phone, the video shows EMS repeatedly knocking on Teicher’s door and waiting for a response.
“They’re worried someone in here collapsed. I’m assuming,” Teicher said.
In another video, first responders are seen on the Ring footage breaking open the apartment door. Firefighters, EMS, and later, police enter the residence to help but don’t find anyone who may have called 911 inside. The residents, Sherri and Howard Teicher, were away and came home to a destroyed door.
“I mean, all that this is, was all busted, all broken and busted. Wood was popping out. There was wood on the floor,” Teicher said.
An incident report was left on Teicher’s door, saying FDNY was responding “in regards to aid.”
“An aided response? I wasn’t home. Nobody called from my address, so I didn’t know what happened,” Teicher said. “And then I tried calling the fire department, and the fire department says, ‘Well, we can’t give any information. But get your door fixed and fill out a report with the comptroller’s office, a property damage report.'”
The damage: her door splintered to pieces. There was a hefty price tag to fix it.
The Techiers didn’t think they’d have any problem getting reimbursed the $1,100 to fix the door, but when they sent in the video from their Ring camera, the claim was denied. The response said the claim was, “…disallowed.”
“I was like, I can’t believe that. Like disallowed, not due to the city’s negligence. Whose negligence then was it due to?” Teicher said.
But Teicher wasn’t giving up. She decided to dig a little deeper, requesting the full incident report. It was then that she noticed a key detail.
“According to this, they were supposed to go to a neighbor next door,” Teicher said.
The call was actually for the opposite side of the building: number 67, not hers, number 69.
“I understand them making a mistake, fine. But for nobody to take responsibility for it and, you know, no accountability. I mean, that’s what really gets me mad right now. And I said, you know, I’ve seen you on TV, and you’ve gotten good results with everything,” Teicher said.
7 On Your Side contacted the New York City comptroller with the incident report and Teicher’s address, and in a few short days, she had a new answer from the city.
“This is the email from the comptroller, and we are getting reimbursed for our door,” Teicher said.
A full $1,100 to cover the cost of the replacement. This unhinged situation, now locked up in the past.
“Thank you so much. It’s all because of you and 7 On Your Side. Thank you so much,” Teicher said.
———-
SHARE YOUR STORY
Do you have an issue with a company that you haven’t been able to resolve? If so, 7 On Your Side wants to help you!
Fill out the form below or email your questions, issues, or story ideas by filling out the form below or by emailing 7OnYourSideNina@abc.com. All emails MUST INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND CELLPHONE NUMBER. Without a phone number, 7 On Your Side will not be able to respond.
Copyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.