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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu for removing tyre caps (PARKING THREAD!)

364 replies

JackieakaBritney · 30/05/2021 23:53

Background, live in converted 3 flat house for 6 years odd, we are attic flat.

Been here since 2015, bought car 2017, previous neighbour had a defunct car on drive which he moved when he moved out late 2017

Since then I've parked my car on drive at least overnights, during day (pre Covid) was parked at my work, insurance detailed the same.

However since beginning of 2020 we have had two different neighbours move in on the middle floor flat and ground floor flat. Neither of the houses moved in with an existing car

Since the two flats have moved in, there has been an constant influx of visitors (particularly during lockdown) but also pretty much every weekend and these visitors decide to block me in, over a dropped curb. It's not the
Same car each time, it's a rotation of 4 or 5 different ones?

I ignored it to the best of my ability during lockdown as we weren't supposed to really go anywhere but then why is ok for them to block my car in?

Then when restrictions eased my husband put a note on one of the cars saying "illegal to park on dropped curb/driveway. Park somewhere else." This was ignored
The next time a car blocked me in by a visitors there was a note saying.

"If I've blocked you in call...."

Tonight I've come home and I'm blocked in again. Tbh I've kinda lost my rag and taken off two of the tyre aircaps. Aibu??

I am sick to death of worrying about asking neighbours To move their visitors cars during the last year especially when I might need it in an emergency etc and they have been asked for their friends/visotors not block me in previously?

OP posts:
DishingOutDone · 31/05/2021 11:03

Where I live police will come out and issue an on the spot penalty if someone is blocked in on a dropped kerb. Have you tried 111 or local PCSO?

LadyMargaretBeauforte · 31/05/2021 11:06

Op, you are parked in such a way that it stops anyone else from getting on the drive. There appears to be a lot of unused space on the left hand side of the drive. Each flat is allocated a space in that drive. Just because they are not using them ,as no cars , does not mean they should not be left free for their visitors. You need to park more thoughtfully in that drive. That way you can all enter and exit appropriately. That car looks like it is parked there to make a point to you. They are clearly pissed at you! Removing the caps is appalling behaviour by you. If i owned one of those flats but had no car i would expect my space to be avail for my guest. You are hogging/blocking access to the drive by the way you park to deliberately prevent others from getting in. Park over the other side of the drive and turn your. car around to aid your exit and allow the other spaces to be used.

Put those caps back on now and go out and park your car properly, in a way that allows others to use their spaces. If you cannot turn around and navigate that drive you with your car, you should not be driving ! You are causing the issues here.

MrsFlinch · 31/05/2021 11:07

What did you hope to achieve taking the dust caps off?
Did you think that this would deflate the tyres?

Yes they are being annoying by persistently blocking your car, that would piss me off too. But you deliberately trying to sabotage their car is not on.

I hope you’ve put them back now.

TwoAndAnOnion · 31/05/2021 11:10

@JackieakaBritney

Ahh photo here
I would just get them towed. But that's me.

What you can do is call the local traffic warden office and say there is a regular problem in your road, can they put it on their beat.

Viviennemary · 31/05/2021 11:19

Thats vandalism and a criminal offence. The drive doesn't belong to you.

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 31/05/2021 11:22

Give over, OP.

fourminutestosavetheworld · 31/05/2021 11:23

They shouldn't block you in but these are friends of your neighbours, your very close neighbours that you share a building with.

I think that your DP's note was wanky and officious, and removing the dust caps is potentially dangerous. Furthermore, if they guess it was you, prepare for your wing mirrors, hub caps or windscreen wipers to be removed.

Personally I would knock on all of your neighbours doors loudly whenever you're blocked in, early morning, middle of the night, whenever. Eventually they'll realise that it's easier to park more considerately.

The first time I was blocked in and nobody answered the door I'd ring the police - it is illegal to block a dropped curb and it could be towed.

But I also think you need to prepare for your neighbours objecting to you taking ownership of the only parking space. Many flats come with a parking space and you can use it how you want - if you haven't got your own car it's for your visitors to use, or where you position a skip for example.

WanderleyWagon · 31/05/2021 11:26

I haven't RTFT (sorry!) but this happens a lot in Italy and the custom is to get in your car and lean on the horn until everybody in the neighbourhood is sick of it, and the person who has double parked is shamed into coming and moving their car.
I agree with PPs about the illegality of vandalising the visitors' cars; could you get some cones and put them by the dropped curb?

KidneyBeans · 31/05/2021 11:26

@JackieakaBritney

No one else is using the frigging driveway! Is it that hard to understand? I have had my car parked here for 4 years!! No one else in the building owns a car!

If someone else owned a car here I would compromise! But they don't and just block me in every fucking day regardless. If I came home from being out and someone was on parked in the drive then i would park on the street in a space like a normal person. Instead I have to ask permission everytime I want to leave my own property in the car and I am tired of it.

It's not on and tbh you lot know it.

No need to stoop to swearing and abuse @JackieakaBritney Wink

No one thinks it's fine to park across your driveway. But it's also not fine to steal as a response to that, or to hog a communal driveway leaving your neighbours and their guests with no options.

Have you tried actually having a conversation with your neighbours?

Blossomtoes · 31/05/2021 11:27

It’s illegal and potentially dangerous. I really can’t get my head round petty behaviour like this. Added to which, they’re unlikely to even notice until they need to put air in their tyres. YABVVVU

Nothingyet · 31/05/2021 11:32

@AdobeWanKenobi

"If I've blocked you in call...."

There you go. They have given you your solution. You now need to become rather nocturnal and take 3am visits to Tesco etc.
I mean you don’t really even need to go out, they’ve blocked you so just call them. And if that doesn’t work, knock.

Inconvenience them and they will stop inconveniencing you.

This! it would be worth staying up till the early hours to need an emergency visit somewhere!
Nothingyet · 31/05/2021 11:33

@Blossomtoes

It’s illegal and potentially dangerous. I really can’t get my head round petty behaviour like this. Added to which, they’re unlikely to even notice until they need to put air in their tyres. YABVVVU
You are so wrong about all this.
TSSDNCOP · 31/05/2021 11:36

What worries me is what you think dust caps do.

I admit I thought they were just that, to keep out dust, but you seem to think that are fundamentally to keep the tyres inflated.

Which means you thought you'd fuck with their tyres. Over parking.

I think you need help with this, and not at all in the way you think.

Blossomtoes · 31/05/2021 11:40

You are so wrong about all this

All of it? Theft is illegal, is it not? Does anyone regularly check their dust caps? Potentially dangerous is hyperbole, admittedly

ThursdayWeld · 31/05/2021 11:53

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iolaus · 31/05/2021 11:55

They are blocking you in so they are wrong HOWEVER you messing with their car is also wrong. Had you called to get them ticketed each time you'd have been fine, and yes I'd have been ringing that number to get them to move even if I didn't need to go out

But to clarify - is this driveway a shared commodity of ALL the tenents? Because as you said originally another person used to park there and you took over when they moved out - is it written into the lease that flat X (Id guess ground floor) has use of the driveway (and their rent is probably more due to this) - if I were paying extra due to the space and someone else kept using it without asking and just assuming I'd be pissed off

LadyMargaretBeauforte · 31/05/2021 11:58

"JackieakaBritney
No one else is using the frigging driveway! Is it that hard to understand? "

It is perfectly clear to understand from your photo op that, no one else CAN use the driveway as you park in such a way as to block entry to it. There is plenty of space on yr pic to the left of that shared driveway. Park over there and allow the other residents guests , to avail of the parking , allocated to their properties. You are treating that drive as solely yours and blocking people out.., and then getting annoyed when others play you at yr own game and block you in . Park in a way that allows others entry to the drive , to use their spaces when they need to and it will stop happening. It's a shared drive OP, share being the operative word.

ThursdayWeld · 31/05/2021 12:01

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anothernewtop · 31/05/2021 12:03

Tbh I've kinda lost my rag and taken off two of the tyre aircaps. Aibu??

Why did you take them off? What were you hoping/thinking would happen?

Gingerwhinger01 · 31/05/2021 12:04

I would just park in front of the drive and block it off for all, the situation is unlikely to change and couldn't be faffed with constantly getting into battle over it, that might also result in my own car be damaged.
Don't see the point of removing tyre caps, they're unlikely to notice until they put air in their tyres and if they're anything like me, first thought wouldn't be that it was a repercussion for parking somewhere.

Hawkins001 · 31/05/2021 12:05

What about calling a tow truck ?

MangosteenSoda · 31/05/2021 12:17

Some posters are tying themselves in knots to have a go at the OP. Just tell her YABU to take the caps. There’s no need to suggest that the space belongs solely to another flat or that there’s space for 2 cars when there obviously isn’t. Anyone parking to the left (if that’s even possible) wouldn’t be able to get out if a car was on the main part of the drive. They particularly wouldn’t be able to get out if the other parker was the one from the picture who appears to be halfway into the road.

PhilCornwall1 · 31/05/2021 12:17

You rapscalllion OP!!!

Taking a couple of dust caps 🤣🤣 that's going to do fuck all.

OP, if you want to show them you are pissed off, a sledgehammer through the windscreen would probably do it.

MiddleClassMother · 31/05/2021 12:19

OP, are you aware that interfering with a motor vehicle is a crime?

itsgettingwierd · 31/05/2021 12:26

Put the dust caps back on.

Before this you weren't being unreasonable.

If someone is parked in drive you park elsewhere.

The only solution I have is to ask if landlord will do a deal for sole use of drive with a cost attached and calling police every time they block you in.