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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To consider telling the council?

46 replies

lesley33 · 22/10/2011 14:36

One of my acquaintances/friends who has an allotment has been selling her extra vegetables so that she can get back the cost of the rent to the council. As I have an allotment myself I know this is against the tenancy agreement - which is why the rent is os cheap. AIBU to consider telling the council?

Now I know its hardly the crime of the century. But this woman is generally quite mean. And the issue isn't lack of money. She is single, has a cheap mortagage as the house prices are cheap where she lives and I know is a higher rate taxpayer, so on good money. Her family are well off as well. So the issue isn't that she is struggling financially.

OP posts:

Swankyswishing · 22/10/2011 16:27

I think it would be mean spirited of you to report her, it's not as if she's doing any harm. Like someone else has pointed out, the buyers of the veg are probably appreciative of getting low cost veg.

TheMonster · 22/10/2011 16:29

She is doing harm. She is taking an allotment and benefitting from it, financially. There are huge waiting lists for allotments and someone who could actually use the veggies they could grow on it it missing out.

valiumredhead · 22/10/2011 16:30

I agree with fabby! Just how mean spirited would one have to be to report someone for selling a few cucumbers? I doubt she's making much anyway.

colken · 22/10/2011 16:33

Have you thought of offering to swap some of your produce for some of hers? Probably not.

scarevola · 22/10/2011 16:37

The law isn't that clear.

Selling produce privately at all can be considered a business (requires local interpretation) and the produce in any event should be wholly or mainly for the holder's own use (again, open to interpretation).

I would really come down to how much she is selling and how.

If you want to complain, I'd start with the allotment's own association (if it has one). They will deal with it, in line with local practice, and you can expect them to be far quicker and more effective than the council.

HecateGoddessOfTheNight · 22/10/2011 16:40

I'd agree with you, Eeyore, if she was selling everything. I'd say report her, because that's not the spirit of a personal allotment.

But the OP says she is selling the surplus. Now, if you've used all you can use, why not sell the rest? Better than throwing it away. I mean, I'd give it away, but maybe nobody wants any? And if it funds all you need so you can carry on growing enough for your family and financing itself, is it really that wrong?

valiumredhead · 22/10/2011 16:41

Dear God, this has got my back up! OP you have NO idea how much she is selling or WHY? It might be the only way she can make ends meet at the moment, you have no idea about her finances even if she is on higher rate tax - you don't know her outgoings or responsibilities! You want to stop her doing it because you don't like her? Get a grip and MYOB.

valiumredhead · 22/10/2011 16:43

Methe · 22/10/2011 16:45

D you live in the west midlands ? I'd love to be able to buy proper home grown food, point her in my direction!

I think yabu, op, and spiteful.

scarevola · 22/10/2011 16:47

Another reason for going via the allotment society is that in some places surplus produce is sold by them with the profits going to defray communal expenses (helping keep rents down). If this is in place where she is, then what she is doing is unfair.

valiumredhead · 22/10/2011 16:51

Methe Me too! I would love to buy allotment veg.

heleninahandcart · 22/10/2011 17:25

She is single, has a cheap mortagage as the house prices are cheap where she lives and I know is a higher rate taxpayer, so on good money. Her family are well off as well.

You sound rather resentful bordering on spiteful tbh

RogerMelly · 22/10/2011 17:27

you sound very petty

they are vegetables, she is hardly the next alan sugar

wailedfig · 22/10/2011 17:47

How on earth do you know what her tax band is? Do you work for the Inland Revenue? Or the bank? In which case, it should be simple enough to put a note on her file to investigate the money pouring into her current account from her freelance market gardening activities.

AmberLeaf · 22/10/2011 17:52

YABVU

squeakyfreakytoy · 22/10/2011 17:55

Jeeeze.... I wouldnt even know what tax bracket some of my family are in, or how much their mortgage payments are... never mind an "aquaintance"...

onefatcat · 22/10/2011 18:07

You sound a bit mean.

What has cheap rent got to do with not being able to sell veg? How does this benefit the council?

You would be better placed putting your energy into persueding the council to allow all allotment holders to be able to sell produce if they wish. This would benefit everyone.

Our local allotment has a sale every weekend where the public can buy fruit and veg from the growers- is a good idea.

Original poster

lesley33 · 22/10/2011 20:40

The only reason I put about her financial situation is because I knew someone would post saying maybe she is struggling financially - honestly she is not. How do I know she is in a higher rate tax band - she told me. No I'm not remotely jealous of her financial situation. Do other people never talk about their finances?

I have some friends who I know very little about their finances. I have others who tell me everything down to their level of loans, etc. I don't ask them! They tell me because they want to talk about either struggling or being happy that their finances are good. I don't share detailed info personally

OP posts:

onagar · 22/10/2011 21:19

Have you considered just going a long way away where you won't see her any more.

worraliberty · 22/10/2011 21:25

I have others who tell me everything down to their level of loans, etc. I don't ask them! They tell me because they want to talk about either struggling or being happy that their finances are good. I don't share detailed info personally

And I expect they tell you because they trust you not to turn around and stab them in the back?

I'm sure this friend/acquaintance had no idea you don't like her because you think she's mean and grasping and therefore trusted you with her personal information.

Some people never learn to spot a backstabber do they?

puddinghead · 22/10/2011 22:06

What suckers is she selling her extra marrows to? Can't believe she could have that much anyway, and if she has then she can come to my plot and tell me her secrets. Think you are a tad jealous?

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