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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to refuse my neighbour asking to share my car repair booking?

137 replies

whoahokeycokey · 24/06/2026 11:04

Currently have a mobile car body shop repair man on drive. I asked him if he wanted to rearrange due to heat and he replied with ‘if it’s ok I’ll come early and put a tent/shade up, crack on and be gone before heat kicks in.’
great, happy with this. Told my neighbour, just in case she was disturbed and she was fine with it.

Roll on this morning and the guy arrives 7.30 to set up, he’s actually really quiet. Neighbour pops out walking dog and says to him
’seeing as you’re going to be done early can you do a few bits on mine and as tent etc is already up I can move my car so you won’t have to move it’
it is an all day job I was booked for, but he’s started at 7.30 instead of 9.30 and aims to be finished by 2.30 instead of 4.30.
I’ve just had 3 WhatsApp messages to ask me if I can get repair man to agree and that it’s only fair due to her being disturbed very early this morning. I’m literally agog!
’

OP posts:
PuppyMonkey · 24/06/2026 12:42

Okay to ask him imho and at no point is it indicated she expects OP to pay. Confused

Not okay to keep messaging OP if she’s been told clearly no.

ilovemybluesharpie · 24/06/2026 12:42

Just be firm with her, it's the mechanics decision and nothing to do with you.

some people really are ridiculous

Dastardly2026 · 24/06/2026 12:41

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Livelovelaughfuckoff · 24/06/2026 12:38

Noshowlomo · 24/06/2026 12:33

Does she want you to pay??

🙄

ChrisTheBastard · 24/06/2026 12:38

SerendipityJane · 24/06/2026 12:35

Remember, we make our friends. We make our enemies. But God makes our next door neighbour.

Show quote history

You're right, of course, but I just absolutely love this case. It was more for amusement than advice

Livelovelaughfuckoff · 24/06/2026 12:38

Just ignore the messages you can't make him do anything anyway he doesn't work for you. If she comments on his early start say you let her know as a courtesy but if she is going to start keeping tabs on what she feels is "owed" then maybe you won't be so courteous in the future.

StarPyjamas · 24/06/2026 12:36

Just mute and ignore then.

SerendipityJane · 24/06/2026 12:35

ChrisTheBastard · 24/06/2026 12:27

Refer her to the reply given in the case of Arkell vs Pressdram

Remember, we make our friends. We make our enemies. But God makes our next door neighbour.

Noshowlomo · 24/06/2026 12:33

Does she want you to pay??

Shinyandnew1 · 24/06/2026 12:33

If he’s already told her no, I’d just ignore her. Reply when he’s done and say it was too hot and he needed to go.

DPotter · 24/06/2026 12:29

She wants you to cover her service too.

Tell her one more - the man has said NO and that's an end to it

PickAChew · 24/06/2026 12:28

Tell her to stfu with the pestering and book for another day, herself. The need for her car to be repaired obviously wasn't so great that she had sorted it out, herself.

ChrisTheBastard · 24/06/2026 12:27

Refer her to the reply given in the case of Arkell vs Pressdram

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 24/06/2026 12:26

The least you could do?! You owe her nothing!

Original poster
whoahokeycokey · 24/06/2026 12:25

Shinyandnew1 · 24/06/2026 11:58

@whoahokeycokeywhat did the mechanic reply to him, surely that’s massively important missing information here!!!

I asked the mechanic what he wanted to do. He said he declined to her stating it was ‘getting to be hotter than satans arsehole’ he laughed and carried on.

she returned home, sent me 3 messages asking me to get him to agree. Now it’s 6!

I said I would leave it up to him.

it’s not noisy and I’ve no real plans but my dog is getting a bit vexed by him on drive so I’ll be glad when he has finished.

now 7 messages, apparently it’s the least I could do 🫣

OP posts:
Original poster
whoahokeycokey · 24/06/2026 12:24

I asked the mechanic what he wanted to do. He said he declined to her stating it was ‘getting to be hotter than satans arsehole’ he laughed and carried on.

she returned home, sent me 3 messages asking me to get him to agree. Now it’s 6!

I said I would leave it up to him.

it’s not noisy and I’ve no real plans but my dog is getting a bit vexed by him on drive so I’ll be glad when he has finished.

now 7 messages, apparently it’s the least I could do 🫣

OP posts:
dh280125 · 24/06/2026 12:21

Just ignore it. It’s literally not your problem

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 24/06/2026 12:19

As long as she isn’t expecting it to be part of your payed for time, it’s up to the mechanic if he’s happy for more work. I would say it needs to be off your drive though.

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 24/06/2026 12:15

Stompythedinosaur · 24/06/2026 12:09

I'd just stay out of it tbh. Reply something like "I'm not sure if he'll want to take on an extra job, best if you talk to him directly."

I wouldn't want to get involved in case there was any confusion I was paying for her work.

This.

Maybe add that he came early to avoid the late afternoon heat so you dont think he'll be keen

SerendipityJane · 24/06/2026 12:13

I will bet the neighbour expects the OPs payment to the mechanic will cover the neighbours repair too.

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 24/06/2026 12:12

You really need to ask if you're being unreasonable?

Stompythedinosaur · 24/06/2026 12:09

I'd just stay out of it tbh. Reply something like "I'm not sure if he'll want to take on an extra job, best if you talk to him directly."

I wouldn't want to get involved in case there was any confusion I was paying for her work.

ginasevern · 24/06/2026 12:03

Tink3rbell30 · 24/06/2026 11:12

It's not up to you, it's up to him.

So the OP should allow her driveway to be used for the neighbour's car repair? And it definitely isn't her decision if other people want to plonk their cars on it? OK then.

Shinyandnew1 · 24/06/2026 11:58

@whoahokeycokeywhat did the mechanic reply to him, surely that’s massively important missing information here!!!

ginasevern · 24/06/2026 11:55

@Arlanymor "I don't see what it's got to do with you - it's his choice to make."

The neighbour wants her car to be repaired on the OP's driveway. She wants to plonk her car there for the repair. So it actually has got quite a lot to do with the OP. If the mechanic wants to do the work then fine, but he can't arbitrarily decide to use the OP's driveway as his workshop for the day and neither can the neighbour.