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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:
Ameliablue · 21/09/2016 20:55

Give her a cheque and then cancel it. Grin

Shiningexample · 21/09/2016 21:02

Tell her you have a very good friend who is an African prince, he'll send her the money by western union
Here's his email address.....

magoria · 21/09/2016 21:02

Don't pay her! You do not owe her the money the council do.

If she wants the money she will have to chase them for it. You can confirm with them that you did not pay that amount so they can take it back from your account.

It is between her and them to sort out. Nothing to do with you.

Original poster
DomingoFlamingo · 21/09/2016 21:03

The council confirmed that she had payed the lower sum.... I think she was just trying her luck by providing the receipt for the second payment which went into her account. She's gone out this evening but I've left her note under her door saying I'll pay her back in two installments if that's acceptable to her.... I'm thinking my back will be covered if I get her to sign something to say I've given it to her?

I haven't lent her anymore things for sometime now (Funny that my lawnmower is always broken and I've run out of knives and forks whenever she asks for them and other items these days Wink )

OP posts:
merrymouse · 21/09/2016 21:13

Have you sorted out what you owe with the council and how you are going to make future payments ? I don't think there is any need to pay her back - it was her error.

However, if that is what you want to do you need the council to confirm in writing that the bill has been paid and your account is cleared.

merrymouse · 21/09/2016 21:14

She borrowed knives and forks?

Lovingit81 · 21/09/2016 21:16

I'm sorry OP but stand up for yourself for gods sake. It's her mistake not yours and it's a goodwill gesture if you even return the money at all. You've just said she's tried it on with you pretending she's paid more than she has. I'd be inclined to tell her to shove it where the sun doesn't shine!! If you are going to pay it back do it on your own terms and if she has a problem report her to the police yourself. She sounds like a liar and a bully so stand up and be counted! Best of luck X

Louise2092 · 21/09/2016 21:22

Just an additional point.... its a crime to open someone's elses mail so you could possibly threaten her with police/court action.

But i's definitely get proof she had paid it

Louise2092 · 21/09/2016 21:25

Sorry. My phone skipped some pages and i never seen any of the 'crime to open someone else's mail'.

I'm another cancel the chequer 😢

babybess1 · 21/09/2016 21:37

Oh my days... If someone else says it's a crime to open someone else's mail 😂😂

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 21/09/2016 21:47

Council's can refund overpayments if they want to

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

The Council can refund Council tax if you have overpaid because you have moved out of the house for which the tax is due.

But that hasn't happened- the OP is still due to pay the Council tax on her house. It's completely irrelevant that she is now ahead of the monthly payments.

There are people who pay the whole lot in advance- I know 2 people who do. They can't ask for it some of it back halfway through the year just because their account is in credit unless they cease to be the owner or tenant of that house.

Councils can't just take money out of one person's account and allocate it to another.

TattyCat · 21/09/2016 21:49

I thought it was a crime to open someone else's mail? Grin Grin Grin Grin Grin Grin Grin Grin Grin Grin Grin Grin Grin Grin Grin

TattyCat · 21/09/2016 21:50
AdaLovelacesCat · 21/09/2016 21:51

hang on ...I have just had a thought....
is it actually within the bounds of the law to open someones mail?

Crunchymum · 21/09/2016 21:56

Got to page 7 before I had to jump in and say the only plausible explanation is counciltax.

The bills all look the same, it could be possible to mistake 22A or 22B and you can pay online using just the reference number. The payee does have to put in their name / number / email so if this is the case the neighbour will have proof she paid.

ladylanky · 21/09/2016 21:57

So she didn't pay anything like the money she's asked you pay her back? Tell the cheeky bitch to fuck off and sort it out with the council.

Kym1994 · 21/09/2016 21:57

What I don't understand is why on earth would you pay for someone's else bill! It is illegal to open someone else mail so I wouldn't stress about her calling the police they will just laugh at her, You never asked her to pay you bill. Don't pay her a penny! I agree with others call the company and get it's refunded "if she did pay" and go through them x Smile

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 21/09/2016 22:05

I'd definitely check again. When Fil died they told my dh that he'd have to pay a reduced rate of council tax on Fil's now empty house. Then they said he'd get a six month exemption and wouldn't have to pay anything. Bit different to the first phone call. Hmm

Aworldofmyown · 21/09/2016 22:16

I am 100% sure that opening someones mail is a serious offence that means you can actually be hung drawn and quartered.

It happened to my aunts, sisters, boyfriends dog.

NerrSnerr · 21/09/2016 22:20

My brother used to work at Hull prison and he tells me there were loads of people in for post opening.

Inertia · 21/09/2016 22:21

The mistake is the fault of your neighbour and the council. Between them, it's their responsibility to figure out how to refund your neighbour- nothing to do with you. You just need to pay the council what you owe directly, and neighbour needs to sort out her own problem.

Giving her cash would be utter insanity.

RunnyRattata · 21/09/2016 22:26

Tell her to do one.
Then call 999 and get her arrested for opening your mail. Make sure you get the free hour's barrister time to sue her arse in court.

Pinkandbluemcdonald5 · 21/09/2016 22:27

Does anyone know of police action following someone "accidentally" opening mail not addressed to them - excluding when used for fraud obviously. I think I am asking if it happened in a non malicious way. Such as this, no one maliciously pays a bill (normally, I suppose strange behaviours do happen)

Blu · 21/09/2016 22:28

I once opened my Mum's Cotton Trader catalogue by accident and it showed up on my Enhanced DBS check. I don't understand why people don't take this more seriously Sad

Shiningexample · 21/09/2016 22:30

The council confirmed that she had payed the lower sum.... I think she was just trying her luck by providing the receipt for the second payment which went into her account
what??
you have proof that she has tried to steal money from you, con you, scam you
I've left her note under her door saying I'll pay her back in two installments if that's acceptable to her
and you're going to meekly just pay her back without even raising the issue
I'm thinking my back will be covered if I get her to sign something to say I've given it to her?
are you for real?
she has tried to defraud you and you think you can trust her to be honorable

tell her she'll have to reclaim the money from the council