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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

White man van and early mornings

58 replies

Chefpig · 30/12/2025 07:28

Hello, there's a neighbour with a van and he starts it up anytime between 6am and 7am each day. Slams doors on the van and then keeps it running for a good five minutes before leaving. It's noisy and wakes me up. He's a nice man to say hello to, etc. Aibu to think he could be more considerate of his neighbours, especially me who is trying to get as much sleep in the mornings as possible before the dreaded very early mornings for work start again next week?

OP posts:
SparkyBlue · 30/12/2025 08:01

Livelovelaughfuckoff · 30/12/2025 07:56

Annoying but I don’t think 5 minutes to let the engine warm up and windows defrost is unreasonable. There aren’t many quiet ways to close a van door especially if it’s a sliding one so not sure what the guy is meant to do he needs to go to work. Maybe try ear plugs

My son gets a bus to his special needs class at approx 7.30ish every morning. The doors are heavy and in the quiet morning they make noise when you slide them open and then slam them shut. It’s not something that can be avoided . I’m guessing his van is similar.

CrackSpackle · 30/12/2025 08:00

Sorry OP, but my recommendation would be ear plugs.

Livelovelaughfuckoff · 30/12/2025 07:56

Annoying but I don’t think 5 minutes to let the engine warm up and windows defrost is unreasonable. There aren’t many quiet ways to close a van door especially if it’s a sliding one so not sure what the guy is meant to do he needs to go to work. Maybe try ear plugs

ChrimboLimbo · 30/12/2025 07:52

I see all the idiots that just get in and drive off, they are squinting through a tiny clear space on the screen.

Some vehicles need time to demist, road safety is more important - buy ear plugs.

13RidgmontRoad · 30/12/2025 07:47

Keeping a car running for a short while in cold weather and letting the engine warm up and windscreen defrost is what we all should be doing - it’s better for the car and safer for the driver. You could ask him not to slam the doors but this all sounds quite normal to me. I empathise - we have a (not hugely pleasant) tradie with a van over the road and his van is parked badly immediately outside his block of flats. I can’t imagine they love him.

Gettoachiro · 30/12/2025 07:36

Just go and speak to him about it. He may not realise.

He may not change but you say he's a nice man to say hello to etc. so he may do.

Depending on the van age though the doors may need slamming :/

TheNightingalesStarling · 30/12/2025 07:31

Its a normal time to head for work. He can hardly push his van onto a main road before starting the engine.

PersephoneParlormaid · 30/12/2025 07:31

Ah yes, I’ve a grey van man like that. Also, my immediate neighbours who feel the need to run their (3) cars with the windscreen wipers at full pelt for 5 or so minutes when the car is iced over. Unlike me who chucks some water over and drives off.
Luckily the milkman with a diesel van has gone electric.