Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not share my wifi?

50 replies

newsecretidentity · 01/04/2014 16:12

So I was reading a thread on a similar subject this weekend, which reminded me to change my router's name and password. A few months ago we had a new neighbor move in next door and she asked if she could borrow the wifi password. I assumed she meant on a temporary basis until she could have her installed, and thought no more about it.

Recently we started having trouble with our wifi becoming slow or dropping out when DD's were watching shows on netflix. The thread this weekend reminded me that she COULD still be using it and that it could be putting us over our fair usage limit. So I duly changed the password.

Today she's stopped me outside to ask if there's a problem with the wifi. So apparently she hasn't gotten her own and has just been using mine.

I fibbed and told her I had switched to a dongle. AIBU to not share?

OP posts:
Sallyingforth · 01/04/2014 17:31

After reading that last post OP I think you were very reasonable to let her have temporary access to your wifi. But certainly it would be risky to let her use it for too long because of all the risks mentioned above.

Incidentally you do not need to have your wifi broadcast a name at all - there will be an option to hide it in the settings.

Original poster
newsecretidentity · 01/04/2014 17:32

Oooh, I'm going to check that out and hide it!

OP posts:
YoDiggity · 01/04/2014 17:33

A few months ago? Shock Cheeky cow! I don't think you need to offer her any explanation at all. Just say you always change your password periodically, and you had no idea that she would STILL be using your paid for WIFI for free!

specialsubject · 01/04/2014 17:35

you have been paying her bill. Happy with that?

of course you should lock her out.

rollonthesummer · 01/04/2014 17:40

If she downloaded anything legal, what on earth would you say to the police-you wouldn't have a leg to stand on!

I can't believe you said yes!

Minnieisthedevilmouse · 01/04/2014 17:44

I can believe you said yes but I am stunned she's been happily not arranging her own or paying you for the use!

Cheeky cheeky girl!

Sallyingforth · 01/04/2014 17:50

Oooh, I'm going to check that out and hide it!
Having hidden it you might have to go through the reconnection procedure with your PC, phone etc.

YoDiggity · 01/04/2014 18:02

I have borrowed a neighbours wifi temporarily when we first moved in and had to wait ages for someone to come and connect us, but we already had mutual friends so she offered, I didn't ask. I would not have dreamt of doing it for any longer than was absolutely necessary though.

expatinscotland · 01/04/2014 18:12

Very very naive and foolish to EVER give out your password or share with anyone. The signal problems are not your problem.

MammaTJ · 01/04/2014 18:14

I have borrowed a neighbours (and very good friends) wi fi a couple of times, when I have been unable to pay my bill. I have had to ask and get them to put the password in to my laptop for me.

When I have been reconnected, it has become problematic,as my laptop always tries to connect to their better signal. Then it flicks from one to the other, losing signal in the meantime. I ask them to change the password, as I want to make it clear I am not taking the micky!

I would not have been happy for someone to use mine for a prolonged length of time. I wouldn't mind for a short time.

YANBU!

Nataleejah · 01/04/2014 19:16

YABVU. We share our wifi with next door and they give us half the price. It doesn't slow down or anything. Why we should each pay 40 when we can have the same for 20 each?

VodkaJelly · 01/04/2014 19:17

Nataleejah why should the OP pay £40 a month and her neighbour pay fuck all and get it all for free? OP is NOT being unreasonable.

Topaz25 · 01/04/2014 19:36

Is that supposed to be funny Contrarian78? It's sick to joke about child abuse and those kind of rumours could ruin someone's life. I'm sure if you had genuine reason to child abuse you would report it not just joke about it, right?

Topaz25 · 01/04/2014 19:37

*suspect child abuse

Topaz25 · 01/04/2014 19:37

Nataleejah OP's neighbour was not giving her half the price, she was continuing to use her wi-fi for free and hoping she wouldn't notice and it was affecting the OP's connection so it is a different situation.

missingwelliesinsd · 01/04/2014 19:39

Not directly relevant but I wanted to share this. In our previous apartment building (large many apartments) there was apparently a couple having very noisy sex frequently (Pretty sure it wasn't me and DH, sadly). When we logged onto our wifi and the list of nearby wifi accounts came up a couple of them were named "We can hear you having sex" and "Yes, so can we. Stop showing off." We thought it was pretty funny, maybe a bit passive aggressive though.

Nataleejah · 01/04/2014 19:43

I wouldn't give it for free, but we share the price here. Reasonable deal i think.

Original poster
newsecretidentity · 01/04/2014 19:48

That is funny. I considered going with the "Police surveillance unit" name for funzies, but instead I changed the name and once I have all the devices linked to it then I'll hide it.

OP posts:
TwittyMcTwitterson · 01/04/2014 20:22

Who pays £40 for broadband Shock even with virgin fibre optic it wasn't that much. I pay £15.40 with sky and that's unlimited and strangely faster than virgins all singing all dancing. I also get free top tv package for one year Wink

I would have given her the password and would hDve changed it if she was affecting my performance. Probably would have lied too. Seems like if you hadn't, she'd just ask for the new one anyway so easier route taken.

TwittyMcTwitterson · 01/04/2014 20:23

My wifi is named 'pretty fly for a wifi'

Yes, I am a child!

londonrach · 01/04/2014 20:28

You can choose names for your wifi. Mines plusnet loads of numbers and letters. By the way shocked you give password out for anyone more than family and friends visiting. How do you know what's been downloaded

flyingspaghettimonster · 02/04/2014 00:16

We used other people's wifi for years until all routers changed to insist on passwords etc. then we bought our own. Don't know whose we were using, but if people are dumb enough to leave it open then it is fair game. I we had know. Whose we were using we would have left wine and chocs on their doormat though - it helped us during a really poor period.

stonehairbrush · 02/04/2014 02:05

I'm pretty sure the cps wouldn't prosecute someone who innocently shared their wifi password with someone who then subsequently did something dodgy. Hmm Tech forensics are actually quite fancy - they can see when stuff is downloaded and where to etc and by whom.

And if I had a pound for the wifi name 'we can hear you shagging' story...

confuddledDOTcom · 02/04/2014 02:57

In my area there's only BT which is great because it means whenever it goes down we automatically connect to a neighbour Grin I'm about as close to the one upstairs as I am my own downstairs so I don't even notice the difference.

There was an article that was funny things to name your wifi or something like that, obviously American as one was FBI surveillance van. I see the UK version has already been done though.

Chloerose75 · 02/04/2014 03:48

This neighbour is bold as brass. Obviously YANBU!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread