to want my phone back

[ScornedWoman]

My ndn goes through phases of using my phone a lot.
The last few days it's been about 10x a day. They usually take it home with them as " it's a private call." I let them, as I don't want my DC overhearing their dramas/drug deals etc.
She took it at about 5pm yesterday, then asked for it again an hour later. I reminded her that she already had it. It hasn't come back yet.
They're definitely still alive, as they were banging about and shouting until 3am, and I've heard them on and off all evening.
The neighbor was drunk/stoned, as usual, and blood splattered (not so usual) yesterday.
My friend thinks I should get it back and only let them use it in genuine emergencies. I dont really know how to stop them asking, now that they know it works at their house. Also, their lives are a never ending succession of emergencies. Yesterday was, apparently, a sword attack.
I'm wondering if they've just forgotten, or whether they're still using it.
Am I being petty wanting my phone back?

[SandyDilbert]

A cordless landline phone will work at a neighbour's house - range is quite far on some of them.

[MrsMaybeMaybe]

Eww, I bet the phone smells when they give it back. How about pretending that your phone was disconnected by the company because you forgot to pay the phone bill?

[YoniMitchell]

What would happen if you plug it back on, get someone to call it and ask for you (while they still have it)?

[YoniMitchell]

Plug in, not on!

[JackNoneReacher]

How about whenever they ask you say

"no, you can't"

or if you struggle with that

"no you can't I'm just expecting a call its very important its about a sword attack"

[ScornedWoman]

I didn't think of that, Yoni. I could ring it myself, from my mobile.

[ICameOnTheJitney]

They've nicked your phone dear. That thing where she came round for it and she already had it...that was her simple way of trying to confuse the situation. To give her "strength" for her argument when you ask for it back..."No...I gave it back...don't you remember I came for it and you said you couldn't find it."

I can't believe you've let them take the piss like this!

[BopsX3]

Just unplug it. Then when they ask why it's not working just say it's been cut off due to end of contract and you're not planning on renewing it. You have dongles for Internet access anyway and you don't really use the landline so don't see the point in paying for it

[optimusic]

I so want to be your neighbour.
I can ring the world for free.
What other nice stuff have you got that I can borrow?

[FeckOffCup]

Not that you should have to, but buy a cheapo landline phone and give it to them so they stop asking for yours? I can't believe you actually gave it to them to start with.

[cantheyseeme]

This thread has really cheered up my miserable arse haha! Get a wired phone and move house! Sword attacked ndn's should be more disturbing than the phone tbh, but for now unplug the thing! I had annoying scrounging nobby neighbours and they came round one day to ask for ingredients to make yorkshire puds so my DP told the theres an effing good co-op at the top of the road, never bothered us again haha!

[HollaAtMeBaby]

This kind of idiocy makes me seriously wonder how the human race has survived this long.

[YoniMitchell]

You shouldn't ring yourself and ask for you! Needs to be someone else asking to speak to you unless they're really thick and won't tell it's you

[ScornedWoman]

Her MIL answered it and asked who I was!
DS just fetched it, as next door were "in their jammies". He's currently scowling and scrubbing his hands as it stinks of chips and ashtrays.
No doubt drunken mil will knock me up later to phone her a taxi home after the usual drunken row :-/

[YoniMitchell]

I'm finding myself quite admiring your ndn and their chutzpah, OP.

[cantheyseeme]

Say NO!!!!

[cantheyseeme]

Say NO!!!!

[BitOutOfPractice]

Use the MN line "I'm sorry, this arrangement isn't working for me." and close the door

[SandyDilbert]

can you see what numbers were last dialled on the handset? And if they come knocking again do not answer your door.

[ScornedWoman]

It's not so much idiocy that makes me lend them the phone/food/money etc; it's more that there's a vulnerable woman and child in that house. Once, she called to me out of the window that she was locked in and needed a drink. I said no to buying her super strength lager (I was on my way to the shop) and so she threatened to take all her valium. Her son would have come home from school to that.

[Mattissy]

In my old house my neighbour went through a period of knocking to use my phone, she always gave me money, after the first time it became harder to day no. The first time she phoned her dad and said "I'm going to kill myself dad, come now and help me!" She stayed at mine till he got there. I was shitting myself, lol!!

I never dared to say no because I'd imagine her all night slashing wrists and such. In the end it only happened 5 times, the fifth time she phoned the psych ward at the local hospital and they came and collected her in an ambulance, her parting words were "can you tell my dad?", I phoned him and told him, apparently she was well known on the psych ward. Lol

[Mattissy]

Oh yeah, the op!

Just say you've been cut off cox you haven't paid the bill. They'll understand that.

Just turn the ringer down.

[nennypops]

OP, if you're lending the phone because there are vulnerable people in the house who might be in danger, you would be doing them a favour to phone the police instead.

[cantheyseeme]

When u say lend do you ever get the money and food back? Its not your respinsibiluty if she takes all her valium, she was emotionally blackmailing you, i would seriously consider moving.

[ScornedWoman]

I try to keep my distance, but their idea of what's acceptable is so skewed, I honestly don't think they realise how outrageous their behaviour is.
The son knocked once and asked for the password for the (my!) wireless internet!