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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask neighbour if I can use his wifi?

326 replies

Foliageeverywhere122 · 21/11/2020 17:36

Just moved into a new flat by myself.

The earliest I can get wifi is not until next Fri (and even that's with lots of pestering to sky..) .

Would I be a total CF to ask neighbour if it would be possible to use his wifi until then? I would be really happy to pay however much he thought was reasonable and thought I could give him my number so that if it turns out 2 people on it means it's too slow for him I would stop using it!

I honestly think I will go mad if I have to sit in silence for a week. I've been alone since march and (sad as it seems) I've really found having podcasts/netflix playing in the background makes me feel less lonely and anxious. I've had already had to pay for 8GB data but need to keep that for work - it should be just enough for next week with a couple of video calls but def not for anything else! No TV so I can't drown out the silence that way...

OP posts:
HoneysuckIejasmine · 21/11/2020 17:45

Absolutely not. I'd never agree to that, so don't see why your neighbour should. If you can afford to offer him money, why don't you just pay for data?

Original poster
Foliageeverywhere122 · 21/11/2020 17:46

Play music. Put the radio on. Watch DVDs.
Or is absolutely all of your entertainment online through a data connection?

Embarrassed to say I'm a Gen X/Millennial and have no dvds/radio/cds/dl music. The provider had initially said the wifi would be sorted by the day I moved in, so stupidly didn't bother to dl anything on spotify or netflix

I have learnt my lesson on that front!

OP posts:
ftm202020 · 21/11/2020 17:46

If you were my neighbour I wouldn't mind.

LookItsMeAgain · 21/11/2020 17:47

I wouldn't give you the passcode if you asked me so best of luck with getting theirs from them.
Why don't you look for something like a rolling 30 day wifi deal:
www.carphonewarehouse.com/broadband/mobile-broadband.html

UnconsideredTrifles · 21/11/2020 17:47

I would have absolutely no problem with a new neighbour asking me... I'm surprised I seem to be in the minority!

Winter2020 · 21/11/2020 17:48

Just get an unlimited data bundle on pay as you go e.g. the "golden goody bag" here £35
www.giffgaff.com/sim-only-deals

I wouldn't like to be asked if you were my neighbour. It's not about the money it's security. You are a stranger and you could be looking at anything illegal etc.

FTMF30 · 21/11/2020 17:48

It puts your neighbour in an awkward position. Don't ask.

qwertyuiop098 · 21/11/2020 17:48

See if there is open BT Wifi you can access (there usually is in most residential settings) and you can pay a flat fee for a week of access.

unmarkedbythat · 21/11/2020 17:48

I wouldn't give someone I'd only just met access to my wifi. When we moved in early April, our internet couldn't be installed until the end of June due to the lockdown. We got a cheap router from amazon and a £30 unlimited data sim on a 30 day contract from Three.

Audreyseyebrows · 21/11/2020 17:48

You can’t! That’s so rude!
Do you not have any books? You’ve just moved I’m sure you have lots to do.

outofthemoon · 21/11/2020 17:49

Why is it cf?

Our new neighbours had a 2 week wait for wifi. I gave them our code. It didn't cost me anything to do that.

RubyReigns · 21/11/2020 17:49

Get an unlimited data pay as you go sim and use your phone as a hotspot. We do it when we go on caravan holidays so the kids can still use their devices if it’s raining. Works a treat and only about £20-30 a month with no contract from smartie/giffgaff etc.

AfterSchoolWorry · 21/11/2020 17:49

No.

Mustbe3ormorecharacters · 21/11/2020 17:49

No harm in asking especially if you can ask in a funny self deprecating letter.

Sassysally12 · 21/11/2020 17:49

Adding an unlimited bundle to your phone wouldn’t cost £30, you can then hotspot it to your devices and turn it off when your not using it? Saves any awkwardness because imagine he says no then your off to a bad start with your neighbour, I feel it would just make it awkward.

MumOfPsuedoAdult · 21/11/2020 17:50

Seriously?? I think a lot of the answers on here are very stuffy!! If you were my new neighbour and you introduced yourself and asked a favour I wouldn't give it a second thought - if it interrupted my ability to work I'd let you know. I'd hate the idea of me sitting comfortably working and watching Netflix while my new neighbour who living alone during Covid was sitting in lonely silence. Good neighbours are hard to find and to find a good neighbour you also need to BE a good neighbour.

FTMF30 · 21/11/2020 17:50

@nancybotwinbloom

Maybe I'm just naive but if you were my neighbor I would let you.

I think by offering to pay your showing them your not a cheeky fucker.

However it's hard for some people to say no face to face so maybe it might be ok to write them a note and explaining?

The thing that would make me not want to is not kniwing if OP would continue to use my Wifi beyond the agreed time. Everytime my internet was slow, I'd wonder. I wouldn't want to have to go through the trouble of changing my password either.
Original poster
Foliageeverywhere122 · 21/11/2020 17:50

Thank you to the suggestions on buying data!

I've already spent £22 on 8GB - working all day today and one video chat with a client (no non-work streaming or spotify) has taken up 3GB so really need to ration it out and wouldn't be feasible to buy enough for non -work purposes!

OP posts:
Charleyhorses · 21/11/2020 17:50

Well just ask.
I live in a normal neighbourhood. If a new next door neighbour asked i would be happy for a week or 2 until they got sorted.

Leaannb · 21/11/2020 17:51

[quote Foliageeverywhere122]@BettysSpaghetti

Even if I offered to pay say, £30? And said I totally understand if it's not possible![/quote]
No way in hell no matter how much you paid.

Lauren83 · 21/11/2020 17:51

I wouldn't ask, although when my next door neighbour moved in I did give her ours to use until she was set up the week after

SchrodingersImmigrant · 21/11/2020 17:51

Embarrassed to say I'm a Gen X/Millennial and have no dvds/radio/cds/dl music.
Errrm. We grew up on CDs and stuff and still have plenty. Plus Freeview TV. All my age I know still have box of CDs and a player or a radio (because they make some really pretty onesBlush).

As pps said, the monthly router from mobile providers is a good option for now.

Original poster
Foliageeverywhere122 · 21/11/2020 17:51

@Sassysally12

Ah I had no idea - you can buy unlimited data for one month? If I can do that on 02 that would solve all my problems (and make me vastly regret spending that £22 lol)

OP posts:
Squirrelblanket · 21/11/2020 17:51

No, it's definitely CF territory. I would have no problem telling you no, but for many people you'd be putting them in a really awkward position and creating a terrible first impression to boot.

Leaannb · 21/11/2020 17:52

@MumOfPsuedoAdult

Seriously?? I think a lot of the answers on here are very stuffy!! If you were my new neighbour and you introduced yourself and asked a favour I wouldn't give it a second thought - if it interrupted my ability to work I'd let you know. I'd hate the idea of me sitting comfortably working and watching Netflix while my new neighbour who living alone during Covid was sitting in lonely silence. Good neighbours are hard to find and to find a good neighbour you also need to BE a good neighbour.
Its a security breach