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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be really frightened?

69 replies

Catnao · 10/03/2011 17:01

I have just had a horrible threatening phone call.

We have an old car we need to scrap. Today, i looked online, found what LOOKED like a reputable scrap merchant from the web site, and arranged for them to pick it up for a price of £70 before 5 today. They rang me three times during the day and said they were running late etc. Finally rang me at about half four to say they would not make it, but would come tomorrow. i explained that tomorrow would not be convenient as i would be at work. He said "leave the keys in the car and I will put the money and destruction document throught he letter box". No way, I thought. Then arranged another scrap merchant to come and get who could come tonight - website an 0800 number and nationwide etc etc.

Phone back original company on the mobile number I had from when they phoned me and explained had arranged something else. He proceeded to give me an absolute mouthful of foul mouthed abuse, threatened to (sorry) "dump piles of shit all over your property" and remove any vehicle they find at the property as soon as they can get to it. Call finished with "I know where you live remember". Sob.

OP posts:
Original poster
Catnao · 10/03/2011 18:40

No - he said during phone call he would take any vehicle on drive. Have parked new car on next door's for tonight til OH takes it to work in the morning.

OP posts:
HecateTheCrone · 10/03/2011 18:45

If he tried that, you would simply report it stolen and he would be arrested.

He is just bullying you. Don't let him win.

Original poster
Catnao · 10/03/2011 19:14

Well. The new people have come and got it. They gave me £80 - ten more than they said - maybe they felt sorry for me! They asked me what the number of the horrible man was, and I said I didn't want to say. They then showed me a phone number and said "Is that it?" and IT WAS!! I said "I really don't want to say" - and they said "This is what they do. They are bullies. There is no way they'll come out here, don't worry - and if they call again, say you sold it to us - guarantee you will have no trouble"

Hope I am not now in some kind of scrap turf war! Confused

OP posts:
mmsmum · 10/03/2011 19:32

I don't know why you wouldn't want to say but glad the car is gone to decent people. Continue with your police complaint and don't be afraid and don't back down!

Original poster
Catnao · 10/03/2011 20:03

Well I didn't want to say as I didn't personally know the new scrap people, and didn't want them to go phoning the first lot up saying I had been telling them about them or something - Just think the police (who haven't phoned me back) would be the best people to deal with it, not the new scrap people, who seemed to have a serious problem with the first lot, as they had their number in their phone!

Who knew that scrapping a car could get this complicated!!

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Curiousmama · 13/03/2011 11:29

Blimey, glad the car is gone. Hope this is the end of it?

beesimo · 13/03/2011 11:43

I very much doubt they will do anything to you so don't worry. But just in case tie a small but visible piece of red cloth to your car door handle and your front gate/door and no 'traveller' will touch it as they will think you have friends in clanny. Don't go any further with police as they WILL get a spite against you then and may put a mox out. They can be a queer lot but to be fair we have dealt with them for years and although they can be buggers for 'finding things that aren't missing' ie the odd haybale very few are wicked or nasty.

beesimo · 13/03/2011 11:48

You do realise that the scrapmen in your area will all know each other and may even be related you don't get to operate in scrap unless you are clanny. They will operate a price structure and although rivals they will stick together against outsiders. A bit like estate agents dont put your trust in one over a other

BristolJim · 13/03/2011 11:51

Travellers you say? Well, I was going to say black, but travellers works just as well. I mean, he was mean, so he must have been one or the other.

Hmm
Original poster
Catnao · 13/03/2011 11:54

Well, I haven't heard anything else, so assuming nothing will come of it all! Next time I need to scrap a car, I will use "we buy any car" or something. Police officer called round and took the details to put on record, but will take no further action unless something does happen (which I really hope I am right in assuming it will not!).

OP posts:
Original poster
Catnao · 13/03/2011 11:55

And I never said they were travellers - I don't know who any of them are! Just that the first lot were horrid!

OP posts:
Original poster
Catnao · 13/03/2011 11:56

oh - beesimo's travellers thing you meant? sorry I am a bit hungover thick! Grin

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beesimo · 13/03/2011 13:05

Just do what I told you to and then forget about it and enjoy your day

Curiousmama · 13/03/2011 13:44

beesimo are you quite right? Hmm

giveitago · 13/03/2011 14:25

Well whoever they are - who gives a toss. The police are aware and there are consequences for those that continue to threaten and abuse.

Enjoy your day.

Don't be intimidated.

He/they can't just take any car parked on drive. Well, not without consequences.

RunAwayWife · 13/03/2011 14:30

Call the police,

beesimo · 13/03/2011 14:59

Curiousmama I may well be crackers but we live in a very isolated spot not that far from Appleby and I promise you this is what is know as a pooky message. It is a way of non verbal communication among Travellers for instance when the fair is on we allow them to draw water for their horses at the far field tap they are not allowed in the yard itelf. We leave pooky signs to that effect which I will not go into now.

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 13/03/2011 15:06

Beesimo you really aren't making sense Confused

Mandy2003 · 13/03/2011 15:15

Beesimo is making perfect sense to me Smile

It must be fascinating for you, Bee, to see Travellers' ways close up. I've always believed that if you treat people decently that's what you will get in return (?Karma)

beesimo · 13/03/2011 17:04

Mandy 2003 Thank you it is a shame when people who don't understand country ways think we are all stupid or odd. We have systems built over generations that work for our way of life. There is no law as such here because by the time the police got out to our place it would be too late so we make accomadations for each other. We give trust and show kindness to the Travellers so they can water and graze horses and rest up for awhile andthey show respect to us by not coming into our yard area Simple as that

Original poster
Catnao · 13/03/2011 17:10

Would like to make it clear that I was NOT rude to the scrap people. I rang them and said politely that since they couldn't make it, I had made a different arrangement. I was not disrespectful, they were though, and I don't know if they were actually travellers, but whoever they are, I didn't cause this problem.

OP posts:
BabyYoureAFirework · 13/03/2011 17:10

beesimo, yours are some of the best posts I've seen regarding this subject. I have next to know experience of travellers or their culture, but it's great to see any kinds of community helping to live alongside each other.

Original poster
Catnao · 13/03/2011 17:11

So Mandy2003 is wrong, in this case.

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Original poster
Catnao · 13/03/2011 17:14

And I still fail to see that ending a phone call with "I know where you live, remember" is in any way respectful.

OP posts:
TheMonster · 13/03/2011 17:14

What does pooky mean?

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