Neighbours carer keeps tapping my car!

[Namechange880]

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?

None of you live in London then.

It isn't racist to recognise that different nationalities have different characteristics

But 'English' nationality isn't based on characteristics?

Some people...no need to bring ethnic backgrounds into a chat about tapping cars, its not something that people in other countries do - I've seen it here myself loads of times by all sorts of people!

In the UK it's not considered normal/good/standard parking practice, which is why (a) the OP is pissed off and (b) she's taken aback that the carer in question didn't seem to understand her ire when she glared at her. In other places I've lived, it's entirely standard parking practice, done by everyone, and no one would expect someone watching their car being nudged to be annoyed.

I think where I've seen it most has been in Paris, where I've been amazed at my friends' ability to parallel park in a tiny street spot, achievable only by bouncing gently off the cars in front and behind.

Op...you have every right to be annoyed. Whats to say one day she doesnt just tap it but causes damage?? I second get a dash cam. Some people are so oblivious to others...

where'd she get her licence. Stevie Wonder driving school ?

@ToyKitchenSink

Why don't you just ask her to stop as she might inadvertently damage your (and her) car? If you miss her in the morning when she arrives, just knock on your neighbour's door and ask for a quick chat. You can be friendly about it. No need for CCTV and tow bars at this point, surely?

This - surely you, the neighbour and the carer can talk to each other and come to some sort of arrangement.

Carers are going from house to house all day and every day and parking must be a nightmare in some situations.

We have had someone half parking over our drive for the last few weeks, but it was only ever a temporary situation as the person who was being cared for has now died. They were only doing it because the available space was taken by another household with carers and family visiting regularly, and the occasional bad parker.

@Nottherealslimshady: I don’t want to derail the thread, but can’t let that go- Do you really assume that “being English” means being white with a similar bone structure to you. Wow - that’s a really interesting “non racist” perspective. My many neighbours are as English as I am and are of varying shades of white, black, brown and yellow skin tones and with a wide variety of bone structures.

The fact that it's standard practice to hit other people's cars in other countries is possibly an explanation but certainly not an excuse. When driving in any country you are bound by the driving laws of that country and hitting other people's cars in the UK is definitely a no no, just as driving on the right is or going any any speed on a motorway. IF the carer is from another country then she will have to learn to drive to the UK standard or she'll end up with claims against her insurance or at the very least, people having a go at her.

OP, I second a tow bar but they're not cheap. A dash cam is cheap but may not register the hit. (Or if it does it may not get her car reg as it's up your car's arse)
Home CCTV would be good or better yet, go out and get her told straight. NEVER HIT MY CAR WITH YOURS.

@Namechange880

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.

I'd do this. If the carer comes early morning you can move your car after breakfast - nobody else is likely to be coming round at 6.30 a.m.

OP can you set off your car alarm from your fob? My last few cars have had that capability.

I had a neighbour who used to lean on my car to chat with people. We asked him not to but he carried in so every time we saw him we just activated the car alarm from indoors. It took three or four goes but he did stop.....

In what way does the carer look English @Namechange880 ?
What characteristics are you using to profile her?

It's reasonable for PP to ask if she might be from another country due to different driving customs. It would be equally reasonable for you to reply that you don't know (if that is in fact the case). But as it's you that has brought up the fact that she 'looks English', then it's reasonable that posters ask you what you mean by this?

Just park so no room left for her and have a word with your neighbour telling her why you had to do it.

I’ve got visions of the carer bedecked in union jacks, blasting out Rule Britannia as she pulls up.

She is not 'Tapping' your car she is continuously crashing into it.

Buy a motion sensor dash cam.