To bump this car out of the way?

[GenericUsername404]

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.

Can you park adjacent to the path between car and twat car? Nice diagram, I like the speech bubble, attention to detail.

So what are you going to do?

Call the police every time (because you know they have agreed with you and will help)?
Sit in your horn halfway out, hopefully with the tourist traffic joining in?
Knock on their door until they actually come and answer?

101 every time even if you don't need to get out and a photograph every time

They also shouldn't have to get up and move a car that is outside their own house so that you can move your car every time. Maybe you could consider somewhere else you can park your van so that you can still use it?

Somebody parking across a drive - even their own - must surely only be there temporarily and thus expecting to move at short notice. A dropped kerb gives you the right to access your own (or friend's/family's) drive - not to claim an exclusive space on the public highway, just by virtue of the fact that you happen to have a drive adjacent to it.

If it's a space on the public road that's not being kept clear for access, it's either a free parking space for anybody to use or not a space which therefore nobody can use.

Put a letter through the door. Tell them the impact they're having and inform them that you are asking them to move temporarily to let you in and out and that you will expect them to answer the door when you knock at x time on Mondays.

fiddliestofsticks I’m going to keep trying to knock on their door. I’ve tried 3 times this evening already but will happily keep it up all week. If I’ve had no response still by Monday I’ll just park across their dropped kerb on Monday lunchtime ish. Their mate is more than welcome to park in my drive if they need somewhere to park and they can have a super fun time trying to get their stupid shiny car in there.

mumteedum I did that originally a few weeks ago and they just popped a note back through my letter box saying that they are entitled to park there.

Does no-one ever listen on here?
You thought this post might let off some steam and reduce your stress levels, you were wrong 🤣

My last post was meant to quote your shouty frustrated one. Failed.

Fookin hell. Utter wankers. That's so bad. Sorry. I'm out of ideas

I like your diagram. Wanted to say that.

Oh and I hope you win this war.

I think you’ll have to get the police out each time until they enforce the parking rules. Stand with your finger on their bell, or repeatedly knock on the door, while having called the police. Don’t go back home and give them a chance to get away like last time. One big showdown should sort it.

No, you can't damage someone's car because they aren't behaving the way you want them to. You're a grown up. Don't be ridiculous. Find an adult solution.

@Doghead

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.

Wow! Even if the OP wasn't a good driver, the point is, they shouldn't be parking there, plus anyone with an ounce of decency would speak to the OP and try to come to an agreement on how to manage the situation. Perhaps you're the Neighbor or the friend if so YOU'RE A FUCKING PRAT

I agree with parking over their drive if they won't engage with you. Looking forward to next weeks' update & A* on the diagram

As, when you attempt to manoeuvre the van you can see them peeping out from the house, it would be interesting to see what they would do if you kept trying.
Really, really, really slowly and really carefully, so that you are obviously not intending to barge the Volvo out of the way but are just attempting to get out of your driveway. Which you are of course entitled to do.
If they're watching, and their car is so new, do you think they might come out if they think there is a risk if you accidentally scraping it? If you hold your nerve and just keep trying to get past for long enough?

I don't know anything about insurance premiums or how likely you would be to (genuinely) accidentally dent their car. But I'd like to watch and see what happens.

If that's not an option, I would echo what others have said. Take photos of the car, clearly showing the number plate and that it is blocking a dropped kerb, every single time they do it. And report it every single time, even if it's not a time that you need to get the van out.
But it would probably take a long time before the police get around to stopping them, so your DC would have to miss several kayaking sessions. Which isn't fair on them or you.

It's such a weird thing for the Volvo-owner to do!

strawberrydonuts I’ve tried that but they’re hiding in their house pretending that they can’t hear me. So I’m going to be a prat too.

Yes, we have a yellow line over our driveway so perhaps ask the council to look into this

woodhill I have a white line on the road outside marking my driveway but it’s them parking opposite that is causing the issue.

@GenericUsername404

fiddliestofsticks I’m going to keep trying to knock on their door. I’ve tried 3 times this evening already but will happily keep it up all week. If I’ve had no response still by Monday I’ll just park across their dropped kerb on Monday lunchtime ish. Their mate is more than welcome to park in my drive if they need somewhere to park and they can have a super fun time trying to get their stupid shiny car in there.

Great plan. Good luck!

I'm pretty sure they actually aren't allowed to park on or block a dropped kerb (regardless of whether the dropped kerb if for their drive way)

@AntiSocialDistancer

New idea -

Reverse onto your drive, and when it's time drive off your drive onto the steep grassy bank at speed.

Drive van and flip it in such a way that it lands sideways on top their car. Climb on top of van and roar "I fucking told you, you bastards!"

Now there's a woman after my own heart.

Next time go out with a notebook and start walking around the car taking notes. Take photos and then look as though you are ringing someone. I bet they will be out to move pretty quickly

@AntiSocialDistancer thank you, I needed that laugh

Is there room to park your car across your drive? Would that stop them parking opposite so you can then swap them around?