New neighbors stole our bin

[saffyBoo]

Actually can't believe I'm writing this but I think it's pretty amusing plus I've recently lost the will with pretty much everyone and need to share this before I lose the plot totally. 😂😂😂

New neighbors next door moved in yesterday..... I haven't met them yet...... It was recycling day yesterday and we have two recycling bins clearly marked with our house number on the lid and side of each the bin...... Went on school run as they were still moving in....... Came back home to find they had pinched one of my bins off my drive and stuffed it to full with their packagin brown boxes etc

1. why?
2. really why?
3. I'm really annoyed because I'm going to have to go over there at some point today and ask for my bin back that I have to pay extra for having an additional bin and get to look like a dickhead neighbor being petty about bins. Great start to a new neighbor relationship but I can't let them have it or get away with it can I??
4. I really wish I was making this up honestly

Why are you hoping it's a mistake? You don't have to say anything to these people, you just go over there and wheel your bin back. It's that bloody simple!

Don’t leave it too late OP! It becomes too awkward to do it the longer you leave it!

I feel for you!

The thing is you (we) have no way of knowing how they are.

1. they could be perfectly lovely and have made a mistake
2. they could be cheeky feckers and have deliberately taken your bin

But you won't know whether to be firm or nice (there isn't a real middle ground here). You can't be firm AND nice as if they are cheeky feckers they'll take advantage.

A win-win would be if they are nice and you are nice. But if you are nice and they are cheeky, you're on the back foot (again). If you are firm and they are nice, you'll feel like a bitch. If you are firm and they are cheeky feckers, you'll feel like it's war before you've started.

I don't envy your bin situational at all! I guess I'd try and pre-judge how likely they are to argue/be cheeky feckers by spying on them from behind the window first.

dont talk but even if they have made a mistake, they might take umbrage at OP just getting her bin back and leaving cardboard on the floor (or whatever) and think she's being a CF and not very neighbourly etc. OP just wants it to be nice all round with new neighbours and even though they have (mistakenly or not) cast the first stone, she doesn't want to have bad feelings between them so she's trying to tread carefully!

LOL OP there's nothing to realise! They're well aware that it's your bin and they've just helped themselves to it. Put on your big girl pants and go and get it you big wuss!!! They're starting as they mean to go on and you need to stop them!

My bins have two stickers on, front and back, one of which has the road name on as well because when we put the bins out the back for collection it's on another road near the same number house on that road, so I'm making doubly sure no one makes a mistake.

I also had the situation once where someone nicked the lids of my recycling boxes. Mine were in good condition, there's weren't. I knew they were mine because previous occupants had scratched the number on the lids. I got them back and now have huge numbers on absolutely everything.

Sometimes people put their dog shit bags in them if I haven't gone out after the collection quick enough. I tip them out onto the pavement.

they might take umbrage at OP just getting her bin back and leaving cardboard on the floor (or whatever) and think she's being a CF and not very neighbourly etc

Surely if they get pissed off at the OP retrieving her own belongings then the chances are they OP and these neighbours wont have gotten along regardless. If it wasn't this incident it would have been something else e.g. taking in a parcel and not giving it to the OP or having a loud party.

Just because they are her neighbours doesn't mean they have to get along. In this situation the Op is being reasonable and they are not if she allows them to keep her bin then she will be potentially opening herself up to years of being taken advantage of by these people.

I don’t see why they would give it back before this evening OP? Either they’ve nicked it and they’re not going to give it back or they’ve taken it by mistake and won’t realise and they’re not going to give it back. Just go and be nice but assertive now and tell them you’re taking it back. Because it’s yours and you have stuff to put in it.

You have to go round.

"Hi, I'm [x] your neighbor at #[x]. Welcome to the area etc etc etc You probably didn't realise, but actually both bins on my drive are mine, I pay extra to have two. I'm going to take back my bin now, so can you get a container to tip your rubbish into? Thanks very much"

It is not a mistake and they are not going to 'realise' tonight and empty the bin. Best to get it sported out in daylight. Go in light heartedly giving them the benefit of the doubt and see how it goes.

You are bending over backwards to be good neighbour meanwhile they are doing the opposite and pissing all over you claiming yours as theirs.

Keep rolling over on your back and they will continue to take and take. They need to be told (in an assertive but non aggressive way) that they have made a mistake and used your bin. They need to be told now.

Get your bin back now. It will be dark later and even more full up with rubbish so they won't want to empty it.

Go over and explain that both bins are yours and you pay extra to have two. Make a joke of it: 'Ha ha, what a way to introduce myself, welcome to the neighbourhood' etc.

It needn't be a big problem, really.

Memorize what SushiMonster wrote, rehearse it until you feel confident, then go over there and get your bin back. Then get back onto MN and tell us how it went. We are on your side Op. You can do it

It is mean to wait until it is dark and cold outside before you go over.

If they are not full on CF, maybe just a bit daft, hassled, oblivious, then the conversation could turn into nice chat as they empty the bin and wheel it back round to you. You can have a laugh and be all British at each other with everyone apologising profusely.

If they are proper CF then you need to get over there asap so they don't notice you are a doormat.

Ugh I dunno I hate that I’m always getting in these stupid situations 😒😒😒😒 I feel every week it's a different battlefield with someone or something.

Thanks.oceanbliss Memorize and sushimonster

Go and get it definitely.

Do you pay extra for additional recycling bins where you are? We can have as many additional recycling bins (whichever kind) free of charge - should imagine this is within reason of course.

It's an additional general household waste bin that you have to jump through hoops for pay extra for, and you're only entitled to it in exceptional circumstances, quite rightly mind.

You get yourself into these stupid situations because you let people walk all over you. Stand up for yourself for goodness sake

Not everything has to be a drama, I’m the same as you! Hate confrontation and avoid it like the plague.

Have you filled the bin with your stuff and they’ve added theirs and it’s made no difference to you? It’s been collected but now you need to get your empty bin back? Is that right? Or have you now got no space for your own stuff for a whole week?

I would focus on building a good on going relationship rather than going in heavy and assuming CF behaviour. Certainly approach them but on the basis the removal people must have done it - no need to worry as you will manage for this collection , did the people who moved out leave you the Council number in case you decide to get an extra bin like we have etc

Please don’t feel bad!! The ones that go charging over everywhere in life can’t be happy feeling like everyone is trying to get one over them and always being on the defence. There’s a middle ground here x

I'd go round with an armful of my own trash and knock on the door
"EXcuse me. Hi I'm your new neighbour. I just wanted to put my rubbish out but I think you've used my bin.....can you take your stuff out now please?"

Go round WITH your rubbish in your hands. Makes the issue immediate and also doesn't make you come across as a curtain twitcher. Say
"Where am I supposed to put this?!"
Toughen up OP!!!!!

I wouldn't have put it as bluntly but I do think there is something in what Greendale17 said.

For most people these situations would occur once or twice a year. Where you would be put in a situation that made you feel uncomfortable but for them to happen frequently then it would suggest people do see you as someone they can take advantage of.

The ones that go charging over everywhere in life can’t be happy feeling like everyone is trying to get one over them and always being on the defence.

Who goes charging over everywhere in life? As a woman living on my own, I'm only too familiar with the fact that people will take the piss if they think they're dealing with a soft touch because 'she doesn't matter'. The skip incident I described above happened back in 2002, and there have been no bin wars since then.

How ciuld it possibly be 'a mistske'? Ops house number is on it.
Doesnt matter if 'they think she took thier bin' they should have asked first.

Nobody goes around taking other peoples clearly marked stuff without asking first unless they are gits .
Go round and tell them its yours and you want it back. Tell them how to get one or where nearest skip is for thier crap if you want to be nice op.
Dont leave it it will only build up in your head and get harder to do.