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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

A parking one (and no, IANBU)

167 replies

JacquesHammer · 07/08/2018 11:49

Lazy morning, looked out of the front about 9.30ish to see a van parked partly over my drive.

I'm completely blocked in.

To add insult to injury, they're parked over the entire pavement and due to a deeds anomaly, I own that land too.

No idea where they are.

Sadly I have to go out at 3pm (not by car) so hoping I catch them before then!

OP posts:
ApolloandDaphne · 07/08/2018 12:27

I would hazard a guess that the police won't be aware you also own the footpath!

KirstyJC · 07/08/2018 12:27

Definitely make a big deal out of taking photos of it from different angles, making loud phone calls saying things like 'I am just waiting for them to call me back about towing' or 'police are checking it now' and similar. Bet you will see them soon!

DontCallMeCharlotte · 07/08/2018 12:28

Well if it's still there when you go out at least leave them a shirty note. And copy it on here obvs.

(Can you not work out where they're working?)

LexieLulu · 07/08/2018 12:29

Knock on neighbours doors? They won't be far?

KirstyJC · 07/08/2018 12:29

Try loudly and annoyingly beeping your horn. Or knocking up all the neighbours?

drspouse · 07/08/2018 12:29

I would try knocking on all the neighbours' doors.

kikashi · 07/08/2018 12:32

I would call the police. If you have the reg number they can tell if the van has been reported as stolen (this often happens) and will move it. If the van is parked over the pavement then usually that would be a parking violation as it's causing an obstruction to the disabled and pedestrians and can be ticketed and later towed - not sure if you "owning" the pavement will impact that or if the police would even think of checking that a private person owned seemingly public property.

LyndaLaHughes · 07/08/2018 12:33

Go and sit in your car and beep the horn repeatedly.

BarbaraofSevillle · 07/08/2018 12:34

Phone 101 and tell them the van is preventing you from leaving your drive. 101 typically looks up the reg, phones the owner and tells them to move

Can they really do that? I know that it's possible in theory, even though the DVLA don't normally take telephone numbers, but if John Smith has a van registered at 123 Acacia Avenue and there's a phone contract also registered to John Smith at 123 Acacia Avenue, but it all seems a bit joined up.

Original poster
JacquesHammer · 07/08/2018 12:36

Definitely not going to blast my horn.

Whilst it’s annoying I don’t need to use my car and I have neighbours with young children and a couple who work shifts.

I’ve been around the closest neighbours and they don’t know anything.

Starting to suspect they’ve parked and gone to the station/walking in the local tourist attraction

OP posts:
Elderflower78 · 07/08/2018 12:38

Does the trailer have stuff in it? I would take some stuff out of it and they will appear in a hurry.

Original poster
JacquesHammer · 07/08/2018 12:39

Does the trailer have stuff in it? I would take some stuff out of it and they will appear in a hurry

Annoyingly can’t tell! It’s like. A solid box

OP posts:
BarbaraofSevillle · 07/08/2018 12:39

If I didn't have to go out by car for a day or two, I would be tempted to let a couple of the tyres down. Or does that count as vandalism/criminal damage?

Elderflower78 · 07/08/2018 12:40

I would def make up some story for when they come and move it.
Your child had a hospital appt you had to cancel and waited months on getting and you couldn't get your car out to take them.

SisterNotCisTerf · 07/08/2018 12:41

The police round here are really hot on vehicles blocking the paths. If you ring them on 101 they may come and issue a ticket. Which won’t help you right now but they might decide to have it towed because it’s also blocking your drive.

FullMetalRabbit · 07/08/2018 12:42

In situations like this, is this what goes through someone’s mind?

“I know, this is a good place to park, I doubt that person will want to get their car out today anyway”

I just can’t fathom some people’s thinking!

birdladyfromhomealone · 07/08/2018 12:43

*I got blocked in on holiday and I put my hand on my horn and held it there. They soon came over. try that
at least your other neighbours will look out to see whats going on and may even join in having a go at van man

SassitudeandSparkle · 07/08/2018 12:43

Leave a note on the windscreen. Preferably on a damp piece of A3 paper pointing out they have blocked you in all day and it has been reported to the Police.

reeldoop · 07/08/2018 12:43

unhook the trailer!

ivykaty44 · 07/08/2018 12:43

Leave a big heart shape on the side window...
With your oldest red lippy? Would this be vandalism

Leave a note on the windscreen

Asking why they have blocked you in your drive preventing you from driving?

reeldoop · 07/08/2018 12:44

Not really, but tempting - can you not get into it at all to look for ownership?

reeldoop · 07/08/2018 12:45

people like this don't care about notes. they would just drive off and not give it a second thought. You need to make it hurt somehow.

LoveInTokyo · 07/08/2018 12:47

people like this don't care about notes

They do if you write them all over the windscreen in a greasy substance which they then have to clean off.

ladycarlotta · 07/08/2018 12:47

Some CF parked across the gateway of our building's car park once. It was really clearly an access point, so I cannot fathom why they'd do it. Luckily we were blocked out and not in, so we could park elsewhere, but we left a tetchy note on their windscreen. If it's a one-off I don't think there's much else TO do.

Don't get in your car and sound the horn, that is mad. Ditto the lipstick thing or letting down the tyres. Keep the moral high ground.

Bluntness100 · 07/08/2018 12:52

It's astonishing how many people do this. I used to live on a busy road and my next door neighbours drive led onto the road, people used to park in front of it all thr time, blocking them in and then head off to thr train station and away for the whole day.

The woman was very ill with cancer and needed to get in and out for hospital appts. It really was horrendous. People just don't give a shit. It was just a small drive, room for one car, so it was very obvious they were blocking somone in, but still people did it.