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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

or is my neighbour re paint splodges ?

95 replies

shirleybasseyslovechild · 15/07/2015 21:15

hope photo works.
I'm on holiday. Had painter at my house.
neighbour phoned me irate at mess on his side of fence.
I apologised profusely and asked for a photo and said I'd fix it
masonry paint.

comments please

or is my neighbour re paint splodges ?
OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 15/07/2015 22:18

If there's splodges on the neighbour's patio is it all over yours too?

AnyoneForTennis · 15/07/2015 22:19

How would he clean it?

Smoorikins · 15/07/2015 22:20

Yes, read the op.

It's not clear though, what you think you might be being unreasonable about.

Your neighbour is not being unreasonable. And it sounds like you are not being unreasonable because you have offered to clear it up.

But why do I get the impression that there is something you aren't saying...

DancingDinosaur · 15/07/2015 22:23

Your neighbour is nbu.

Sparklingbrook · 15/07/2015 22:23

Why does neighbour have your phone number? I would be a bit Hmm at an irate phone call from my neighbour about that whilst on holiday TBH.

Could have waited til you got back.

chickenfuckingpox · 15/07/2015 22:26

my comment is it looks like bird shit how did he get paint on their patio if he was painting your house? he better hurry up and shift it because its hard to get off being you know masonry paint

HTH

PurpleSwift · 15/07/2015 22:32

Tbh op I'm with you. I'd barely care and clean it myself. If he's elderly or disabled then I can see why he might want you to sort it but I'd at least wait until you're home.

PurpleSwift · 15/07/2015 22:33

I'm can't imagine it'd be difficult to scrape off

Original poster
shirleybasseyslovechild · 15/07/2015 23:13

he's in his40's , physically fit and lives with his mum.
neither of them work.

smoor what on earth would I not be saying ?!
ok, I'm having an affair with him.
just kidding

OP posts:
Original poster
shirleybasseyslovechild · 15/07/2015 23:15

he must have asked another neighbour for my number because I didn't give it to him and the call came through as an unknown number

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 15/07/2015 23:17

That's a bit cheeky, and naughty of your other neighbour to pass your number on.

TheWitTank · 15/07/2015 23:22

Why should he clean it up, even if it is minor? That's your problem (or your painters) not his. Perhaps a little dramatic to ring you on holiday, but he is being perfectly reasonable asking you to remove it.
We had a neighbour at our work premises spill masonry paint in the yard -a lot more that this, granted. It was an arsehole to get out. It's still faintly visible.

Original poster
shirleybasseyslovechild · 15/07/2015 23:30

thewit please read my OP.

I fully intend to clean it up, (or get my painter to ) but to phone me when I am holiday for something so trivial when he is actually there and able bodied and time rich and it will be easier to do ASAP seems a bit odd.

if the tables were turned I'd say to the painter at the time or if he had gone home I'd clean it myself them politely let the neighbour know at their painter was a bit slapdash !

OP posts:
GiddyOnZackHunt · 15/07/2015 23:33

But why should he clean it up? It looks like a new or well maintained patio and if the paint isn't cleaned up quickly it could mark it. He may just be making you aware in case it needs follow up. Had he spoken to your painter?
FWIW we bought wine for our neighbours for the 'nuisance' of having our roof fixed.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 15/07/2015 23:47

PS you do realise it might have dried before he saw it and masonry paint is designed to stay put.

Idefix · 16/07/2015 07:02

It is fine that you say you would be happy to clean it up yourself but your neighbour doesn't want to - it is not his mess to clean.

I don't think it matters what the ndn do or don't do with their time.

Given the nature of the incident I don't think it is unreasonable for the ndn to contact you, the longer it remains on the fence and patio the more difficult it will to rectify. Did your ndn approach the painter and not get a positive reception?

Have you contacted your painter and asked him to clean the paint? It will be really hard to remove if it is left on too long.

It isn't the end of the world stuff and I hope it hasn't spoiled your holiday.

LadyintheRadiator · 16/07/2015 07:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sparklingbrook · 16/07/2015 07:26

I wouldn't be very happy to receive an irate phone call from NDN who I hadn't even given my phone number to while on holiday.

Just call the painter and get him to go round, and don't answer any more unknown numbers.

coolaschmoola · 16/07/2015 07:36

YABU - why should he clean up your mess?! Masonry paint is deliberately designed to stay on bricks for years of every type of weather... It's going to be an absolute BASTARD to remove. You seem to think he should spend time and money cleaning up mess done by your painter.

The holiday is a red herring - you chose to have work done whilst away thus choosing to potentially have to deal with issues relating to that work whilst away. This is an issue. Your contractor caused damage and it's your responsibility to fix it. If you don't want to be contacted on holiday about damage don't have work done when you aren't there... Hmm

BTW your op didn't make as much sense written down as it seems to have done in your head - your attitude to posters seeking clarification over your poorly explained op stinks.

iamanintrovert · 16/07/2015 07:42

If that is the extent of it and I was the neighbour, I would just clean it up myself. Would have taken less time than taking pictures and chasing up your phone number.

Sparklingbrook · 16/07/2015 07:49

I think the chasing up of the phone number is terrible. Maybe there was good reason OP hadn't given their phone number to NDN.
I am really really picky about who gets my phone number and would be having words with whoever gave it him TBH.

Original poster
shirleybasseyslovechild · 16/07/2015 10:28

I didn't say he's unemployed, he is retired . he sits in his front garden all day every day reading the paper .

let me put this another way.

Your neighbour is getting some painting work done and when the painter leaves you notice some minor paint splodges on your front garden on the brickwork as per photo . your neighbour is on holiday . you don't know if or when the painter is coming back.

do you
a) obtain your holidaying neighbour's phone number from another neighbour and phone them about it ?

b) clean it up yourself on the grounds it's much easier to do sooner rather than later.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 16/07/2015 10:31

You are being unreasonable to whinge about him complaining about the damage your decorator has done to his property.

And yes, I have read the OP before you get snarky.

SoupDragon · 16/07/2015 10:33

I'm not sure why you are getting worked up about it.

He phoned to complain, you apologised and said you would sort it, end of story. Or it should have been.

DancingDinosaur · 16/07/2015 10:36

I'd take option A Smile