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Original poster

Neighbour watching me on ring doorbell

130 replies

fencedispute2024 · 17/02/2025 22:18

My neighbour keeps watching me through their ring doorbell. I’ve asked them to stop (via the doorbell when they were watching me) but they’re continuing to watch me.

they’re definitely watching, rather than just the doorbell being triggered by motion, as the blue light comes on. They’re not very tech savvy so I don’t think they realise that a blue light is on.

I’ve got multiple photos of their doorbell with the blue light from the last few months. Including a video where I asked the doorbell to stop watching me that shows the blue and red lights going off after my request.

I'm starting to feel harassed and think this is in response to the previous issues we’ve had with a fence. (See old post if you’re interested)

where do I go from here?

OP posts:
WellsAndThistles · 18/02/2025 00:36

I would trigger it all the more to annoy them, act excentric, have fun!

OKNerd · 18/02/2025 00:31

My neighbour is batshit and thinks I have a Ring cam solely to spy on her. I didn’t realise until I was scrolling back through to find out where the fuck the DPD man had gone with my parcel, that she spends a not inconsiderable amount of time waving into the camera and saying “Hellooooo Are you enjoying the show?”. It really tickles me the thought of her thinking she’s catching me out when I’m probably enjoying a glass of gin in the bath completely unaware 🤣

Newbie8918 · 18/02/2025 00:31

If you receive a motion alert and choose to accept it (see what’s triggered it) the light turns blue.

I don’t know how far your door is etc but maybe speak to them and ask them if their range is set too far.

eg ‘I’ve noticed by the light on your door cam that I must be setting it off in my garden. It must be really annoying, getting all those notification. Do you maybe need to decrease the range?’

they might be genuinely just clicking on the notification and don’t know how to amend the settings or, if they are spying, they’ll know you know.

pizzaHeart · 18/02/2025 00:30

And yes to that door bell only should cover their property.

LaineyCee · 18/02/2025 00:28

If they’re filming you while you’re on your property, then it’s not ok and you have the option to stop them www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-58911296.amp

pizzaHeart · 18/02/2025 00:27

Kingsransom · 17/02/2025 23:55

Are they watching you or are they clicking on the motion? Sometimes when my doorbell goes I will click on the motion to see if it is someone at the door/my DH arriving home etc.

I was about to say the same. When someone is outside my front door the ring bell is triggered and sends me a notification, if I’m near the phone (and 75% of time I’m ) I click on it, often automatically.

OKNerd · 18/02/2025 00:23

I think it’s solid blue if it’s live and a blue going round in circles if it’s just recording

Pippa12 · 18/02/2025 00:23

It will just be picking up motion, mine flashes blue when I walk up to it. Or it’s alerting them somebody is near their front door so they have a look? How much time realistically do you stand at their front door and what are you doing worth spying on???

Sapienza · 18/02/2025 00:19

In Fairhurst versus Woodard in 2021, a judge ruled that a ring doorbell "unjustifiably invaded" the privacy of a neighbour.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-58911296

OKNerd · 18/02/2025 00:08

justasking111 · 17/02/2025 23:33

My DH put one in the other week. It's driving me mad. It picks up our cat walking around and others. We've had people putting up fencing panels it picks them up. Kept popping up on my phone. Found out how to snooze it. DH was at the hospital the other day. He heard everything I said to the workmen. He can check if I'm in or going out.

I find it intrusive.

Just adjust the settings. But if you are worried about your DH spying on you you have a bigger problem than a doorbell

OKNerd · 18/02/2025 00:06

PeriPeriMam · 17/02/2025 23:22

Submit a request for any footage that has you in it, where you are not on their property. They have to provide it. There's plenty of information out there on this eg

www.which.co.uk/news/article/is-it-legal-to-record-security-camera-and-smart-doorbell-footage-at-your-home-akMQD1C0P0zi

Yeah good luck with that one. They don’t have to give it to you at all. What a load of nonsense. The neighbours can request it the same way anyone can request anything but there’s no enforceable law that states doorbell cams residents HAVE to share footage. What do you think would happen if they refused?

I have a ring doorbell for safety, it benefits the whole street. My neighbours think I have it to spy on them. Even though I had it before they moved in. Fucking nutters

Millyjanice · 18/02/2025 00:00

Tell them you’re glad of the camera as it’s cctv for your home and a form of “neighbourhood Watch”
Then say your house insurance is greatly reduced due to this.
Thank them profusely with a big smile !

suburberphobe · 18/02/2025 00:00

Sorry, you sound paranoid.

Live your life, most people are more hung up about their own life anyway.

you see it here every day

BigSkyDreams · 17/02/2025 23:56

Or you could get a really irritating wind chime placed in its "vision".

Mydietstartstomorrow · 17/02/2025 23:56

Oh shit does the light change to blue when you’re watching?! I didn’t know this and often check who’s at the door then not answer if I don’t want to! Didn’t realise they may be able to tell! 😬😂

TheCatterall · 17/02/2025 23:55

BigSkyDreams · 17/02/2025 23:51

Or you could play fart noises on your phone each time the blue light is on...

Love that idea…

Or point at the camera and laughing “I can see you watching Kevin you silly sausage/ nosy knickers!”.

I need to get out more and mix with humans.. the delirium is kicking in… work for yourself they said… work from home will be amazing… paws at windows

Kingsransom · 17/02/2025 23:55

Are they watching you or are they clicking on the motion? Sometimes when my doorbell goes I will click on the motion to see if it is someone at the door/my DH arriving home etc.

Garlicworth · 17/02/2025 23:54

Xxxxx44444 · 17/02/2025 22:53

My neighbour does this and it pisses me off. I'm friends with them though so it makes it difficult. If I have a maintenance guy turn up they will message saying "oh you've got some work doing?" or if I have a supermarket delivery they will message saying "I see you've had a food delivery". Or if I'm doing a tip run they will message saying "decluttering are you?" We live in a block of flats and our front doors to the flats are inside, so it's not like they've seen me out the window. The only place they could see is the Ring door bell unless they were to physically be there with me.

Oh, god, that's awful! I mean, fair enough to be overly excited about the mundane details of other people's lives ... but to TELL them? And expect a polite response??!

Can't you just reply: "Are you STALKING me, Brenda? 😜👀🤔"
Every. single. Time.

EdithBond · 17/02/2025 23:53

Can’t bear surveillance cameras everywhere. Personal ones are a licence for creeps.

Who is the neighbour? Do other neighbours know them? Suggest having a chat if it feels safe and ask them to use privacy settings to avoid breaching your right to privacy. If not, contact police crime prevention officer for advice.

BigSkyDreams · 17/02/2025 23:53

Or sex noises, mating foxes, blow a whistle...

BigSkyDreams · 17/02/2025 23:51

Or you could play fart noises on your phone each time the blue light is on...

TheCatterall · 17/02/2025 23:51

@fencedispute2024 wave and stare really obviously at the camera “morning Kevin, what else do you plan to do today?” Just inane chat every time you walk past like he/they were stood in the doorway.

healthybychristmas · 17/02/2025 23:49

Wave at an imaginary person who is just out of her eyesight. Do it every time.

SierraNose · 17/02/2025 23:49

There's more legal guidance about CCTV and doorbell cameras elsewhere but here's a start. www.which.co.uk/news/article/is-it-legal-to-record-security-camera-and-smart-doorbell-footage-at-your-home-akMQD1C0P0zi

BigSkyDreams · 17/02/2025 23:48

Time for a laser pen OP.