Page 13 | It's a Parking One

ILoveFlumps · 2021-02-10T08:00:23+00:00

Ok mumsnetters I need some ideas. I popped out for 10 minutes this morning and come home to a random car on my driveway (outside my house). This is private property and allocated parking for a New Build. The Main Street it's off is permit parking only - this car has a permit. The only place I can park is blocking it in causing a semi obstruction which I've done. Police won't help as a civil matter. Note has been left on the car by me telling them it's private property. What else can I do?! Immediate neighbours have no idea whose car this is. [angry]

m0therofdragons · 10/02/2021 12:48

I’m a key worker in a hospital. I managed to get through life without inconsiderate parking and if I parked on someone’s drive they can be as rude as they like because my behaviour would have been outrageous. He assumed the op was at work so Parked there; that’s not okay!

BashfulClam · 10/02/2021 12:50

The best one is our development was one of the flats had a car parked in their numbered space for 2 weeks. She was livid, it then disappeared. The neighbours saw a taxi dropping off a young couple next to it with luggage and nice tans...we live a short drive (5 minutes) from the airport so they used it as free parking for 2 weeks. The thing is there are plenty of places nearby they could have left it without inconveniencing someone else. Visitor spaces, main roads, free car park at the station within spitting distance of where they actually parked.

Krankie · 10/02/2021 12:51

Why did your NDN have to put up no parking signs himself? Has this been an issue before?

I wondered this too. Your diagram and posts suggest it’s a difficult area to get parked in. There was literally nowhere else for you to park except blocking him/neighbours in.. which highlights that parking is clearly an issue. This would have been obvious when buying the house, and the fact that you’re next to a permit-only road also points to the fact parking is an issue locally.

Guy could have just been a d*ckhead...or he could’ve genuinely been under pressure to get to his next job after being out every day helping people in a pandemic putting his own health and family at risk all for a measly salary.

He maybe assumed if people are out in a lockdown they will be at work or away for a length of time. It was wrong of him to park there if it’s clearly you’re driveway. If it’s ambiguous (as your neighbours sign suggests) he maybe just made the wrong call.

A little kindness and compassion goes a long way just now, he apologised and you made your point by blocking him in. That was enough.

KevinSausage · 10/02/2021 12:58

@Needsmustnow

Oh god, I think that's awful that you said that to him and humiliated him in that way. So much for Key Workers.

Seriously? Since when did being a key worker excuse you for being an inconsiderate tit?

AHobbyaweek · 10/02/2021 13:00

I'm surprised no one has mentioned race or age yet as we seem to have everything else.
OP well done for actually standing up to someone who is a tit and for once probably had to face the consequences.

explorerdog · 10/02/2021 13:02

@ILoveFlumps

Ok, so the conversation went like this: Me: (opens door) I assume that’s your car that’s parked on my drive? Him: Err yeah, I’m really sorry Me: But it’s my drive? Him: yeah, I’m sorry Me: but this is private property? Him: yeah, err, I was in a rush and I didn’t realise Me: you didn’t realise it was a drive? I don’t understand. You had to pull off the main road. It’s outside my house. You can see my neighbours have a car parked outside their house, and you can see the signs? Him: I thought you were at work and I wasn’t going to be long Me: Two hours is a long time (glares at him) Him: (Silence) Me: So for future reference, what do you think I should do so this doesn’t happen again? You clearly didn’t realise it was a private drive, so what improvements can I make to stop other people doing it? What would have deterred you? Him: Err.......I dunno Me: Should I perhaps put more signs up? Or maybe paint the drive a different colour? Him: (Silence) then he says: look I’m really sorry, would you mind moving so I can get on to my next job? Me: It would be very inconvenient if you were late wouldn’t it? Do your employers know you’re parking on private property? (Can see his badge and uniform - he’s a carer) Him: I dunno what else to say Me: How about you say you’ll never park like a tit again? Him: Ok. I won’t. Me: Won’t what? Him: Park like a tit again Me: That would be great. I’d hate for your work to know you park like an inconsiderate arsehole

I then got into my car and reversed onto the road and he drove off.
Might not have had the explosive ending MN wants, but I felt satisfied and quite smug with myself

Well done!

Christinaismyperson · 10/02/2021 13:02

@Radio4Rocks making him late for a person who’s depending on him.

It’s highly likely the person he was visiting was still in bed unable to get themselves to the toilet. Not able to get water or food. Likely required help with medication (which could be something time critical such as insulin). Possibly confused with dementia.

If you were in such a vulnerable position you might appreciate your carer parking closer to you so that you don’t have to wait. 15 minutes or so is a long time to wait when your only other open is to poo in your bed and lay in it.

I’m a carer in a residential home, these things matter to people. When you realise how dependent your clients are on you it changes your priorities.

No harm was done, the person got their care and OP had to park on the road for 2 hours. It’s an awful lot of frothing and hand wringing for a fairly non-incident.

Whythesadface · 10/02/2021 13:07

No,NO,NO.
Not his drive
Why should anyone be allowed to park on a private drive. The law needs changing.
All it needs is a number each town uses and someone comes at tows the car.
If you don't park where you shouldn't, this will never effect you.
This man needs his car for his job, just how stupid do you have to be too chance that.
OP you were 💯% right, and to anyone who disagrees, I bet if it was your drive you wouldn't be so understanding....

HelloThereMeHearties · 10/02/2021 13:07

Exactly @Christinaismyperson. Carers don't just pop in, say Hi! and do a bit of dusting. They are there to support vulnerable and needy people, and certainly where council-funded carers are concerned, it's a pretty high bar before the state will pay. So the next appointment was undoubtedly a vulnerable person who cannot live at home or look after themselves without support. Plus, you know, pandemic.

But sure, make him late for that vulnerable person! Make him worry all day that the OP is going to call his boss!! You go girl, OP!!

YetAnotherSpartacus · 10/02/2021 13:08

What Christina said. Seems to me that this was played for a MN audience and could have been handled a lot more sensitively, especially if the young man was a carer.

PeppaPigMakesMeGrrrrr · 10/02/2021 13:15

Being a key worker doesn't give him the right to park like a twat. I didn't realise until I changed shift patterns that my driveway was the well-known parking space for the daily carers for my neighbours! It took ages for them to get the message that I was no longer out all day and one in particular got really shirty with me for wanting to use my own driveway

Whythesadface · 10/02/2021 13:20

If the Man had parked in a Disabled spot which was the only spot on the road and got a ticket or towed, it would be his own fault.
He choose to park on a drive, leave no way to contact him, and your blaiming the OP.
He was and idiot, stop making excuses, they do not wash.
He was lucky that OP just gave him a tongue lashing, the next person whose drive he parks in could smash his car up.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 10/02/2021 13:21

This thread is full of intolerance and unkindness. Oh no! Wimmins... be niiiiice

FFS!

assiasi · 10/02/2021 13:22

@CuriousaboutSamphire

This thread is full of intolerance and unkindness. Oh no! Wimmins... be niiiiice

FFS!

Be a dick then

MustardMitt · 10/02/2021 13:24

What if he wasn’t a carer? Why do carers have to be ‘handled more sensitivity’ than any other person that parked on someone else’s drive without permission?

Marzipan12 · 10/02/2021 13:24

He was in tne wrong no doubt about that. He apologiaed, that is where it should have ended. Making him repeat back to you that he wouldn't do it again like a 5 year old was quite frankly out of order and humiliating for him. He had already apologised there was absolutely no need for you to act like that. Now if he had given you grief fair enough but he didn't, he was polite.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 10/02/2021 13:27

Be a dick then To who? @assiasi

The shite parker?

The drive owner?

Or do we all just be nice and fully empathise with anyone and everyone who takes advantage of any situation?

If not, how do we know where to draw the line?

Who is the final arbiter?

The law, perhaps? Or do you have a guage for what parts of trespass are OK and which aren't?

YetAnotherSpartacus · 10/02/2021 13:27

This thread is full of intolerance and unkindness. Oh no! Wimmins... be niiiiice

No. I’d say the same if the OP and some other commentators were male. In fact I’d probably call them arseholes. But then, I have parents who were looked after by carers and fully appreciate their work and the needs of those who require their services.

copernicium · 10/02/2021 13:28

lack of parking threads is the worst thing to come out of this pandemic

Yes @MerlinsSaggyLeftTit !!!

MagnoliaBeige · 10/02/2021 13:28

@Needsmustnow

He shouldn't have parked on her drive. He did owe her an apology.

He didn't deserve to be humiliated or to be threatened with a call to his boss.

We all have our worries, our struggles, our mistakes. We could all do with a bit more understanding, compassion and respect.

Totally this. I get how annoying it was but am cringing a bit at the thought of you lecturing him like a badly behaved child. No excuses for what he did but you don’t come out of this too well either OP.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 10/02/2021 13:29

He was in tne wrong no doubt about that. He apologiaed, that is where it should have ended. Making him repeat back to you that he wouldn't do it again like a 5 year old was quite frankly out of order and humiliating for him. He had already apologised there was absolutely no need for you to act like that. Now if he had given you grief fair enough but he didn't, he was polite

Well said.

Sparklingbrook · 10/02/2021 13:29

@CuriousaboutSamphire

This thread is full of intolerance and unkindness. Oh no! Wimmins... be niiiiice

FFS!

diddl · 10/02/2021 13:30

@Marzipan12

He was in tne wrong no doubt about that. He apologiaed, that is where it should have ended. Making him repeat back to you that he wouldn't do it again like a 5 year old was quite frankly out of order and humiliating for him. He had already apologised there was absolutely no need for you to act like that. Now if he had given you grief fair enough but he didn't, he was polite.

Well if he hadn't been stupid enough to park on someone's drive then it could all have been avoided, couldn't it?

Hope he's not so clueless at work.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 10/02/2021 13:32

But then, I have parents who were looked after by carers and fully appreciate their work and the needs of those who require their services. But then... I don't understand that!

Why does your parents having carers make your opinion better than mine, or OPs?

Person A parks on Person Bs drive. Person B gives Person A a stern telling off. Person A leaves, admonished.

All done, amusing tale for both A and B to tell!

Christinaismyperson · 10/02/2021 13:32

Wow, what’s actually happened to society when a “reasonable” response to someone parking on someone’s driveway is that they are lucky their car wasn’t smashed up!!?!

Are we at the point now that if we are inconvenienced our reaction is rage and “teaching a lesson”?

This problem couldn’t have been solved with a simple “please don’t park here again or I might block you in for longer”? - still makes the point but without such venom.

Of course it wouldn’t have gotten so many “cool points” from mumsnet.

Whoop whoop let’s encourage the destruction of property! Woman power!