To not let my new neighbour have our Wi-Fi password

[lozzylizzy]

So our new adjoining neighbour came round to introduce himself and then asked if he could 'borrow' our wifi until he had his sorted next week (for work apparently). I was put right on the spot and didn't know what to say so he said that maybe I wanted to discuss it with DH and left. I don't think its a good idea.

DH has been winding me up saying poor man is bored etc but AIBU for thinking a neighbourly favour is taking in a parcel or putting out their bins and not sharing internet access with practically a stranger?

Yes, why don't you lend him your wallet as well OP, but tell him not to spend much, Jeez.

And I would just say I don't give out my password, wouldn't feel the need to say anything about routers playing up etc

bimbobaggins - only works on the basis that you have internet signal where you live. There's absolutely no mobile signal where I live and dongles don't work. It's wifi or nothing.

buttercup
It's a bit of a sad world when we all assume that everyone is a weirdo pervert and will download obscene shit off their neighbour's WiFi isn't it?!

Better to assume the worse case for some things. If the neighbour downloads anything illegal while connected to your broadband, it'll look like it was you downloading, and you'll have a very hard job proving otherwise.

For this, I'd work on the principle that prevention is better than cure.

Why is it a nice, friendly gesture to sort his broadband usage for a week? Would you let him cook his meals in your kitchen for a week because his cooker isn't being delivered until next Tuesday?

I would set up a new password for a couple of weeks until he gets himself online. I know when we moved house last year it took a couple of weeks, and would have been so handy to have wifi when setting up new accounts etc.

pardonwhat no, it'seems not only on mumsnet. It's just basic common sense.

No way. He's very cheeky to ask.

In that case pardon I would just accept that I had no wifi then until I had it set up. I still wouldn't ask to use a neighbours password.

And just because I wouldn't let them have it doesn't mean I'm not a nice neighbour, there are plenty of other areas I can be nice and neighbourly with.

Not a chance. I'd take that as advance warning they're potentially problematic neighbours, as well. It's far too much to ask a stranger.

I was going to say the same as Ferrari.

The IP address would come back to you if he was accessing anything illegal, as I understand it.

I've done it before, just block file sharing, gaming etc if you're worried. Change password next week.

Nope.

But then DH is in IT and we have super secure Wifi (so he can work from home) so I couldn't even if I wanted to.

It's not that I think he would access anything illegal - i don't know him. In the same way, not knowing him means that you have no idea what he would and wouldn't access. It's just not worth the risk imo.

And actually flogging yes, we have had neighbours using our kitchen as theirs was being fitted. We went away and the lovely family across the road going through renovation hell with small kids so yes, heres our key use our kitchen.

Sad that people are so suspicious. Glad we all help each other out in our little street.

Why not?! If you have unlimited broadband it isn't going to cost you any money or take any effort. If he downloads anything dodgy it could be tracked to the IP of his laptop - not your wifi! If he's streaming films or something and making your connection slow then just change the password.

Agree he's a bit cheeky to not even have offered to pay some money towards it but really don't see why you wouldn't just say yes - he'll be a neighbour and you never know when you'll need a favour from him.

FloggingMolly

To be fair I would let someone cook their meals in my kitchen for a week if it helped them out, or I'd just cook extra and they could eat with us. And of course I'd let someone use our WIFI, I'm honestly gobsmacked by this thread. Say they downloaded loads of illegal stuff, you could easily prove that you hadn't downloaded it.

I'm honestly not even a particularly nice person but I'll fucking help people as long as it's not a massive inconvenience for my family. You all sound awful I hope your not my neighbours! What happened to love thy neighbour!?!

no bloody way.

they could be downloading anything.

One of my friend's neighbours was recently arrested for downloading images and they couldn't believe it as he was such a nice man.

I wouldn't trust anyone

No.

A previous neighbour did ask me this and they were told no.

Our ND neighbor did this when we moved in

HOWEVER I knew her and had worked with her for about half a year
She offered I didn't ask.

We paid half her internet bill for the month it took virgin to get us back online.

I don't love my neighbour's. Why would I?

He can rent wifi from BT without a connection.

But you knew them, KERALA, they weren't complete strangers who had just moved in?

Lol at the posters who don't think it will used for porn. How naive sweet.