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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be disappointed by neighbours behaviour

178 replies

Sadaboutneighbours · 07/01/2025 19:32

So might get flamed but hear me out! Name changed as potentially outing.

We have lived next door to a couple for 8 years. They have two children aged 12 and 2 and are in their late 40s (just trying to create a picture here!) We've never had any problems with them whatsoever. Not friends but regular polite chats over the fence etc and would always say hello on a morning.

They sometimes take parcels in for us (not usually a regular thing as our stated preference is to leave in a safe place). In the lead up to Christmas they had taken a couple for us (obviously we were ordering more than usual at this point) and my partner apologised for this and said 'you're like a sorting office for us I'm really sorry!' The guy was like 'absolutely no problem at all don't worry about it!'

So, then a week or so before Christmas Amazon left a parcel of ours at their house one morning. We knocked on their door a couple of times in the afternoon (it was an emergency order of something I needed that night) and even though they were in they didn't answer. I tried one last time at 7.30pm and they didn't answer so I left it there for the night.

The next day the guy came round with our parcel. He banged on our door and my partner answered. The guy said in a really aggressive way 'when you came round last night you woke up our poorly two year old so can you please take us off your preference list'. My partner apologised but by that point he'd already turned his back and was storming off!

Unfortunately despite us changing our preferences Amazon tried to deliver a package to them afew days later (even though we were in!) and they refused it which is fair enough BUT he has not spoken to us since!!!!! No hello on a morning, doesn't even look up etc.

So this morning, I was really really struggling to reverse off the drive. Partner was having to dig me out with a sweeping brush and push my car in to the street. We had a scared crying six year old in the back. I was skidding all over the place and my engine was revving all whilst our neighbour was casually de-icing his car (he works from home so not sure why) and didn't offer to help or offer to lend us his shovel which for me shows just how mad he is!

So, AIBU for being sad that it's come to this after 8 years of having no problems, it all of a sudden feels like we've got a big problem over something that I feel is an innocent mistake!?!? I've no problem with them not accepting parcels for us but to ignore us like this seems ridiculous!

And what would you do moving forward!?

Thanks hive mind x

OP posts:
LizzoBennett · 07/01/2025 19:41

I think your neighbour was probably snappy and exhausted after a difficult night with a poorly child and it made them overreact. They are probably a bit embarrassed but stubborn and have decided to stick to their guns as it was annoying to take in your parcels. As you weren't friends anyway, it is unlikely to feel like a loss to them. I wouldn't have knocked at 7.30pm if I knew the person had a 2 year old. It's not their problem that you had an urgent parcel delivered to them.

TucanPlay · 07/01/2025 19:38

Maybe don't order the present to be delivered though...

TucanPlay · 07/01/2025 19:37

Present and an apology, tell them you have changed preferences with Amazon, hope we can put this behind us as we have always valued you as neighbours. Kill them with kindness and don't let it get to you if it doesn't work! You have done your best.
You weren't to know the little one was poorly but I'd probably have taken the hint if they were in but didn't answer rather than go back again.