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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be pissed off at this note left on my car - I want to reply but DH says don't

209 replies

CalmaLlamaDown · 15/02/2012 21:44

Few weeks ago neighbours left a note on my car saying don't park opposite our house as we have a newborn baby and it makes it difficult. I am not totally sure what they mean as they have 2 cars and 2 side by side spaces on their drive.

Anyway, no big deal to us, we have avoided parking there since. Now today we are parked further down the road and get another note saying they think we reported them to the police for damaging our car and that it wasn't them.

I want to send a note back saying I don have the foggiest what they are on about but DH says leave it as might end going back and forth etc. If we don't reply will they think it was us that reported them? I want to tell them to bog off to be honest.

Any ideas for a suitably polite response?

OP posts:
Original poster
CalmaLlamaDown · 15/02/2012 21:59

No not a narrow road or anything, previous occupants had no problems. We have lived here donkeys years and never had ANY problems with neighbours, don't want to start now.

OP posts:
kodachrome · 15/02/2012 22:00

Take them a cup of sugar, fgs, and coo at the baby.

aquashiv · 15/02/2012 22:04

Let it go Louie or knock their door....

ManateeEquineOhara · 15/02/2012 22:05

I had a mad neighbour who used to leave notes on cars parked 'in his way' (they made it hard for him to get his dog into his car apparently Hmm he died of a heart attack - can't be healthy to have all that anxiety!

I agree with calling around. Point out that your car isn't damaged!

microserf · 15/02/2012 22:06

i really would do it. might cut through a lot of crap. you have the advantage, as they'd made a nutty accusation against you without proof and you can correct them, and be wonderfully maganimous (bollocks, can't spell it) about it.

otherwise, notes will definitely get you nowhere.

cece · 15/02/2012 22:06

My neighbours wrote us a letter with regard to not being able to get off of their drive if we parked opposite. Hmm

I went over to speak to them - DH was too cross to do it diplomatically.

I suggested that if they were having trouble driving their car they could knock on our door anytime and I would get their car off of their drive for them. Grin

They haven't mentioned it since - although we have tried our best to stay out of their way.

OP I think you should pop over and have a firendly word.

Salmotrutta · 15/02/2012 22:08

I'd be inclined to go and introduce myself properly (maybe with cake if I was in a good mood), state that you did not report them whilst saying you have lived here for DONKEY'S YEARS WITHOUT A PROBLEM and ask them why they have trouble maneouvering out of their drive if you park opposite? Given that the previous occupants had no problem Hmm
But I am a stubborn slightly grumpy person. And I've taken umbrage at the parking habits of some Johnny-come-lately new neighbours in our street. Grin

Ignore me .... I most probably give very bad advice Grin

trixymalixy · 15/02/2012 22:11

Agree with others, knock on the door with a baby gift or cake or something and clear the air.

EightiesChick · 15/02/2012 22:11

Another vote here for going round and also for using the 'there must have been a mistake as our car hasn't been damaged' line. Nice them (I love this use as a verb, read it in a modern girl's guide to etiquette thing years ago) by welcoming them to the neighbourhood, saying you must have them round for a drink, cooing over baby etc. Best way to derail all this nonsense.

RhinosDontEatPancakes · 15/02/2012 22:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

breatheslowly · 15/02/2012 22:11

I'd go and say hello, possibly with a little something for the baby (but I am a bit too keen to buy things for babies). I can see why it might be harder to park on their drive if someone parks opposite, but it is tough if parking is limited. I don't get what a newborn has to do with parking either though unless they are saying that they can't get into their drive and leave enough space between the cars to get the baby seat out (like P&C parking) if someone parks opposite.

Original poster
CalmaLlamaDown · 15/02/2012 22:12

Thank you all, will definitely not go down the note- leaving route now.

Am I the only one to feel nervous about knocking on the door? I must be more pathetic than I thought!

Next question, will they be annoyed if i my calling on them wakes the baby up? What time would you go? I am over thinking this aren't I?

OP posts:
forward · 15/02/2012 22:13

Leaving notes is ridiculous, but in their defense, having a newborn does make you go a bit weird for a while and my Dad has a narrow drive which is impossible to get off if someone has parked opposite. Even though the road is not narrow, there is no room to swing round, because of his neighbour's wall.

You need to go and talk to them

Salmotrutta · 15/02/2012 22:14

TBH - people can park anywhere they like in a public street as long as it isn't a disabled space, bus stop, yellow line etc. or blocking a driveway. Maybe they don't know that and used to live in the middle of nowhere or something.

ChaosTrulyReigns · 15/02/2012 22:15

Is no-one else just totally befuddled and Shock about the difference a newborn baby makes to getting off the drive.

Eejits.

EldritchCleavage · 15/02/2012 22:15

Well, just a thought but NOT going to see them could be worse than going to see them, especially if they are a bit odd. They will assume you did report them, and the whole thing could fester. Much better to clear the air with a chat, I think.

Salmotrutta · 15/02/2012 22:15

Over thinking definitely. Unless they have a big piss-off notice saying "DO NOT KNOCK ON OUR DOOR"

forward · 15/02/2012 22:15

That's not true Salmotrutta, if they are causing an obstruction to the drive opposite, they can't park "anywhere"

Salmotrutta · 15/02/2012 22:17

Oh, I don't get why a baby makes getting a car off a drive difficult either Chaos - they sound precious.

smilesy · 15/02/2012 22:18

Man up Llama! Go and speak to them. You can't worry abut every possible thing that might happen if you go and knock on the door! If you are friendly and polite and they are still unreasonable at least you will know you tried and it is the who have a problem. Unfortunately, newborns arrive in a very busy, noisy world that does not stop for them to sleep when their parents think it should.

Whatever, i would leave my car out of their way as they sound like incompetent drivers if they find it inconvenient that you park opposite and have also possibly damaged another car!

Salmotrutta · 15/02/2012 22:18

Well, forward - Calm said the previous neighbours had no problem.
The road isn't narrow so why can't these people manoeuvre a car?
Maybe they drive a Hummer?

perceptionreality · 15/02/2012 22:20

Nobody has the right to tell you where to park - if you pay your road tax they have a damned cheek and to put a note on someone's car is aggressive and cowardly anyway.

I can understand why you don't want to engage in polite chat with them after a second note. I think if I were you I would ignore it.

Original poster
CalmaLlamaDown · 15/02/2012 22:26

Yes Salmo they have 2 large cars but access wasn't mentioned, just 'we have a newborn and it makes it difficult if you park here'

Oh well I will summon up some courage and do it tomorrow. Dh said he would but I should really because I am the one worrying what they think.

OP posts:
poinsetta · 15/02/2012 22:31

I agree best to go and knock but I would be nervous too (I am a wimp). I would take a deep breath and do it though..if I could you can!

Goolash · 15/02/2012 22:31

I'd go round, give sympathy that their car is damaged, it wasnt you, welcome to the neighbourhood.

No idea what the problem is with anyone parking opposite. We live on a narrow one way street of terraced houses. The opposite side of the road is always full of parked cars. A small row of us have different houses with land in front with just enough room for two cars. We have two cars and I don't have any problem getting my 4 x 4 in and out, dunno why having a baby would cause problems.

But really ? They're telling people not to park on a public road ? If it's not you it could be anyone else.

Good luck. Hopefully they're new and sleep deprived and not nutters.