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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think they should have told me they’d taken it?

306 replies

Maybellissimo · 14/03/2018 17:12

My best friend died of stomach cancer 5 years ago and left me a few of her possessions, one of which being a Victorian plant stand. A few months ago I decided to get it French polished so I arranged for a friend to come and collect it on a Friday morning. He was stuck in traffic so he told me to leave it on my driveway as he was only 5 mins away and I had to leave for work. I left it behind the wheelie bins it was partially obscured but you would have to move the bin to get to it. I got to work and found a message on my phone from my friend saying that the stand wasn’t there. I was really upset and cross with myself for leaving it outside but I accepted the fact it had gone but felt really sad due to the sentimental value attached to it. We had a loft conversion done and i went up to have a look and we have a good view of our neighbours garden. I was shocked to see my plant stand in their garden, painted black and with a new top nailed to it. I showed my husband and he said leave it don’t say anything but AIBU yo knock on their door and have a go at them for not asking me if they could have it?

OP posts:
GrannyGrissle · 15/03/2018 12:12

Small claims court to get the CF neighbours to pay for repairing it and tell your husbsand to grow some bollocks. What a drip.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 15/03/2018 12:21

Live and learn. Don’t put things out by your bins

FlouncyDoves you really seem to struggle on so many threads. It wasn’t OUT by her bins. In was ON HER DRIVEWAY where her bins were also, going by your logic, it’s fine to take someone’s car or anything else on their driveway.

fruitlovingmonkey · 15/03/2018 12:21

If you can't restore it to it's original glory, perhaps you could paint it a nice colour instead of black.

GruffaIo · 15/03/2018 12:30

Glad you got it back OP. Whilst it's awful that the NDNH lied, I'd be reluctant to push it further with them in case he takes it out on the wife who gave it back to you. After all, she's going to lie to him to cover giving it back to you, and she could have not given it back.

Viviennemary · 15/03/2018 12:30

Legally speaking I don't think you are allowed to help yourself to items from a neighbours property even if you think it's rubbish. I'd contact the police if they don't return it.

Viviennemary · 15/03/2018 12:31

I see you've got it back. Good.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 15/03/2018 12:32

VivienneMary. Seriously? Of course it’s been not bloody legal to remove something from someone else’s property.

If you’d bothered to read the OP’s post you’d know the current situation.

LagunaBubbles · 15/03/2018 12:36

Live and learn. Don’t put things out by your bins.

It was on her own driveway. So going by your train of thought its ok to take something that's on someones driveway....a car for example? Hmm

diddl · 15/03/2018 13:10

Hopefully you will be able to get it restored Op & that it's some comfort to have it back.

Even if I left something by the bins for collection, it's still my property isn't it?

It doesn't make it someone elses just because they help themselves?

Yumyumpigs · 15/03/2018 13:24

If it really IS beyond all repair id paint it bright pink with yellow polka dots and write fuck you on the top and place it where they can see it in your garden EVERY time they look out.

Bastards

sarcasmisnotthelowestformofwit · 15/03/2018 13:27

I am constantly amazed by the utter dickishness I read about on MN. What an utter cunt. Really sorry for you OP. What did your friend say about repairs?

honeyroar · 15/03/2018 13:30

I'm glad you got it back and I hope that it can be restored to some extent.

It wasn't an honest mistake. If it had been an honest mistake they'd have admitted it immediately and apologised, saying they'd thought you were throwing it out. Even then they'd be wrong - they should've ask d whether it was being thrown out before they did anything to it (I can possibly forgive them for moving it to their property for fear of it being taken by the binmen, but they absolutely should've asked).

nasib · 15/03/2018 13:43

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
Maybellissimo · 15/03/2018 15:01

My friend has taken it easy and is going to paint it white and remove the table top and repair the nail damage. I’m ok. It’s just a plant stand I’ll get over it. Thank you everyone for being so supportive.

OP posts:
Original poster
Maybellissimo · 15/03/2018 15:01

Taken it not taken it easy Hmm

OP posts:
TacoFlavouredKisses · 15/03/2018 16:32

I'm really glad that you got it back OP.

At least your delightful neighbour has nailed his colours to his mast (or plant stand) now and you know not to do him any favours whatsoever. I feel so sorry for his wife.

ohhereweareagain · 15/03/2018 16:45

Tell them you have cctv..and that you will have a look at it. I had a similar thing with a thief liar on eBay whereby I told a white lie to catch them out. It worked Smile best of luck

Avasarala · 15/03/2018 17:20

@ohhereweareagain
RTFT

WitchDancer · 15/03/2018 17:21

Brilliant news you got it back. Fingers crossed your friend can work some magic on it 🤞

MichaelBendfaster · 15/03/2018 17:26

Cheeky lying thieving bastards.

Did you tell them what it means to you?

I'd phone the police and, if they don't seem interested, I'd go and take it back. Refuse them entry and deny all knowledge of it.

InsomniacAnonymous · 15/03/2018 17:44

MichaelBendfaster RTFT

GinghamStyle · 15/03/2018 17:45

It's obvious that it wasn't meant for outside garden use. What a total bastard for taking it. I'm so sorry for you OP but glad your friend is going to make it beautiful for you to use in your home xxx

Knittedfairies · 15/03/2018 17:57

I'm glad you got it back and your friend can do something with it. I just hope you think of your friend every time you see it, rather than the neighbours.

TomRavenscroft · 15/03/2018 17:58

Insomniac, I'm MichaelBendfaster with a NC. I genuinely didn't see the OP's update or the other responses. Maybe there was a connection glitch. It happens. Thanks for the snippy post though.

TheTab · 15/03/2018 18:23

I'm still cross for you OP, I think they need a Place in the CF gallery for this.