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

Neighbours carer keeps tapping my car!

64 replies

Namechange880 · 30/07/2020 07:56

Hi all

So my neighbour over the road has a carer in every morning, the other Carers park outside my neighbours house but one particular carer parks outside my next door neighbours, there isn’t much room for them to park as my car is there and then my neighbour has a drive. Rather than park elsewhere this carer is squeezing up to my car, tapping it and then moving back slightly leaving about 5 cm gap between our cars!! I saw her do it the other day and she literally just stared at me and walked off! I’ve woke up this morning and she’s parked about 5cm away again so I assume she’s again tapped my car to know when she’s moved up enough. I can’t see any damage to my car but it’s not the point, it’s really starting to anger me!! What should I do?

OP posts:
Darkdecent · 30/07/2020 07:59

Go out the next time she's parking and say "will you please stop tapping my bloody car"

MaskingForIt · 30/07/2020 08:00

Wait in your car, but tucked down behind the front seats so she can’t see you. When she drives into your car get out and give her the fright of her life. Insist on taking insurance details as there could be unseen structural damage. Then find out the name of the company she works for and complain about her.

Tinyhumansurvivalist · 30/07/2020 08:00

Take her reg and report to your insurance to get damage checked or contact the company she works for and seen if they can speak to her?

The other option is to confront her

bodgeitandscarper · 30/07/2020 08:01

Go out when she's parking, let her know that you have videoed her car tapping yours and if there is any damage you will be holding her responsible?

Original poster
Namechange880 · 30/07/2020 08:07

Thanks all, I haven’t yet got evidence of her doing it and no damage, she doesn’t come on set days so I can’t plan in advance to sit in my car at 6.30 every morning as I have two young children (would love to tho!) I am gonna try see if I can adjust one of our cameras on our house to the front of my car but it will be difficult. I was thinking maybe I could put metal spikes under my reg plate so if she does tap she’s damaging her own car but I’m not sure if I’m allowed to do that?

OP posts:
Original poster
Namechange880 · 30/07/2020 08:09

Or I could just start parking bang in the middle of me and neighbours so she doesn’t have the room to park, but I felt that was unfair on neighbour if she had visitors.

OP posts:
MrDarcysMa · 30/07/2020 08:10

Ermmm you saw her bump your car? And you didn't say anything ?

SunInTheSkyYouKnowHowIFeel · 30/07/2020 08:13

Could you ask her to park where the other carers park? And mention you don't want her bumping into your car like you've witnessed?

2coffeesinbed · 30/07/2020 08:16

Someone did this to us and it didn’t cause any visual damage but it cracked something (minuscule) causing a nasty leak in the wheel well which Is extremely damaging Sad

Not looking forward to this Winter

justanotherneighinparadise · 30/07/2020 08:18

In some countries bumping cars to park is considered standard practise. Perhaps she doesn’t realise there’s anything wrong in doing it.

k1233 · 30/07/2020 08:21

Put a tow bar on your car, then she'll hit that instead of the rear of your car.

NameXForThis · 30/07/2020 08:22

Put a big sign up in your rear car window telling her not to touch/tap your car when she parks (parking is a task to be completed using the visual sense, not touch!)...

AdoreTheBeach · 30/07/2020 08:27

After reading what @justanotherneighinparadise write, I was reminded of an old boyfriend who did just that. It was normal where he was from/learned to drive and when I asked him about it says that’s what bumpers were for. The cars generally were older ones and without sensors, which these days could be damaged easily.

If the carer is doing that, they need to know it’s not OK here.

Lastly, have you considered a motion sensor dash cam? This way you don’t have to move your CCTV and it’ll capture her bumping your car. They’re not very expensive and easily installed. Then I’d tell your neighbour and the company the carer works for as it may be difficult to confront her due to the erratic schedule.

strawberrymilkshakemonkey · 30/07/2020 08:30

not intended as a racist question OP but is she from the UK? in some countries, this is completely standard practice so she might not realise it's not the done thing in the UK??

MaryBerrysChutney · 30/07/2020 08:34

Move your car forward and make it impossible for her to park. And get a dashcam and record it.

Charleyhorses · 30/07/2020 08:35

I would just move your car so she can't park.
Our opposite neighbours have carers 4 times a day who park slap bang outside their house. It's a narrow road, everyone parks on our side of the road and it practically blocks access to the end of our road. All 4 do it. I have said to each of them it would be safer for their cars if they parked outside our house(we seriously are not "road owners") but still they park there. Nothing to be done as clearly the neighbours have enough on but sooner or later they will be clipped by someone!
Have you tried talking to them?

Yankathebear · 30/07/2020 08:38

I would get a really sensitive car alarm Wink

Charleyhorses · 30/07/2020 08:38

And I agree, it is standard practice in some countries a fact known from my years of dealing with claims under the green card agreements. Some countries would not entertain claims for damage for bumpers!

stovetopespresso · 30/07/2020 08:38

the carer has a low paid stressful job looking after a vulnerable neighbour, what are the ways you could make her life easier i wonder?

Original poster
Namechange880 · 30/07/2020 08:39

She looks like she is from the UK but I can’t be 100%. She could well think it’s normal, I can’t think of any other reason she would think it’s acceptable! ! It’s usually the front of my car she taps as that’s the way I park usually but I’m gonna start moving my car in the middle during weekdays until I can get a tow bar fitted or something and will try capture her doing it and confront her. So annoying!!

OP posts:
contrmary · 30/07/2020 08:39

k1233 Put a tow bar on your car, then she'll hit that instead of the rear of your car.

Exactly this, it will concentrate the impact to one point on her bumper and hopefully damage it.

SteelyPanther · 30/07/2020 08:44

Definitely park so that she can’t.
Maybe explain to the neighbour why you are doing it, and that you will move your car if they are having visitors.

FiveShelties · 30/07/2020 08:48

@stovetopespresso

the carer has a low paid stressful job looking after a vulnerable neighbour, what are the ways you could make her life easier i wonder?
I don't think I would be worrying about making someone's life easier if they kept hitting my car.

What would you do?

museumum · 30/07/2020 08:50

People seem to do this in some other countries and also even gently bump other cars along a bit pretty regularly.
I saw this in Latvia and you wouldn’t know from appearances if the caree was from another European country.

suggestionsplease1 · 30/07/2020 08:51

@justanotherneighinparadise

In some countries bumping cars to park is considered standard practise. Perhaps she doesn’t realise there’s anything wrong in doing it.
Yes, agreed. In some places it's just understood everyone also parks with their handbrakes off to facilitate the nudging process getting in and out Grin

But yes, it's not the norm in the UK so I would let them know.