Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask someone not to block me in my driveway?

56 replies

Leona11 · 24/08/2019 11:57

I had to go knocking round all of my neighbours this morning before 0930 as someone blocked me into my drive and I couldn’t get out for work. The same car has blocked me a good few times before but as I wasn’t in a rush, I didn’t do anything. I’m super stressed about work right now (really affecting the awful anxiety I manage on a daily basis) and I’m worried that I have been cheeky.

The car turned out to belong to a carer - when she answered the door, she said ‘Oh yeah I’m blocking you’. I said that in future perhaps she could knock to check I’m not about to leave the house or leave a quick note on her windscreen to let me know how long she’d be, as a courtesy, as it happens a lot. She seemed to really take a huff and I could hear her moaning about me to someone on the phone although she moved the car. I’m not one of those people that would complain about an ambulance etc at my door of course, but for routine, everyday visits, AIBU to have said this to her? Thanks so much for your views!

OP posts:
coldlighthappier · 24/08/2019 11:59

YANBU, she was being inconsiderate

mumguiltrearingitshead · 24/08/2019 12:00

Do you have a dropped kerb? If so, you could have actually phoned the police so I think you were more than reasonable.

pallisers · 24/08/2019 12:04

I'd have said "please don't block me anymore. I need to get out of my driveway."

She should have been very apologetic to you. She was cheeky to block you in and even cheekier to moan to someone in your hearing about you.

Original poster
Leona11 · 24/08/2019 12:05

Thank you - we do have a dropped kerb. I’m quite a nervous wee soul so I always feel guilty if I stick up for myself lol! Thanks so much, I really appreciate it xxx

OP posts:
CacenCrunch · 24/08/2019 12:06

Your too nice OP. I would tell her not to park on/across your drive again, cheeky cow

Teddybear45 · 24/08/2019 12:06

Suggest you let your neighbour know and ask for the name of the company so you can make a formal complaint. Blocking people in usually against health and safety policies for most carers because the agency often can be sued if the carer blocks and the emergency services can’t get through in time because of them.

Original poster
Leona11 · 24/08/2019 12:07

Cacen Crunch lol - well you’ve just written what I thought at the time!

OP posts:
Pipandmum · 24/08/2019 12:08

I would have put a note on the car the first time. At least you know where she is when she does it next!

Jojo19834 · 24/08/2019 12:09

There was a similar thread about carers and blocking drives, would get the employment details and complain. It’s not acceptable to block someone’s drive, and you have been more than polite and accommodating already and her attitude would make me report her. If she matched your attitude I would think differently but she is 100% in the wrong and should behave like that. Don’t accept her bullying

Jojo19834 · 24/08/2019 12:11

Ooooooh @Pipandmum I would leave a note each time, and each time make it stickier and stickier to remove until she cannot be bothered to park there!

Toneitdown · 24/08/2019 12:12

Don't feel bad in the slightest. She's a dickhead. If it happens again phone the police.

CigarsofthePharoahs · 24/08/2019 12:13

Is there a reason she can't park in front of the house she's working at?
I can understand her not wanting to park too far away as carers are usually on a tight schedule, but if you block someone's car then you have to take the risk you're going to be pissing someone off and then wasting more time having to move.

OhMyGodTheyKilledKenny · 24/08/2019 12:19

What is it with people who block drives being all huffy and put out when they're pulled up on it?!

I caught a woman parking across the entrance to our drive just as I was about to go out in the car. I asked nicely if she would move but her face was raging.

ElizaDee · 24/08/2019 12:22

@jojo19834 who is parking across someone's drive bullying?

ElizaDee · 24/08/2019 12:22

*how is

MRex · 24/08/2019 12:26

I think you were unreasonable to day she could knock and ask. Be more assertive e.g.: "This is my drive and I use it, so I do not want you to park blocking it again."

If she does it again then you get more assertive e.g. "You can see the dropped kerb, that means it's a parking offence when you block it. I will call out the police or local council parking officers if it happens again, either can legally deal with an obstruction."
I also agree that if she does it again you should complain to the company she works for. She's had her chance.

Skittlesandbeer · 24/08/2019 12:30

I like the sticky/stickier note approach. Matches the passive-aggressiveness of deciding to block you in quite nicely!

Start with a normal post-it note, work up to full-faced super glue. Start to the side of the windscreen, gradually move to the dead centre.

Make sure there’s a sweet smiley face symbol on it at all times.

Original poster
Leona11 · 24/08/2019 12:35

Haha, guys please can you all move into my tiny cottage and act as my personal bodyguards? Thanks - feel better now!

OP posts:
DishingOutDone · 24/08/2019 12:36

I said that in future perhaps she could knock to check I’m not about to leave the house or leave a quick note on her windscreen to let me know how long she’d be, as a courtesy, as it happens a lot

Well, that's where you went wrong. She can't park across your drive at all. Ever. End of story. Notify her agency if you can track them down. You shouldn't be enabling this OP.

And although she may not be specifically bullying someone, she is an entitled rude CF.

Original poster
Leona11 · 24/08/2019 12:37

@CigarsofthePharoahs there’s hardly any parking in my little street so she’d have to park a bit further away (literally less than a minute walk). Don’t even actually mind her blocking the drive way but at least leave a note or let me know whose house you’re in so that I can get out!

OP posts:
Jojo19834 · 24/08/2019 12:39

@ElizaDee her attitude in response was, she was trying to make OP feel bad about making her move the car. Sorry if that’s not the right word for it but it’s clear enough

ShippingNews · 24/08/2019 12:41

What she did isn't just inconsiderate - it's illegal. You certainly were not unreasonable to ask someone not to break the law by blocking your driveway !

Jojo19834 · 24/08/2019 12:42

@ElizaDee actually I stand by the word. To bully us defined as a person who habitually seeks to harm or intimidate those whom they perceive as vulnerable. Think that describes the attitude she used when she huffed and puffed at moving the car, she tried to intimidate the OP and the OP noted it and has also described herself as a nervous wee soul.

LakieLady · 24/08/2019 12:42

The cheeky parking fuckers seem to be out in force this weekend. Has the hot weather gone to their heads or something?

haverhill · 24/08/2019 12:43

Absolutely YANBU. My neighbour did this until we had an unpleasant row where I threatened her with the police. Some people are massively inconsiderate.