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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

For a film crew to block my front door?!

251 replies

Lj8893 · 20/10/2013 14:49

I live in a small town and there is currently a blockbuster film being filmed right outside my front door. Its a period setting so they have done loads of set decoration all around, including blocking up some windows etc.

Yesterday my dp came home (I wasn't in) and our front door had a door shaped block wedged in front. He grabbed a crew or security member who moved it and he told them it can't be there as I am due to go into labour any day (I'm 39 weeks) and it is our only exit/entrance so for fire and health and safety reasons it can't be there, or we at least need to know when!

Earlier on he popped in from work, and it was there again. He repeated the same speech from yesterday and they moved it, and told him when its up it will only be for 2 mins max.

Its up there again, and has been for nearly 45 minutes!!! I have rang and left a voicemail for the assistant location manager (his number was put on a info leaflet through our door a week ago).

Essentially I'm trapped in my house, and yes I could push it out with some force but that's not really fair on me is it?!

Its actually starting to make me feel quite panicky now.

AIBU?! Or what should I do?!

OP posts:
ubik · 23/10/2013 17:09

Personally I would go -heavily-pregnant-lady-mental on them. I would tell them that your blood pressure is sky high and you could go into labour any minute. I would read them the fucking riot act.

ChairmanMeoww · 23/10/2013 17:34

After this latest development (6am banging) I would go absolutely bat-shit at them. Probably full-on screaming in the street. I would also put something really obtrusive in my window to spoil their shots and would point blank refuse any more door plugs without serious cash compo.

Howsuper · 23/10/2013 17:34

I am beyond staggered at how unreasonable and RUDE they are.

I'd go to the newspapers, I really would.

They are not listening to you because they don't give a shit.

Anyone blaming you in any way on this thread is a total nutjob.

Hope you are ok.

ChairmanMeoww · 23/10/2013 17:39

Actually, sod the compo, right now I would be calling police and fire department concerning the risks of leaving you trapped with no other escape route. And I would go to the national newspapers - I can just imagine the daily Fail headline.

jellyboatsandpirates · 23/10/2013 17:50

Just read the update, and seriously, give them HELL. They've just proved my whole point all along that they really do not give a shit.
They block your only fire escape, they KNOW you're heavily pregnant and STILL hammer on the door at 6 in the morning? What are they trying to do, scare you into labour?! Confused
NOT IN ANY WAY is this acceptable and I stand by my point you need to seriously read them the riot act and stop letting them fob you off.

Original poster
Lj8893 · 23/10/2013 18:46

We are all absolutely going to give them hell.

Meeting them tomorrow with my mil. We will be going to the newspapers, hse and possibly taking legal action against them.

My mil is getting legal advice as we speak concerning the whole situation.

The banging woke my Mils lodger, as they were banging the lounge windows (1st floor) with a long stick. He panicked thinking I was in labour and it was my dp trying to get his mums attention so he went down to open the pub door to find the security guard who was very rude and entitled.

Awful behaviour and there is a large team of us now not prepared to let them get away with any of this behaviour.

OP posts:
womma · 23/10/2013 18:51

Oh bloody hell, they have taken the piss something chronic haven't they? Good for you, there's strength in numbers.

MissStrawberry · 23/10/2013 19:28

Can you leave it to your MIL and DP to sort now? You are due any time and really need to rest.

edam · 23/10/2013 19:46

Jeez, that's terrible.

Bahhhhhumbug · 23/10/2013 19:46

I've read the whole thread LJ. I didn't say you weren't concerned about it. But that I felt along with other posters that it wasn't your main and only battle with them. Non negotiable iows ,quickly slapped down instead of allowing them carry on and do it again as long as they compensated you or informed you.

Original poster
Lj8893 · 23/10/2013 19:50

Oh well I'm sorry I'm not perfect bahhh

OP posts:
LongTailedTit · 23/10/2013 22:19

Been a bit Confused at all this aggro OP, not really helping you is it? I wouldn't bother responding if you feel like your heart rate is raising even reading them!

Anyhoo...... DH is still in your corner, he now suggests contacting BECTU the media and entertainment union that some/most of them will be a member of (DH is, freelance chippie).
He says you should make a complaint about the production to BECTU, saying that "some of your members may be a part of this production, which was very badly run, (then listing all the crap they did, the main thing being trapping a couple inside their home, without notification, by blocking the only fire exit, when already aware that this was not allowed and that you're 39wks pg)".
Basically get them in the shit with their union. Unprofessional behaviour and terrible H&S standards will be looked on v badly.

Good luck for the meeting tomorrow, hope you get a decent night's rest. Brew

Twoandtwomakeschaos · 23/10/2013 22:36

I'd offer to boycott the film on its release, but with four young DCs and a dislike for Hardy, it wasn't likely to be on my list anyway ... Grin

PoppyScarer · 23/10/2013 22:42

Sorry to hear this is still rumbling on, OP. Not at all what you need at such a special/stressful time.

Make sure you get your DM-sad-face photo taken before the baby arrives. Grin. We will look out for you in the papers!

Original poster
Lj8893 · 23/10/2013 23:10

Thanks all!

longtailed thanks to you and your DH. I will certainly be contacting them.

Quite excited for this meeting now, I've been planning what to say etc and I'm feeling pretty confident.

Thanks Cake for all of you. Even bahhh

OP posts:
ChasedByZombees · 24/10/2013 00:44

I hope you're going to make them squirm OP. I'd report them to everyone I could think of for blocking the only fire exit for a heavily pregnant woman.

AmandaHoldenmigroin · 24/10/2013 01:44

Tell them to compensate you financially, thanks. A lawyers letter adds a nice touch too.

LittleBairn · 24/10/2013 08:59

Hope the meeting goes well its time they learnt to give you all some respect.

Sallyingforth · 24/10/2013 09:52

As I said earlier, they would just be stalling you until they got the job done. You need to fight them with some flashing lights or a giant inflatable Santa.

jellyboatsandpirates · 24/10/2013 10:53

Hope you're having the meeting by now and getting them told! Smile

Original poster
Lj8893 · 24/10/2013 12:42

Well that went much better than I expected!

I didn't even really need to pull out any of my legal research and knowledge, he knew exactly that he had made a big big cock up.
We have a written apology, another box of chocs, and financial compensation (I won't say how much but we are happy with it)

Basically, what happened was this, they've given a contract to all businesses, residents etc who will be "inconvienced" by the filming, by my mil signing hers for use of the pub they have incorrectly assumed (to be fair its an easy mistake to make) that our flat is part of the pub. Its not, its owned by the pub but actually a seperate address.
So they didn't have the permission that they thought they had for use of our door.
He accepted this was a massive oversight and he clearly needs to be more thorough with his checks etc.

So, what's done is done, thankfully nothing bad happened, its over now and they have accepted responsibility for thier mistake.

Thanks to everybody for thier support and advice, you have all been fantastic and just proven why i love mumsnet!

OP posts:
womma · 24/10/2013 12:51

Brilliant, a proper apology and a result you're happy with! Glad it's all done and dusted without any if those nightmarish possibilities happening too.

Hope you can just rest now until baby comes. Good luck with it all xxxx

edam · 24/10/2013 14:08

Glad you've achieved what you wanted and they have acknowledged how stupidly and dangerously they have behaved.

LongTailedTit · 24/10/2013 14:18

Very good news! :) Thanks

BlingBang · 24/10/2013 15:26

I think fair enough about bringing up compensation. They ignored you when you tried to complain verbally. Probably bringing up compensation is the only way to make them stop and listen and take you seriously. Fair enough.