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?

Buy a new phone, one with a wire, and then say no.

Did you tell him the password?

You told them the wifi password didn't you?
Can you move house?

I'd move if I could afford to. This has been going on since they moved in about 5 years ago. I've tried, but I just can't afford to rent privately and, anyway, I dont want to give up the security of social housing for potentially having to move every 6 months. No-one will exchange with me because no-one wants to live next to them!

They have your password too?

Then put your foot down, be rude as hell if thats what it would take. Your being taken for a ride.

Oh OP! Please say you didn't give them your wifi password?!

You've got to extricate yourself from this family.
Seriously.

If the little boy's mother is threatening to take valium to emotionally blackmail her ndn into using her phone, it sounds like SS need to get involved.

That poor little boy needs to be out and fostered rather than witnessing the aftermaths of sword attacks and drunken mother in laws (nanny?).

Your phone is the least of their problems.

I didn't give them the password! Neither did I drive them to cash converters a few days later to sell the laptop they were given by social services.They must have got there somehow, though, as they occasionally ask me to look stuff up online for them :-/

I wonder what you would do if they were looking at child porn via your internet connection and they traced the IP address to you? do you think a judge would believe you that it was your ndn? ignorance is no defence.

I know it's easy to say when you don't know the people involved personally but really her mental health is not your problem and if she is threatening to harm herself phone the police instead of giving in to her demands, same if you think there is any violence going on. The rest of it is not your problem, no more using the phone/looking stuff up online, they can use a phonebox or go to an internet cafe like everyone else.

Just stop answering the door to them, you mug.

Change you password to, stop leaching of your neighbours, you fuckers

I'd stop answering the door to them.

Why did social services give them a laptop?

Gaaaah. Beyond help.

They have social workers, drugs workers, police support workers. The son regularly goes in to care for a break from them. He was recently in voluntary foster care, but they had him back because their Housing Benefit was cut as they were then in a 3 bed house with no children. I know this, as she volunteers the information, plus I overhear her on my phone when she doesn't go home to use it!

Oh ffs. Grow a spine and while you are at it a pair of balls.

You have been living next to this for 5 years. Has she gone through with her threat of a valium od, erm no.

What you do, is you stop enabling their shite behaviour because this is what you are. An enabler. You think you are helping. Stop kidding yourself. You are helping to keep a child in a shitty atmosphere.

What most caring people would do, is ignore their demands for food, drink, phone, net etc, and instead everytime they argue, stab each other and whatever shitty things they do you call the police.

What you don't do is take the spineless, ball less option of doing sfa..

why are you taking to them never mind lending them a phone. drug deals-really? from your number? tell them the police have confiscated it.
but just mainly wtaf?

You really need to give these people short shrift, and fast. In language they understand. I'd be willing to bet serious money they have police records, and you could be connected to some of their activities via use of your phone line.

I would never lend anyone my phone. If there was some emergency I would offer to make the call for them. Wifi and internet are sacrosanct too. Sometimes I will help someone who does not have internet access to look something up if needed (i.e. my own parents), but this is done in my house, with me there.

Your neighbours are trouble, and are taking you for a mug. There is a one word answer which they need to hear much more of. It is "NO".

SS gave them a laptop with a prepaid dongle, but it was restricted, for educational use, so they got someone to over ride that, and pawned it. I know, because they didn't know why it wouldn't work (ie, connect to FB) so I looked through the paperwork with them.Plus, she asked me to drive her there. I didn't,.btw.

I would move.

This is getting on my nerves now. I felt a bit sorry for u at first cos you know, shit neighbours are shit, but if your not willing to do anything to help yourself i dont really know what to say.

Of course they have police records. They confessed to 800 unsolved burglaries in order to get housed under the 'Prolific offender's scheme'. The police are there several times a week!