Shouldn’t neighbours have apologised

[Crackers6642]

I’m curious what the rest of you think: neighbours kid has bashed our fence with constant footballs. I don’t mean odd ball banging fence, I literally mean he’s been using it to kick against for hours everyday. Old fence was damaged by him, put up a new fence and still carries on. Shouldn’t parents at least tell him to stop? Obviously they know it’s our fence and we paid for it. They sit outside with him. What’s wrong with people.

That's probably going to be the easiest thing to do. Every time they come to collect their balls, "Sorry we haven't seen them".

Yes to hiding the football if it comes over. I chuck ours over the back wall into the alley and they often get nicked I think. They vanish anyway. I then deny all knowledge when they knock days later. In fairness I dont know which side they come from so I couldn't chuck them back.

The kids stand on a chair then and there asking for football. If I’m not there the parents stand on chair saying “we saw football on x spot on x day”when I’m next in garden. They put pretence of talking and saying hi but it’s always asking for football in end. It pisses me off as I can never relax in my own garden.

Ignore them. Say "please don't harass me in my own garden" and just go inside if they continue. Also, put up a trellis so the kids can't look over your fence even if they're standing on chairs.

I'd say here it is... I think a fox got it as it seems to be punctured...
Naughty Fox!

When I’m inside I see them standing on chairs looking for ball! I hate it

You need a higher fence/trellis.

you're dh and dm are abit spineless aren't they ? dh sounds wet for not backing you up and dm doesn't have to live with it. i'm angry on your behalf, i really am.

I’d tell them next time they ask for the ball back that maybe they could reduce the kicking it up the fence. If it continues then just don’t give them the balls back and they’ll know why 🤷🏻‍♀️ Best piece of advice on here is just remove the panel, put chicken wire up or something - even if it’s just temporarily, it might have the desired effect. You have the right to be relaxed in your own home/garden x

It pisses me off that not once have they apologised. It’s like they think my garden is their kids play area!

Agree with everyone else.

Seriously "Do not kick your ball against my fence". Then stand there until he kicks it somewhere else. EVERY SINGLE TIME

Do not film the child i cant believe people are saying to this! Right can of worms if they start throwing accusations at you.

Can you not just scream at them to not kick the ball at the fence?! Just pop any balls that go into your garden. Agree with PP put something on fence that would damage the ball. Or post a formal letter stating if they continue to damage the fence you will take parents to small claims court to pay for repairs.

Get that high pitched noise thing too. Just anything to deter the little rats!

We have a noisy ball kicker where i live but i bite my tongue as he doesnt do it against my property and he's too young to go to the park.

Can you not just tell these kids to go to the park? 14 is old enough to go unsupervised.

@Reluctantcavedweller

You're asking your children to put up with a lot! What age are they? Get them those super soaker things and tell them to soak the little terror through the fence when he starts up with the banging. If the parents protest, kids will be kids.

That was my thought too. Every time a ball comes over, I'd be soaking those kids.

Op you really need to take more if a stand. If the little shit continued to do that after having already been asked to stop doing it, several times, it needs more of a "Stop kicking that fucking ball against my fence, or I'll rip your head off you little twat!" It's your fence, he's got no right to kick anything against it.

I think there's some merit in the suggestion that was made of temporarily removing the fence panels and putting up a low chicken wire one instead. Then you can sit there eyeballing them all in their garden until they break and ask nicely for the fence panels back (or put up their own fence, which would solve your problem).

Oops, sorry OP, just read the ages of your DC, so you wouldn't be shouting that! But you really mustn't let them walk all over you. Could you not try shouting "Stop kicking that against my fence!! "

Thank you everyone! You have no idea how much of a difference you’ve all made. All my life my DM has made me feel I should be quiet and put up with stuff and weirdly enough I’ve married a male version of my mum who also thinks easy life so don’t cause a fuss. I want to stop being a doormat. This is just one example, I put up with so much shit! Apologies I’ve had a couple of glasses of wine after I put kids to bed so I’m a bit overly emotional right now. I really want to start putting people in their place and stop being a doormat. I’m due to start a new job so I want to change myself and stop being a people pleaser and stop feeling bloody guilty when I stand up for myself.

Lean over and paint anti burglar paint on their side.

@Crackers6642. Good for you! I was also conditioned to be a doormat during childhood so I know where you're coming from. It's liberating when you realise you also deserve a minimum level of respect and consideration!

You're as entitled as the next person to peace (or at least respect and privacy) in your garden. As are your DC. So be as bolshy, underhand or downright vicious as you need to be to stop your bully neighbours taking advantage of your peaceable nature. Sometimes conflict is unavoidable.

Thanks @Reluctantcavedweller. to be honest it did feel good when I had words with them! I was shaking for a day or two as never had a “fight” with anyone in my whole life lol! Felt so good but then guilt came over when mum said stop causing fuss and she echoed in!

• not she I meant DH echoed in

You could do what my mil does - sticks a knife in each ball and throws it back

Higher fence with those anti bird spikes on the top. I feel you have a strong urge to put trellis up and will definitely be needing to use the longest sharpest nails in existence with 6 inch gaps between them because the weight of that rambling, thorny rose is going to be huge..... !
They are bullies and louts. My sympathies are with you.

It is time to get mad OP.
I'm all for politeness when it works sometimes you need a red face and raised voice to get the message across.

Thanks @Waveysnail and @Bargebill19