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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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:
GenitaliaNotGender · 05/07/2021 16:57

I know you say they won't answer the door, but have you tried just leaning on the doorbell and ringing and ringing it repeatedly for five minutes?

I'm infuriated on your behalf reading this (and people that don't RTfuckingT and say can't you just park across your drive aren't fucking helping!)

Fiddliestofsticks · 05/07/2021 16:58

@hedgehogger1

She already said that there is only a meter or so between each dropped kerb. She cant park between them.

3littlemonkeys82 · 05/07/2021 16:58

I know you said your image wasn't to scale, but can you park your micra in this red gap pre 2pm, meaning twat car will have to squeeze into blue gap, then move your car on to your drive just before getting your van off to give you a bit of space to swing in to as twat car will be further down slightly iyswim?

If not, then I'd also go with leaning on the horn, but on a daily basis rather than just Mondays... maybe get one of those really annoying bull horn things for extra annoyance.

To bump this car out of the way?
Original poster
GenericUsername404 · 05/07/2021 17:01

emilyontmoor I don’t think it’s spoiling their view. My driveway gates are closed most of the time so they can’t even see the van. Maybe they want to see it? I’ll try leaving the driveway gates open and see if that fixes it.

Apologies for the crap diagram. There is no room between drives to park, it’s about a metre between dropped kerbs and I get on really well with all my other neighbours and don’t want to piss them off. Equally parking my van sticking out enough for me to turn would definitely block the road and there are a couple of firemen who live just a bit further down, I don’t think it would go down well if I blocked them in just to ensure I could get my kids to kayaking.

OP posts:
hedgehogger1 · 05/07/2021 17:01

Ah sorry the full thread hadn't loaded on my phone :(

TwoLeftElbows · 05/07/2021 17:02

Fabulous diagram. Bizarrely would it be doable I'd you reverse out? I know it's not as safe as going forwards but I'm sure my car has a tighter turning circle going backwards.

Original poster
GenericUsername404 · 05/07/2021 17:03

3littlemonkeys82 I could do that but it would mean completely blocking twat neighbours drive as I don’t want to overhang nice neighbours. I feel a bit uncomfortable doing that. Now that I’m slightly less eager than I was at 3pm I’m less eager to start a full on war.

I’m thinking as they won’t answer their door just absolutely covering the Volvo in stickers telling them not to block me in.

OP posts:
EveryoneIsThere · 05/07/2021 17:03

What type of canoes are they? Is there a reason you can’t get roof racks for your Nissan micro? Sounds like the easiest answer.

Original poster
GenericUsername404 · 05/07/2021 17:05

antisocialdistancer finally, a practical solution. If you see a slightly crazed woman standing on top of a crashed van on Westcountry News next week you’ll know it’s me.

OP posts:
sparepantsandtoothbrush · 05/07/2021 17:05

Jesus. This thread has one of the worst cases of people not reading the fucking thread that I've ever seen!! I've never before gotten so ragey over people suggesting the same things over and over AFTER the OP has already explained she can't park anywhere else!

OP I agree with leaning on your horn or their doorbell. And maybe quite obviously take photos of the car every time too. Maybe that will draw them out to actually talk to you

Original poster
GenericUsername404 · 05/07/2021 17:07

everyoneisthere I could get a roof rack for my car. It’s a pita and expense though and I’m only doing this until a space comes free in the kayak racks anyway. It would also involve driving the car into the road, then attempting to attach the kayaks in the middle of the road in tourist traffic. There’s no way o could get the car out with kayaks atop.

OP posts:
BadNomad · 05/07/2021 17:08

I'd reverse into the Volvo. Hard. You'll probably destroy your old van but at least the Volvo won't be able to park there for a while.

3littlemonkeys82 · 05/07/2021 17:09

Could you ask nice neighbours if they would mind just for an hour or so next week? Explain your situation, offer to let them park their car on your drive and you park your car to the very edge of twat neighbours drop?

Post it notes spelling out TWAT across the car should work well 😆

user1497207191 · 05/07/2021 17:09

@FuckUcuntychops

As far as I’m aware it’s illegal to park across a dropped curb even if it’s your own.
Nope, not unless there are no other drop kerbs on that section of pavement. The only offence would be blocking the only dropped kerb meaning people with prams/wheelchairs had nowhere to get on/off the pavement. Council and police won't be remotely interesting in you blocking your own dropped kerb otherwise. (Unless it's obstructing the highway etc).
zippityzip · 05/07/2021 17:10

Don't bump it. Don't horn it. Don't call 101.

Just wait until the dead of night. Slash a tyre and throw ketchup into the air vents. Dickheads.

(Obviously not inciting criminal damage. This is a joke sort of).

Fiddliestofsticks · 05/07/2021 17:10

So, you're not answering people who suggest things you can actually do and that is a bit frustrating.

Why arent you calling the police every time? They're on your side so it'll get sorted.

Why dont you sit on your horn? Or just keep your finger on their doorbell until they answer?

Eddielzzard · 05/07/2021 17:11

Action plan: leave gates open on Mondays so TC can see van. If car on dropped curb, ring doorbell and then lean on horn until they move it. Allow 10 min for this debacle to unfold. Also possibly invest in one of those ultra loud horns / vuvuzelas for added drama.

Original poster
GenericUsername404 · 05/07/2021 17:11

user1497207191 police said they shouldn’t be parked there as it was preventing me from leaving my drive. They said it would be different if I couldn’t get onto my drive but it was an offence to block someone in, which is what they had done.

OP posts:
BiddyPop · 05/07/2021 17:12

I would leave slightly early 1 Monday afternoon, in the van, and sit at the bottom of the driveway with my hand on the horn until they come out and move the car. As they are blocking you in, which you know is against the law.

Or maybe, to be nice, knock on the door another afternoon when they are not there and talk about it with the homeowner, letting them know why it is a problem and that you need access to get out of your drive. Before you either spend an afternoon with your hand on the horn, or stand there on the phone to 101 as you cannot get out.

Notavegan · 05/07/2021 17:15

I'd put cones out

RandomMess · 05/07/2021 17:15

Have you sent another note stating the police have confirmed they are parking illegally as they are blocking your drive and all you would like for them is to move for 5 minutes so you can exit your drive?

RandomMess · 05/07/2021 17:16

Get your van "stuck" trying to exit, block the road. Call the police on 999 and let them get the neighbours to move their car!

Branleuse · 05/07/2021 17:17

could you write a note back saying "please, its literally just this one afternoon a week that I need to get my van out for my kids club and I cant if that car is there as it blocks me in, come on guys, im asking nicely" and put a bottle of wine or a bar of chocolate with the note.

donquixotedelamancha · 05/07/2021 17:18

it would mean completely blocking twat neighbours drive as I don’t want to overhang nice neighbours. I feel a bit uncomfortable doing that.

Absolutely daft to be calling the police on neighbours but unwilling to obstruct them.

Park your van ON their drive (not a police issue) and speak to them when they ask you to move.

AngelDelightUk · 05/07/2021 17:19

I’ve said for a while that I want “you’re parked like a twat” stickers, which then have tick boxes for you to tick the reason, parked on a corner, opposite a junction, blocking the pavement etc

I actually pranged my van recently reversing into a friends driveway as there was a car parked directly opposite the driveway so I feel your pain. I always thought it was illegal to do that, and I always make sure I don’t. Sadly people only think of themselves, but I can’t believe that they hide from you