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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:
IrenetheQuaint · 21/09/2016 19:15

"Surely its a criminal offence for her to open your mail!"

This thread is veering into 'cancel the cheque' territory Grin

mathanxiety · 21/09/2016 19:15

I agree with those advising not to pay in cash.

You need a paper trail here since you're dealing with a chancer.
Can you get some sort of official account printed out from the council showing exactly what she paid them?

Hope your LL agrees to a separate postbox.

Nimmykins · 21/09/2016 19:17

Just read the first page, I don't know if anyone else has said but it is illegal to tamper with other people's post.

Janey50 · 21/09/2016 19:27

Just another thought,Domingo - has she actually got proof that she has paid it? Be careful,she might be trying to pull a fast one.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 21/09/2016 19:30

Council's can refund overpayments if they want to.

They probably don't want to as the situation is not inconveniencing them & they have the money they asked for. I doubt they much care where it came from!

What they need to do is refund the payments from your account & then allocate the payments to your neighbour's account.

It's your neighbour's stupid fault for paying someone else's bill - since July! Although, obviously you will then owe the money to the Council and will presumably be a couple of months behind with the payments?

LuluJakey1 · 21/09/2016 19:32

Please don't pay her any cash. You could get her to give you her council tax bill and pay the same amount off hers with your card- you then have proof and a receipt.

JacquettaWoodville · 21/09/2016 19:33

"Just read the first page, I don't know if anyone else has said but it is illegal to tamper with other people's post."

It's been mentioned...

Footle · 21/09/2016 19:37

More than 250 posts here and it still doesn't occur to latecomers that the horse noticed that the stable door was open quite a long time ago. And has bolted.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 21/09/2016 19:44

Don't pay her anything. What's to stop her taking your money and then also getting a refund from your account too.

Let her do all the running around. I would put a bit aside each week/month to cover paying her, but let her seek legal advice.

Personally the council should resolve it, it can't be the first time it has happened. If you're wanting to resolve this then keep hassling the council.

BeautyQueenFromMars · 21/09/2016 19:45

Nimmykins Grin

Aworldofmyown · 21/09/2016 19:48

Cancel the cheque OP Grin

redannie118 · 21/09/2016 19:51

This reply has been withdrawn

The OP has privacy concerns, and so we've agreed to take this down now.

bigsuze87 · 21/09/2016 19:55

This sounds extremely fishy as others have said I would ring up the company asking if the bill has been paid plus I would ask her for proof that she paid the bill. Can'the work out how she paid the bill 2 months ago and only realise now. Sounds off

bigsuze87 · 21/09/2016 20:01

BTW any update OP?

Notfastjustfurious · 21/09/2016 20:03

What nonsense of course the council could transfer it. Maybe the person you spoke to was new or useless. I work in ctax and a payment transfer is simple as long as signed authority is given from the account holder and a receipt from the payer proving they made the payment.

prh47bridge · 21/09/2016 20:05

Just read the first page, I don't know if anyone else has said but it is illegal to tamper with other people's post

It has been mentioned. It has also been pointed out repeatedly that it is only an offence if you know or suspect that the package has been incorrectly delivered and are opening it with intent to act to someone's detriment. This is a criminal offence so the prosecution has to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. I therefore think the OP's neighbour is safe.

greeneyedlulu · 21/09/2016 20:08

let her go to the police, she committed a crime opening your mail!! buy certainly call the company to check she has paid, if she has, get a payment plan with the company and let them refund her!!

riceuten · 21/09/2016 20:14

I doubt she's paid it at all.

Julia001 · 21/09/2016 20:30

I think it is illegal to open someone elses mail ! Report the bitch !

ICancelledTheCheque · 21/09/2016 20:36

I definitely say cancel the cheque.

GaniyaI · 21/09/2016 20:36

I'm not familiar with UK law but your neighbour just admitted to opening someone's mail which is a crime in most countries last I checked . So she should please go to the police .Id check she has paid the bill and offer to pay her as you had earlier intended to . Next time she'll be fine.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 21/09/2016 20:37

at the fuckmuppets who can't be arsed to read the thread.

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

Yes they can. I paid mine into someone else's account a couple of months ago and they just transferred it straight back into mine with no problem at all.

In this case, I suspect it's the OP's neighbour who will have to phone and ask for the money to be refunded into her account. The council might take a bit more notice then.

tiffanysfanny · 21/09/2016 20:42

Another round of cancel the check op, Grin

AppleJac · 21/09/2016 20:45

Shes deluded if she thinks the police will be interested!

An employee of ours has refused to hand back over £1,500 worth of equipment when he was let go due to imcompetence. Police told me its a civil matter and i need to instruct a solicitor and take the employee to court!

pollymere · 21/09/2016 20:52

Contact the company directly and sort it with them and no one else.