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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To bump this car out of the way?

392 replies

GenericUsername404 · 05/07/2021 15:09

Every Monday I need to get my van out to pick up my dc from school and take them to their club. Other days I use my car but on Mondays it’s kayaking so I need the van until a place in the kayak storage becomes available. My van is 20year old and very bashed.

Every Monday at 2.30 a brand new Volvo parks directly opposite my drive, in front of my neighbours dropped kerb. When they park here I can get my car out but not my van meaning my dc cannot go to their club which I have already paid for. I know they are inside the house opposite, I knock on the door but they don’t answer but then when I’m attempting to manoeuvre my van out I see them peeping out of the window. I put a note through the door a couple of weeks ago asking them not to do it after they still wouldn’t open the door. They put a note back through mine saying they were parking in front of their dropped kerb, they were entitled to and many others on the road did the same. This is true but I am the only house on my side of the street so no one else has anyone else opposite. I’ve also put a sign on my gate saying please do not park opposite

Having again had to carefully get the car out and not be able to get my kids to their club I’m thinking next week I’ll just bump it. I’m pretty sure I could get out with a couple of touches to their car but it would probably leave dents.

I’ve tried calling the police to say I’m blocked in but by the time they arrived neighbours friend had moved their car and when the police knocked they hid again 🙄

Btw I know I’m unreasonable and I almost certainly won’t do it. I’m just bloody pissed off.

OP posts:
Drovememad · 12/07/2021 08:46

Why are people such arseholes! Why can't they just move the car for five bloody minutes (not even that long!)

HaveringWavering · 12/07/2021 09:06

I know they are inside the house opposite, I knock on the door but they don’t answer but then when I’m attempting to manoeuvre my van out I see them peeping out of the window.

So if I understand this correctly, they watched you try to get the van out, and eventually give up and abandon your outing?

That’s awful. They are also pretty ballsy (in a bad way) to hide from the police.

You say you get on well with the other neighbours. How did it come about that you know the others but not these ones- are they people who arrived more recently? What do the nice neighbours think of them? Can any if the nice neighbours mediate in any way?

What I can’t get my head around is that, if I understand you correctly, all you need is for them to move the car temporarily while you get the van out (and maybe back in later). Why are they so unwilling to help you with this one little thing? Is it possible they don’t realise this? (Though your latest note makes that quite clear).

Have you ever spoken to them in person about anything? Are their kids similar age- can you appeal to them on the basis that the kids are missing their activity? Do your kids I will theirs from school at all?

I’d be tempted to stake out the spot (take a day off work if necessary) and see if you can force either the neighbour or the visitor to speak to you, but try to do it in a friendly way, a sort of “look we seem to have got off in the wrong foot, all I want to do is take my kids kayaking” type approach.

Finally, if they have watched you try to get the van out I can’t understand why they don’t want to move their car to protect it in case you do end up bumping it. I suppose that’s why you suggested bumping it in your thread title! (Not a good option though, you need to keep the moral high ground here).

LookItsMeAgain · 12/07/2021 09:40

It's Monday again!!!

Any updates @GenericUsername404?? Can you park your van where TN usually parks their Volvo until you're ready to leave?

BecauseMyRingBurnsSheila · 12/07/2021 11:13

Have you decided on knocking or standing in the street as your approach today?

LittleRed53 · 12/07/2021 14:32

Hope you were able to talk to them today, OP.

Maybe try sticking your beautiful diagram facing inwards against their front window? Might help them get the picture.

It is a very nice diagram Wink

PighillJamie · 12/07/2021 17:56

Several have mentioned that you cannot park over your own dropped kerb. This is incorrect if the dropped kerb is for your own driveway only.
You are allowed to park over your own dropped kerb.
However, what is correct is that you may be issued with a ticket if the traffic warden cannot verify the owner of the car.
What you should do is write to your local council and let them know the details of your car and proof of your residency at the address and you should avoid any problems on this front.

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 12/07/2021 18:18

I'd bump it. Unless they have cctv, let them try to prove it was you.

woodhill · 12/07/2021 18:48

@PighillJamie

Several have mentioned that you cannot park over your own dropped kerb. This is incorrect if the dropped kerb is for your own driveway only. You are allowed to park over your own dropped kerb. However, what is correct is that you may be issued with a ticket if the traffic warden cannot verify the owner of the car. What you should do is write to your local council and let them know the details of your car and proof of your residency at the address and you should avoid any problems on this front.
Ours has yellow lines over it and I know my neighbour's visitors once got fined for parking across their drive.
Porcupineintherough · 12/07/2021 18:53

What I would do is start banging and ringing a good 20 min before I wanted to move my van and keep going until they move it or for a good hour or more. Each and every week. See who caves first.

MeandT · 12/07/2021 22:08

@GenericUsername404 are you back home from kayaking this evening yet?!?

Billandben444 · 14/07/2021 21:34

Am I the only one to get unreasonably irked when I invest in a post and the OP doesn't return with an update? Perhaps his kayak got swept away in the floods on Monday 12th?

DdraigGoch · 15/07/2021 10:43

Come on @GenericUsername404 we're desperate to know what happened this week.

HaveringWavering · 15/07/2021 11:04

@Billandben444

Am I the only one to get unreasonably irked when I invest in a post and the OP doesn't return with an update? Perhaps his kayak got swept away in the floods on Monday 12th?
No you are not.
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 15/07/2021 11:07

My theory is shes put up a penguin bollard opposite the driveway and chained herself to it to stop the parking. The children are happily kayaking around the UK in celebration.

crabette · 15/07/2021 11:09

Park your van on their side of the road, legally, without blocking their access or dropped kerb. (But so they have a nice banged up van to look out on past their front garden every day.)

Petty and inconsiderate, but they're being petty and inconsiderate so why not. And at least you'll be able to get to kayaking.

NCkitchen · 24/07/2021 14:45

Don't know why I thought about this today ... any updates @GenericUsername404 ?

mrsmoppp · 24/07/2021 15:28

Could you park your micra on the dropped curb opposite? So they can't park their and then move it when you need to get out your van?

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