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AIBU?

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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:
cauliflowerkorma · 05/07/2021 17:19

I totally get this. I used to have a drive with very narrow gateposts and a very long car and if something large parked opposite outside my neighbours i could not get off my drive without pranging it. They were entitled to park there but it did impede me and was stressful in a rush!

yellowsubmarines · 05/07/2021 17:20

The neighbour's visitor visits every Monday at the same time OP?

Park your van in the road early every Monday morning before their visitor arrives or better yet park your van in the road and leave it there for weeks or months if possible. I think with people like this talking and notes doesn't help. You have to show them that you can be just as inconvenient to them as they are to you. You're doing them a favour by parking on your drive each day so they can park in the road to block you. Make it inconvenient for them to get in and out of their own drive and impossible for their visitor to park in front of their house. Don't answer your door if they knock. If they phone the police on you then they can hardly keep doing it themselves.
They'll hopefully soon get the point.

PrincessNutella · 05/07/2021 17:20

I have nothing helpful to add, just want to say thanks, I love all these threads about dropped kerbs and parking, they make my day for some reason.

SwearyMaclary · 05/07/2021 17:20

@Fiddliestofsticks

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

Do you mean all the people who clearly haven’t RTFT and are suggesting things that the OP has already clearly explained she can’t do?

aiwblam · 05/07/2021 17:21

I’d bump it and say sorry, I thought I could get through. Let the insurance sort it out, taking a nice long time. Might stop these shits.

Akire · 05/07/2021 17:21

Could we just club together and hire a crane for 230 on Monday. Just to see their face when it’s gets lifted up so you can get out!

ForeverSausages · 05/07/2021 17:23

@Akire

Could we just club together and hire a crane for 230 on Monday. Just to see their face when it’s gets lifted up so you can get out!
Up for it.
Fiddliestofsticks · 05/07/2021 17:23

@SwearyMaclary

No, I mean the rest of my post which you conveniently ignored so you could be deliberately obtuse. Doesnt make you look smart.

GabriellaMontez · 05/07/2021 17:23

I know you can't fit your van across the drive. Can you fit the micra there?

BlankTimes · 05/07/2021 17:24

Here you go OP

ForeverSausages · 05/07/2021 17:24

Maybe park in front of their drive before Volvo gets there? Haha.

SunshineCake · 05/07/2021 17:25

Best car thread diagram ever.

Send a note saying you would appreciate it very much if they would just move their car for twenty seconds while you get your van out. Be very polite and clear. Be obvious..

momtoboys · 05/07/2021 17:27

@GreenCrayon

Would it not be possible to park your van in front of your drive before their car arrives?
This. I think I would park my van in front of the house all the time so people couldn't park there. I am really finding that parking issues is a sore spot for me! :)
GenitaliaNotGender · 05/07/2021 17:27

@Branleuse

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.

Fuck that! Why on earth should OP reward them?!

(I suspect you may be the Hiding Twat yourself Wink)

momtoboys · 05/07/2021 17:28

@GenericUsername404

Not to scale
LOLOLOLOL! :)
ScaredNotAnxious · 05/07/2021 17:28

@FuckUcuntychops

As far as I’m aware it’s illegal to park across a dropped curb even if it’s your own.
You're absolutely spot on. It's illegal to park across a dropped curb - whether it's outside your own house is irrelevant. It's just that it's very rare for anyone to care if you park across your own dropped kerb so it's usually acceptable to do so, in this case, it's not acceptable because it's fucking someone else over. Not sure why they're being such arseholes but as PP have said, either put your van out on the road or park it and your car outside your neighbours on either side of their dropped kerb so that you aren't blocking their dropped kerb but there isn't enough space for them to park across it.
igelkott2021 · 05/07/2021 17:31

@Rillington

Get your van out before they arrive. You can't dictate where other people park. You've been cheeky asking them.
Erm what now?

There is a very strange breed of MNer who thinks it's fine to inconvenience other people. Since when was it ok to block people into (or out) of their driveways? I don't park opposite driveways when I can see someone has driven in, as I know they will have problems backing out.

You could come out and gently bump their car to do it, but if they are watching, they'll call the police. It may well be that the police will take as much notice as they do for everything else - ie none - but it's not worth the risk in my view.

Get the van out earlier, or reverse in so you can drive out.

ScaredNotAnxious · 05/07/2021 17:35

Sorry OP, should've RTFT - this is what you do.
Put a note on the car and through the letterbox (take a photo of the note and it's content and a photo of it on the car and a video of you posting it through the letterbox). In the note, state that they are illegally parked and illegally blocking your ability to leave your property. State that as a result of their illegal actions, you are unable to attend the kayaking sessions which cannot be refunded and only run at the time that your access is restricted. State that you will take any future illegal parking as an acceptance of their liability to reimburse you for the costs of the kayaking session - state the cost and your bank details. If they park there again, put a bill on their car and through the letter box (photographed/videoed as above). Do this every time they park there and you lose money - if it becomes worth it, take them to small claims court. You're financially harmed by their illegal actions and should be entitled to compensation for that.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 05/07/2021 17:36

I'll vote for drive half out and blast your horn continuously.

Dobbyafreeelf · 05/07/2021 17:36

Bang on the door hard and persistently. Tell them they have 3 minutes to move it or your van will move it for them. Then sit in the van with your hand on the horn till they shift it. Ring 101 as well. Make sure you take pictures of the Volvo the next time it's there and give to police. Ask the police to have a word!

If all else fails I would discuss with a solicitor and send them a strongly worded letter. Sadly there are a lot of twats around.

Doghead · 05/07/2021 17:40

So if they didn't have a dropped kerb and someone else parked there what would you do?

I think maybe you need to accept that the problem here is your large van and your inability to drive it properly.

Ozanj · 05/07/2021 17:41

Just park up before they get there and refuse to move your van. You need to show them you can be just as stubborn as them. I would also call the council and make it residents parking only, so your neighbour can’t let randoms inconvenience you

DeRigueurMortis · 05/07/2021 17:42

Write a letter telling them that the Police have confirmed what they are doing is illegal.

Inform them you will call the Police every single time they block you in.

Follow through and call the police every time and also create a scene if they don't answer the door.

Hand on horn.

Stickers on the Volvo that take ages to peel off.

3Britnee · 05/07/2021 17:42

I know you said you don't want to park across their drive, but can you back right up to the absolute edge of it?

skodadoda · 05/07/2021 17:42

@Fiddliestofsticks

*meant to say on your horn not in your horn!
Diagram of in your horn please 🤣🤣🤣
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