Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 16 17

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 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:

shinynewusername · 20/09/2016 07:01

Opening mail is quite a seriously offence and you could actually go to the police to complain

Accidentally opening mail is not an offence.

Agree with all those saying that she needs to sort this out with the energy company. I'm not convinced it's a scam because it is so easy for you to check whether her story is true, I still wouldn't be paying her anything directly. You should pay the energy company who then refund her.

MagikarpetRide · 20/09/2016 07:02

Definitely check with the company that this has even been paid first. Sounds like a complete scam to me.

If by some odd chance it's not then you need to explain to the company what has happened and ask how the hell shes managed to pay this. And then get advice from solicitor or cab.

AdaLovelacesCat · 20/09/2016 07:05

" Accidentally opening mail is not an offence. "

yes it is. Opening mail is a criminal offence. Bleating that it was 'accidental' would get you nowhere.

AdaLovelacesCat · 20/09/2016 07:07

" (1)If any [F1person not engaged in the business of the Post Office] wilfully and maliciously, with intent to injure any other person, either opens or causes to be opened any postal packet which ought to have been delivered to that other person, or does any act or thing whereby the due delivery of the packet to that other person is prevented or impeded, he shall be [F2liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both]

(2)Nothing in this section shall apply to a person who does any act to which this section applies where he is parent, or in the position of parent or guardian, of the person to whom the postal packet is addressed."

OK the key words here seem to be 'wilfully and maliciously' so my last statement was quite wrong.

Footle · 20/09/2016 07:13

You may never find out how many more items addressed to you she has opened, accidentally-on-purpose.
She's a dangerous neighbour.

somekindofmother · 20/09/2016 07:13

sounds like a scam.

call the company in question. if they say it has been paid then explain to them what happened and ask them to refund the woman when she calls to arrange it and set up the standing order to pay them as you would usually do. if it hasn't been paid then I'd say to her that you called the company to arrange a refund for her but they can't find any record of the payment, can she produce a bank statement showing the payment leaving her account and any dates and times of calls and you'll call them with her and get this sorted. then I'd log her behaviour with the police.

Buunychops · 20/09/2016 07:15

Dodgy as fuck!

If this has actually happened, and I'm doubtful, it's (1 her error to deal with (2 it's the company that owe her money not you.

As others have said the police can't/ won't do anything to you. You have not done anything wrong. So she's on a loser there.

About the opening someone else post I found this 'is only an offence if you open someone else's mail 'without reasonable excuse' or if you 'intend to act to another's detriment'.
But she has threatened you.

Basically double check what's going on with the account, and if she does come back tell her it's not your problem she needs to deal with the company. I suspect you'll have to be quite forceful though.

AdaLovelacesCat · 20/09/2016 07:15

" log her behaviour with the police "

yes call the logging line...

HSMMaCM · 20/09/2016 07:17

I agree with the others. She can get her refund from the company and you can set up a payment plan with them.

If she complains to the police she'll find she's the only one who's done anything wrong.

merrymouse · 20/09/2016 07:20

She needs to get the money back from the company.

You also need to contact the company as soon as possible and discuss how to pay the bill.

Phalenopsisgirl · 20/09/2016 07:20

Yes you really need to contact the company, ( you both need to do this) explain, and see if they will refund her and re issue the bill to you. This should be no problem. It is not your fault in any way shape or form that she has done this and you should not feel any obligation to her. You are quite within your rights to be cross at her for opening your mail.

Inertia · 20/09/2016 07:22

Don't give her any money! You can contact the company directly to pay instalments on any arrears you have. If the story is true (and I would be willing to bet it's a scam) she needs to arrange a refund from the company, or have the money applied to her own account.

eurochick · 20/09/2016 07:25

This thread is full of MN myths. Logging incidents with the police, free hours with solicitors. I do wish people wouldn't just post nonsense.

greenfolder · 20/09/2016 07:26

Is it me? This makes no sense. If you pay monthly in installments why was there a balance to pay? Just keep on paying as you do and tell her to contact them for a refund.

shinynewusername · 20/09/2016 07:28

Opening mail is a criminal offence. Bleating that it was 'accidental' would get you nowhere

Where did you go to law school because - when I last checked - intent was still quite an important part of the criminal law .

It is illegal under the Postal Service Act 2000 intentionally to delay delivery of someone's mail or to open it with the intention of acting to their detriment. If the OP's neighbour has intentionally kept the letter for a scam, she may have committed both offences. But if it was an accident, there is no offence. But hey, don't let mere fact interfere with your views

ptumbi · 20/09/2016 07:31

I can see how she'd pay it - with money/a cheque through the bank on the bank giro that's attached to the bill? Anyone could pay a bill in another name like that.

BUT - it is not your responsibility OP if she did it. It's her error, and she should be getting it back from the company, not you.

AdaLovelacesCat · 20/09/2016 07:32

shiny did you read my second post? the one directly under the one you mention?
no obviously not. Duh.

DartmoorDoughnut · 20/09/2016 07:32

Totally don't believe for a second that she's paid it, for a start surely the company would pause when the card was in a different name to the bill and registered to a different but similar address? That must make them think that you're doing something dodgy!

MrsDeVere · 20/09/2016 07:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

YouTheCat · 20/09/2016 07:37

How come you didn't notice that your July bill hadn't turned up?

If I was expecting a bill and it didn't turn up, I'd have called the company to find out.

blueskyinmarch · 20/09/2016 07:38

It does sound very dodgy to me. What sort of bill was it?

Toadinthehole · 20/09/2016 07:42

Before I told her to get a refund I'd check that wouldn't leave the account overdue!

Skittlesss · 20/09/2016 07:46

I think you need to get some kind of post box attached to the wall with a lock on it.

EstellaHavisham · 20/09/2016 07:47

I thought it was against the law to open someone else's mail. Maybe something worth mentioning to her..

ABloodyDifficultWoman · 20/09/2016 07:47

How does something like this even happen? It all seems very improbable.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 16 17