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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

ridiculous parking from neighbour

269 replies

pinklemonade84 · 17/12/2018 23:08

I’m beyond fed up of this parking situation. This is our situation tonight. Dh is due back from work in about 20 minutes and because of this ridiculous parking from neighbour’s dd, won’t be able to park our Citroen Picasso (not a small car)

We’ve lived here for over a year now and had no problems parking. Last month we had neighbours move in next door and their daughter is absolutely horrific at parking, to the extent where I’ve had to climb over the passenger seat to get into the drover’s seat

They also let their dog out at stupid o clock morning and night and it immediately starts barking!

There’s not even anything we can do as they ignore the door when we knock. They own their house and we rent through a housing association, so there’s not even a landlord we could ask to have a word.

ridiculous parking from neighbour
OP posts:
olympicsrock · 18/12/2018 08:36

Surely you pop the toddler in the front passenger seat while you pull forward and then strap them in properly. No climbing involved!

Pinkyyy · 18/12/2018 08:37

What people don’t seem to get is that we’ve been able to park with no problems for a year

You are upset because you've had things the way YOU like them for a year, welcome to having neighbours. If you like to control everything then you should live detached with private parking, simple.

ResistanceIsNecessary · 18/12/2018 08:39

Nobody is asking you to inconvenience your other neighbour.

If car 1 is hers and car 3 is your neighbour, then all you have to do is go in nose first instead of reversing, and move a bit further over in the space - as indicated by the hatched area. That actually gives your neighbour more room, so I'm not sure how this would inconvenience them?

The point is you are simply replicating the problem back to her, so that she understands the impact of not parking straight in the centre of the bay.

ridiculous parking from neighbour
Pissedoffdotcom · 18/12/2018 08:39

We live in a very selfish world these days. I'm alright jack screw the rest of you

Mayrhofen · 18/12/2018 08:41

Sorry OP, its a bit wonky but in the bigger scheme of things cant be described as ridiculous. She is probably a young driver, most of us were crap at parking when we were young. well I definitely was

Racecardriver · 18/12/2018 08:43

It’s rubbish parking but the parking isn’t the problem, the problem is the tiny spaces. I would suggest talking to the dd directly about it (doesn’t sound like you will get anywhere with the mother) and if she doesn’t improve then consider getting a smaller car.

Silvercatowner · 18/12/2018 08:45

OP: "NDN might it be possible to park a bit further away from the line so that I can get in to my car more easily?"
NDN: (hypothetically but quite probably because people tend to be nice) "Yes of course, I'm so sorry, I didn't realise you were struggling. I find parking quite difficult and need to practice - I will do that."

Job done. (Why does everything have to be a big 'thing'?)

tillytrotter1 · 18/12/2018 08:46

That's a good bit of parking were you in Norfolk! It seems to be compulsory here to touch/cross at least one of the white lines, we didn't know we were moving to Stevie Wonderland.

PoorMansPeppaPig · 18/12/2018 08:48

*so he should adjust his parking to be inconsiderate to our other ndn? Just checking I’ve got that right? As he should have to adjust his parking because ndn dd can’t be bothered to do it right and be considerate of her ndn.

Sorry, but not a hope in hell will he do that!*

Yeah. For one day he can do that. As I said - he has passed a driving test so it won't be impossible to do that just this once. We've all had to do it once in a while.

I think before we start saying DD is inconsiderate you actually need to go and have a POLITE chat with them about it (you know, rather than moaning about it on MN which isn't very proactive or constructively helpful). If they continue to do it, then yeah it's probably inconsiderate as they'd then be doing in in full knowledge of the issues it causes your family. I'm sure if you mentioned about your DC's medical issues and why it makes it difficult re: carseat they would of course bear their parking in mind next time. Just pop round and knock on their door - it's not that hard. Personally, I'd prefer a friendly chat in person to a neighbour leaving a passive aggressive note on my car too.

Beenherebefore · 18/12/2018 08:49

It's not great but it really isn't that bad! A polite note saying you are struggling a bit with the parking, would they mind terribly trying to stay inside white lines if possible, you'd really appreciate it is all that is really required surely?

How old is their daughter? How long ago did she pass her test?

People park like that alllll the time in supermarkets and I cope just fine with my 7 seater so I'm sure your husband can cope too.

As for the dog, not much you can do about that. Some dogs just bark at the breeze or a leaf blowing by. I'm sure it's only for a short time twice a day. I'm afraid you have to suck that one up like everyone else living next door to dogs has to.

Original poster
pinklemonade84 · 18/12/2018 08:51

@PoorMansPeppaPig I never see the dd, so it’s difficult to actually catch her. And no, I don’t want to resort to passive aggressive parking or leaving notes on her window like you say

OP posts:
Beenherebefore · 18/12/2018 08:53

What's wrong with leaving a really polite note on the windscreen or through the door?

Just explain how tricky your husband finds it, you are worried there will be a scratch to their car if it's a dark rainy night and would she mind terribly checking her parking before she goes inside, you'd really appreciate it. In fact drop it round with a box of chocolates and a xmas card.

BlueJava · 18/12/2018 08:56

I'd park with my driver's door away from her so I could get out but as close as I needed to the line - leaving her with the issue of how to get in her car. This happens regularly at the station too.

ResistanceIsNecessary · 18/12/2018 08:57

Well if you aren't going to talk to them, if you aren't going to adjust your parking so that she twigs there's a problem and if you aren't going to tell them about it in any way, shape or form, then what exactly DO you want people to say? Confused

EtVoilaBrexit · 18/12/2018 08:58

You are upset because you've had things the way YOU like them for a year, welcome to having neighbours. If you like to control everything then you should live detached with private parking, simple.

Nope the OP is annoyed at the fact the new neighbour are inconsiderate in their parking.
The fact it wasn’t an issue before just shows it is possible to park wo creating any issue for people around you. Regardless of the size of the car (people suggesting she needs to change her cra because it’s too big are just bonkers Tbh)

FWIW, there has been LOTS of threads in here about people saying it is normal to be extremely angry at people who dare touching your car with their doors. Some posters even said it was normal for the owner to be shouting, insulting or leaving marks in the other car for daring touching their car. Didn’t the other owner know how important it is not to take the RISK of leaving small scratches on their car???
Thé contant comment was that if there wasn’t enough space for you to get out wo touching the other car, then there isn’t enough space for you to park and you should go somewhere else.

Now compare that this thread where people are arguing that larking just at the edge of the line of lawful and ok.
Is that also ok to touch the neigbourg’s car, even at the risk of leaving a small scratch/dent? Because we all know that the biggest risk is that one. You open you door, struggle to get out therefore put your door into the other car.
Or are we suggesting that the OP shoul Park their car somewhere else because the space is now too small? So it is basically ok for the neighbourg tomkick them out of their space.

The reality is that courtesy and been considerate helps. Sticking to your guns saying ‘I’m parked legally so tough. I can do whatever I want’ doesn’t.
And I’m sure that all the people who advocate the Op to just get a life would be just as annoyed (if not more) if they were at the OP’s place.

MagnificentSevenHeaven · 18/12/2018 08:59

5 years of motor legal and a stellar knowledge of all things parking/RTA in the UK and ....YABVU

There are some parking thicko's on here, that quote being a prime example!

If I come back to my van & someone's parked like that next to me, my door tends to bang theirs when I'm squeezing in. Often it bangs theirs quite hard.... Grin

strawberrypenguin · 18/12/2018 09:00

She's on the line but not actually over it. You should be able to park ok. Annoying but I'm not seeing how this results in you needing to climb over seats.

EtVoilaBrexit · 18/12/2018 09:00

OP If parking close to her is PA and you don’t want to do it.
If you never see the dd or can’t talk to them because they dint open the door.
If you dint want to leave a note on the car.

What are you going to do???

Dontsweatthelittlestuff · 18/12/2018 09:01

You can tell who are the shit parkers on this thread.

ResistanceIsNecessary · 18/12/2018 09:03

Dontsweatthelittlestuff Grin

EtVoilaBrexit · 18/12/2018 09:03

She's on the line but not actually over it. You should be able to park ok.

I disagree with that.
I’ve had plenty of times when people parked just on the line and I couldn’t get in or out of the car.
Some parking space are SMALL which means people really do need to be extra careful. (We have that at work. If both cars are not right in the middle of the space, you can’t get in or out of your car)
Annoying to have to be that careful but necessary when spaces are small.

Zintox · 18/12/2018 09:08

YADNBU

The lines are not part of the spaces. They are no man's land. You should park in the middle of the space.

All those saying "she's in her space. She's on her line" can you tell me why the OP doesn't "own" a line?

NRPDad · 18/12/2018 09:15

Park facing forwards and park close to badly parked car as possible to allow sufficient room to get out drivers side.

Neighbour will soon realise she has to sort out her parking. If she complains directly explain in future she'll have to reverse out and straighten up when she parks to allow sufficient room for everyone

Problem solved

trulybadlydeeply · 18/12/2018 09:15

I have a similar situation at work - I drive a Grand Picasso, and the spaces are ridiculously small. The person with the space to us has a discovery, and doesn't park it well at the best of times. I just squeeze it into the space, trying to allow room for both sides to get out, but whilst remembering that I have just as much right to use my space as the others did. I always reverse in, but far enough away from the wall so that I can get in through the boot if I need to. I have had a chat to discovery driver, and we both agreed that we will do our best to park considerately, but we both need to park, and sometimes there is a knock on effect from other drivers either side. A quick chat did go a long way to helping though, and we both said that if we are really stuck we can call up to each other and we will move to allow the other to get in/out.

You have two options:

  1. Go and speak to them. Take a Christmas card/chocolates etc and just ask to discuss the parking. Explain you don't want to knock the DDs car, but you need to use your space, and need reasonable access for your DD. (Also wondering if there is any chance of a disabled space due to your DD's epilepsy?)
  1. A note on the car, but I really think that this could lead to the situation becoming more unpleasant.
Letsmove1t · 18/12/2018 09:29

Reverse park, then when you need to move pull forward to let DD in, hopefully in meantime their DD will have had to work out how to squeeze in her car. Stop taking their parcels, still answer your door but turn theirs away, a simple oh sorry I can’t will do, no need to explain to delivery man. If you’d DDs epilepsy is such that you have to have more space can you get a disability regristration etc from council to either move, get a wider allocated space to park?