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AIBU?

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Original poster

Neighbour made a mistake and now wants money

422 replies

DomingoFlamingo · 20/09/2016 02:55

Neighbor moved in about 10 months ago - its a house converted into flats with a communal hallway, front door and letterbox (I live upstairs, she lives downstairs) since she moved in we've had several issues including persistent loud music and her "borrowing" my things that then take several weeks to be returned (if at all)

Then today she knocks on my door with a letter address to me and dated July. She then proceeds to tell me that the letter (a bill) was picked up by her son and she didn't bother to read the name on the front until today when she went to pay again.. hence she's (somehow) been paying my bill since July Hmm and I now owe her a 3 figure sum for doing so......

I'd have normally payed this bill in installments throughout the year, but she payed the whole amount in two payments. Because of this I don't have that amount of money available to pay her back immediately (I work part time and its nearly 4 weeks wages for me)

She's asked for the money by the end of the week, I've offered to pay her in installments but she refused the offer and said she wants it in one go or she'll call the police. :( is she BU or am I? I will/would pay her back but I simply can't afford the whole amount in one go......

OP posts:
toodles60 · 21/09/2016 17:47

oh remember though. the minute you give them a single payment that can show at a later date that you believe you owe them the money. So i would pay nothing. She can learn from the mistake of opening other peoples mail and them paying bills without even checking who they were to? Ridiculous.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 21/09/2016 17:51

She should not be tampering with your mail. That is a criminal offence.

I would only pay her at the rate and the amount you would normally pay the Council. You are not owe her anything. She paid the money to the Council without your knowledge or approval. There is no reason for you to be out of pocket for her stupidity.

I wouldn't pay her back until the money that she paid into your account is either refunded or deducted from the next bill.

Until then it's extra money from your pocket

Also no to cash-you need a record of it.

Absolutely

Janey50 · 21/09/2016 17:53

She sounds like a complete loon! Fancy being so stupid as to pay someone else's bills.

iMogster · 21/09/2016 17:53

Do not pay cash. Do bank transfer or cheque.

She opened your mail and tried to get a 3 figure sum out of you instead of the 2 figure sum owed. Do not lend anything again. She cannot be trusted.

Good idea to get separate mail box as I would be worried about her purposely stealing your mail in revenge of not paying her the full amount straight away.

Cherylene · 21/09/2016 17:56

I am sure the council can sort their end if they wanted to - it sounds like they don't. I wouldn't be paying her cash with her track record either. Really it is a problem between her and the council and it should not involve you other than to give permission to remove the money she put in.

Do you have a local councillor? They can facilitate things in council departments when you reach an impasse - worth a visit?

avocadosweet · 21/09/2016 18:02

It is a simple fix for the council, it happens all the time! Do not pay your neighbour, phone and speak to someone else at the council.

Italiangreyhound · 21/09/2016 18:09

Agree with avocadosweet. She is at fault, she can reclaim money she mistakenly paid and you can set up a suitable payment plan with them and (IMHO) ask for no paper bills but some form of email bill instead.

Yes, to separate mail boxes and not lending her stuff. If she starts on about anything like 'why can't I borrow the hedge trimmers' or whatever, I'd just be evasive, not confrontational. And hope she moved.

Good luck, she sounds awful.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 21/09/2016 18:10

Get her to sort it out with the council and transfer it to her own account

It really doesn't work like that. The Council can't just move payments paid into one account to another.

In law you have been "unjustly enriched" by her mistake but in putting it right you should not be put in a worse position. So payments to her should only be at the rate and times you would have paid the Council.

tempester28 · 21/09/2016 18:16

Dont giver her any money - yet! firstly, taking someone else mail is illegal - although it does happen by mistake. AlsoI have tried to pay bills on behalf of my mum before (same surname) and it is easier said than done with data protection ect ect. I mean to say, I find it very hard to believe that she paid your bill twice by mistake. Also if she has paid more than you would have then get the company to refund her - if it is the genuine mistake that she claims then they should do it and then you pay via your usual installment plan.

If it was for example a utitlity bill and you have the same provider they could swap it her account. Demanding the money straigt off is unreasonable and while it could be possible, I feel it seems unusual and should be looked into further. By saying she will call the police, it makes me wonder if she is trying to frighten you into paying quickly but in actual fact you have not committed any crime and she may have.

Willow33 · 21/09/2016 18:20

The council can refund you - they recently did to my sister for overpayments (don't ask why she did that...). Your neighbour ought to take this up with the council herself.

foursillybeans · 21/09/2016 18:21

She has not paid this bill. How could she? By phone, you have to confirm your name surely? Online, she would have to have had your login in details? In person, what they didn't ask her name? No, something doesn't add up.
Re. Her threat, let her call the police. What will they do about it? She is in the wrong.

dowhatnow · 21/09/2016 18:22

I'd worry that I give her the cash/cheque/bank transfer then the council refund her too. Then you'd never get your money back from her. Double check that they are not refunding her. They may have said not but if she talks to someone else, they might.

CSUK · 21/09/2016 18:27

This is brilliant news for you. If she goes to the police, she will end up liable, because intercepting the mail in such a way is criminal. I hope she HAS paid this bill for you, because in actual fact there is zero recourse she can take to claim or back. The energy company do not even have to speak to her about your account. That is your personal financial information at stake, they probably will not. So if she has paid on your behalf, unless she wants to recover it as a civil matter, you can pay as you see fit. ...or not. I might be tempted to let her know I intend to pay it back in comfortable installments for you, just for the sake of keeping good neighbourly relations, but let her know that that is a morally good gesture from you and you have no prior agreement, so no obligation.

gillybeanz · 21/09/2016 18:31

Haven't rtft, but she sounds totally ridiculous.
Can you set up payments online? I pay all our council bills through the website.
They take instalments so you don't need the money straight away, it's quite easy and no faffing. takes me about 5 mins every month.
Just go to your local authority website and you should have this option.

Clutterbugsmum · 21/09/2016 18:39

I wouldn't pay her anything as technically you owe her nothing.

She hasn't paid you anything, she paid the council so she need's to take it up with them.

Sparklyglitter · 21/09/2016 18:40

As said above, I would get the bill re-issued and pay the company direct.
It's a shame for her if she is down that much money - but silly them for not checking the name when they live in a flat! We live in a house and get mail for all and sundry, I imagine it's more common in a flat!!
It's illegal (I believe) to open someone else's mail so it is you that is able to call the police in this situation! Good Luck! Poor you! Hmm

LaPampa · 21/09/2016 18:41

I would do nothing for the time being and let her harangue the council for a refund. You do not want to end up in the position where they do end up refunding her & you also pay her. And definitely don't give her cash.

Theoretician · 21/09/2016 18:41

If OP does pay her, then maybe do so by paying an equal amount of neighbor's council tax bill. That way if neighbour can and does get her payment refunded, OP can do the same.

It would still be best for neighbour to get her own refund from the council though, and OP to do nothing other than pay the full amount of her own bill.

LaPampa · 21/09/2016 18:42

I wish people would stop saying it's illegal to open mail. It has already been covered that it's only problematic if you do it with intent to defraud. Accidentally opening a bill is not illegal and accidentally paying someone else's bill isnt illegal either but might be extremely inconvenient.

TheOnlyColditz · 21/09/2016 18:53

Do not give her a fucking penny. Arrange to pay your bill to the company that has billed you. Don't engage with her again. I do not believe she is being honest.

Rosamund1 · 21/09/2016 18:53

Haven't rtft but do the following.

  1. Call the council and tell them of the error.
  2. Ask them to reissue a bill.
  3. Pay your normal instalments.

She can contact them for a refund.

What will happen if you pay HER is that she will take your cash, then get a refund from the council too. You can't then tell the council you paid to some random other person. They will not accep that then YOU will have to pay your normal bill and also try and get your money from the neighbor who will say she does not know what you are talking about.

Kit30 · 21/09/2016 18:55

Vaguely remember from Criminals R You 101 that it's an offence to interfere with someone else's post.
And it sound like a scam - who pays someone else's bills???

Rosamund1 · 21/09/2016 19:01

Also, if it's something like council tax, she can ask them to credit her account e.g. I paid 21a but it shoul have been 21b please update. No need for you to get involved

elflinwebb · 21/09/2016 19:07

I find it very hard to believe that she has managed to pay your bill. You can't access any account to pay them without them putting you through security etc . Load of rubbish ! Apart from council tax but she would have been able to see it wasn't addressed to her! It's got to be a big fat lie!
I agree with all above call the company ! Good luck

Carriecakes80 · 21/09/2016 19:10

Surely its a criminal offence for her to open your mail! If so, tell her to gladly ring the bloody police! What other mail has gone to her without you knowing?
I think the others are right and this is one big scam! xxx