To ask neighbour if I can use his wifi?

[Foliageeverywhere122]

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...

[GreenlandTheMovie]

This would really annoy me if I was your neighbour. Please don't do it. Its a real security risk and theres no guarantee you would stop using it. It would just really annoy me in anyone I knew well, never mind a new neighbour that I didn't know. How could you possibly think this is ok?

You can rent a BT hotspot for a week or a month (or even a day or an hour) for £39 for the month.

[lunalulu]

[quote Foliageeverywhere122]@BettysSpaghetti

Even if I offered to pay say, £30? And said I totally understand if it's not possible![/quote]
I think that's fine! He might want to earn £30 towards his bill?!

And all these mNetters are doing him out if 30 quid 😅

Just ask him.

[Foliageeverywhere122]

@Leaannb

Yes and my post "whatever happened to being kind in these dark times" was clearly directly to a specific poster who had replied with something not particularly nice. You have misread. It was obviously not directed to my neighbour, implying that if he didn't share his wifi I would think it was unkind.

As I have said, multiple times :/

[HopeAndDriftWood]

You’re using a lot of data if you’ve eaten 8GB, and I think it’d be unreasonable to ask him to add that to his. That much usage will affect speed.

Talk to O2 about if they can upgrade you to unlimited data, they probably can. If not, see what the most cost effective way to buy data is, and if £22 for 8GB is as good as it gets, get a cheap radio from somewhere too for background noise... and can you arrange to phone some people some evenings?

It does suck not having internet, whenever it happens - and it’s worse in lockdown. But that’s a massive amount of data at a time that people are relying on their data more, and speeds are already slower... It’d be too CF for me to be able to ask, because I’d hate to be asked that right now, and I’d feel bad for needing to say no with two of us working at home - and that’d make the future neighbour relationship weird. I’d avoid it, but I do feel for you.

[Foliageeverywhere122]

@GreenlandTheMovie

ah that sounds like excellent option- thank you! looking into it now

[burntpinky]

I’d do it. He might be hot too!

[NoSquirrels]

Just get this from 02.

[opinionatedfreak]

Ask.

The worst they can do is say no.

My building is small and friendly. I've used my next door neighbours wi-fi and given the key for mine to the neighbours next door when they had a problem.

However, these were all people I knew...

[Viviennemary]

If you've just moved in I think that would be quite cheeky. Can't you just use your phone. Or you can get some sort of card with a code that gives you so many hours.

[WombatChocolate]

No don't ask.

If this were a longstanding neighbour you knew and had a good relationship with, and you had a week without Internet, then just maybe it might be okay to ask.....but this neighbour is essentially a stranger to you.

It is a cheeky imposition to ask and to out them in an awkward position of having to say no or to agree if they don't really want to but feel awkward. It really shouldn't be their first encounter with you, especially as is really sing a question of life and death and there are alternatives that you can sort out.

As others have said, you can get more mobile data (why isn't that your first port of call) or just manage without for the short period of a week. Why aren't these actions your first choice instead of imposing on a stranger who actually you probably do want to develop a good relationship with over ttime?

If you were just moving in and had a genuine crisis, it would be okay to ask your neighbour for help.....I don't know what that might be, but perhaps if you had no water supply, to fill a bucket.....but it's hard to think of examples. However, to ask for something which you don't need and can actually sort out for yourself via another route just isn't on. It's not about the money (although it would be awkward for them to accept) but about the imposition and putting them in an awkward position. Internet is a security issue....who knows what you might be accessing, or how your use might impact their ability to use it. It doesn't matter if you say that if your use does impact it, you will stop using it.....just deal with the inconvenience to yourself by finding an alternative via mobile data, or going without, rather than shifting the inconvenience and awkwardness to them.

Sometimes in life we just have to out up with these inconveniences....and that's all this is. No-one else has the responsibility to sort it for you and certainly not a stranger. Fine to ask a friend for this kind of thing, fine to ask a stranger for help in an emergency....but this isn't one.

[ShagMeRiggins]

I remember that one. That is cheek fuckery. This isn’t, though I appreciate security concerns.

[HollowTalk]

@GreenlandTheMovie

This would really annoy me if I was your neighbour. Please don't do it. Its a real security risk and theres no guarantee you would stop using it. It would just really annoy me in anyone I knew well, never mind a new neighbour that I didn't know. How could you possibly think this is ok?

You can rent a BT hotspot for a week or a month (or even a day or an hour) for £39 for the month.

Stop trying to wind things up - he could change his password at any time.

[PutThemInTheIronMaiden]

Are any coffee shops open near you where you can use the wifi to download?

[BellsaRinging]

I dont get this. If you asked me it would so not be an issue...

[feellikeanalien]

I wouldn't if I was you OP. I'm sure you're perfectly nice but it could be putting the neighbour in an embarrassing position if he didn't want to say yes. He doesn't know you at all.

There are other options as other PPs have said.

[WombatChocolate]

It would be quite different if you went to introduce yourself to your new neighbour and wer having a chat about how moving in was going and you just mentioned you need to wait until next Fri for your internet connection to start, amongst other things related to your moving in..........and then they said 'oh, well why don't you share my internet connection until then. I will give you the password'

This would be quite different if they CHOSE to offer.......but in the majority of cases, I just don't think this would happen. People might make sympathetic noises but they wouldn't be offering you their password, in the same way they wouldn't be offering you a spare bed while you were waiting for one to be delivered, or to being you an armchair if you had one in order that would come next week. A few people might, but most wouldn't and that's fine, and there's a big difference between someone offering and someone being asked. And it's especially the case as this isn't a crisis or emergency.

[VetiverAndLavender]

There are two kinds of people. One kind thinks there's no harm in asking; if he doesn't want to, he can always refuse. The other kind thinks they'd hate to ask, because they know they'd feel bad for refusing.

If it were an emergency or you'd known him for a while and were friendly, that might change things, but as it is, if you ask you risk him being the second kind of person who will feel awkward, whether they refuse or grudgingly agree. Since there are other options available, I wouldn't risk getting off on the wrong foot with your new neighbour.

[OwletteGeckoCatboy]

I think YANBU especially if you offer to pay (and dont take the mick extending it) I'm short of money atm and would say yes!

[HollowTalk]

It wouldn't be an issue for me at all, as long as you seemed nice and polite and friendly, especially as you're on your own. I wouldn't do it for a family who'd be using tons of devices, though.

[StellaRockafella]

If you have either a laptop or tablet, you can toggle it to your smart phone and use 4G, and then there's no need to use a neighbour's wifi

[BlueBrian]

Is the guy liable to see you as a potential shag? Could cause all sorts of problems if he does, and you don't see it like that, I'd drop the idea before it gets complicated.

[ShagMeRiggins]

Your Dad wrote you a porno??? You have an erm... unique relationship with your Dad! (Yes, I know it’s a typo but it’s a funny one)

My Dad Wrote a Porno

It’s real. A book, a podcast...

[sophandbridge]

There is no way I'd agree, he's not to know if you are going to download illegal stuff that he would be responsible for.

Pay for more data or look for a package with generous amounts of data and change.

[Bahhhhhumbug]

Yes you would be a CF. I can't stand people who ask to borrow unless it's an absolute emergency. It really puts the other person in an awkward position like using your phone after an accident or really stranded etc. . Our 'neighbours' moved into a block of flats at side of our house so not even immediate neighbours. First time l clapped eyes on them was when woman knocked on my door one dark evening asking to borrow some plates, cutlery and a bottle opener (didn't want much then!) l said lm sorry but l don't do borrowing or lending.. They flounce off and never doke to me again just filthy looks. Found out later they'd knocked on a few of the flats first and got knocked back, best part was they were getting fish and chips which was why they 'needed' cutlery, plates etc.

[Cheeseboardandmincepies]

Use that money to buy more data. I wouldn’t let my neighbours have my wifi.