To have told these guys to get off my driveway? (Bin)

[TheViewFromTheCheapSeats]

Thursday is bin day, wheelie bins are out at the boundary for collection. Other days my bins are near the kitchen door as it practical, round the back/at the side corner of the house.
Last night (Tuesday) in the dark I was a bit freaked out to hear people right outside my back door about 8:30pm. Just me and the kids home. Two guys, one with a clipboard, one with a torch looking in a bin were there.
They’d walked down my drive and down the side of my house to look in bins by the back door (you’d just about see them from the front as one bin was sticking out).
I was a bit shocked, thought they could be identify thieves / burglars casing at first and shouted ‘oi, get out! Out! What you doing?! Get out my garden!’ out of the upstairs window.
I followed to the front door and opened it and the guy was all defensive-that it’s his job to check bins for the council to see we haven’t put anything in them not allowed. Apparently everyone else understands this and has no problem/ he doesn’t expect to be shouted at.
I didn’t swear or carry on shouting, but I think most people would shout at two guys in the dark they found rummaging in their back garden? I just stepped out and locked the side gate and told them they could check in collection days as much as they like, but they have no right to enter as they please. Speaking to others they are definitely from the council.

1. In the dark wandering around houses isn’t on
   
2. What is in my bin outside collection days is my business, the kids sometimes make recycling mistakes and before I put the bins out I check the rubbish is in the correct bin
   
3. The bin men will only take the bins from the boundary, not even two foot down the drive. So why can these guys walk around the house?
   

He also popped a letter through the door after a few minutes that’s a warning letter about the recycling, threatening an £80 fine if we put out non-recycling items again. He’s written in the blank space there was ‘food packaging’ in the recycling bin. Apparently they have recorded this. I’ve been to check the in bin this morning and I can’t see anything in the wheelie bin that’s not allowed! There’s food packaging like clean Tins etc, but nothing not on the website list. Also, the bloody bin wasn’t even out for collection.

Aibu to write a complaint? Partly regarding the first step of an £80 fine!

[cupofdecaf]

Surely instead of risking a fine people will stop trying to recycle? That's helping no one.

[SusieBob]

I'd get onto the council as in all honesty this sounds like a scam, either to get you to pay a fake fine or as a cover for people bin diving for credit card statements etc for identity theft.

[Everanewbie]

The way to treat these people is to go all farmer on their asses. "Get off me land"

[sittingdownb]

It's not on. I'd ring the council to find out exactly what was going on.

As for the threatened fine, a) your recycling wasn't put out and b) they haven't even specified the item and the majority of food packaging is allowed.

I'd be thinking this was a scam to get money out of vulnerable people.

[Ubiquery]

Play them at their own game and use bin locks. Unlock them only when bins are out for collection.

How is that playing them at their own game?

[Ubiquery]

I'd be thinking this was a scam to get money out of vulnerable people.

I think it's a way of private companies getting money out of vulnerable people.

[AvocadoOrange]

I'd probably call the police as it sounds like a scam. Even if they are from the Council that doesn't make it legal.

[Kennykenkencat]

I would want the recording of finding good waste in the bin.
I would also like to point out that prior to the bin being put out for collection you have not committed any crime because you haven’t asked them to collect said bin.

Are they saying that people who have deliveries which are sometimes put into bins for “safe keeping” that they would get a fine It doesn’t matter what is in a bin up to the point of the bin being put out.

I would be monitoring my bank accounts and credit file.
They could have taken paperwork from your bins that could compromise your financial accounts.

I would equally be onto the council and if they try to fob you off and say it isn’t their responsibility then point out that this company are being paid by them to do this job so it has everything to do with them.

[Theunamedcat]

Complain to there company too they will lose there contract if they get too many complaints

Take date stamped pictures of the contents of your bin so if they try it on bin day you can challenge it

[Dixiechickonhols]

It sounds like a scam. I’d contact your local cllr and the council.
If it isn’t a scam then they need to rethink policy it’s worrying for residents who think they are burglars and potentially dangerous for employees doing it (trip in dark unfamiliar gardens, dog attack or shot as a trespasser)

[Ursulaforkandles]

Most unreasonable behaviour from the random blokes.
If Council or anyone else tells you it is sub-contracted and therefore try to duck out of responding to you:
Follow the money trail
Who awarded the contract to whoever? The Council.
Who pays the contractor? The Council.
Therefore they are the only body who the subcontractor takes notice of.
You didn't specify the terms of the contract, the council did.
Same advice for Amazon who try to wriggle out of delivery problems. Hermes or Yodel take little notice of us but they might listen to Amazon.
Enjoy your battle OP.

[TheViewFromTheCheapSeats]

For the it’s a scam- it has been confirmed in multiple ways. I have to. It’s not a scam.

[anniegun]

Contact your local councillor . That is exactly the sort of issue they will help with. They are also less likely to be fobbed off when they follow it up

[TheViewFromTheCheapSeats]

I just had being drawn into crap like this. I hate being dragged into some sad little row about bloody bins!

My counsellor is apparently already dealing with other complaints prior to mine, and has noted I have also raised it. He’s waiting on a reply (he’s pretty decent).

I’ve used their online complaints form too. I’ve also emailed a separate email to the company subcontracted to do it about conduct.

It’s so bloody ridiculous isn’t it? My fb group is full of various complaints about them issuing fines (eg fly tipping for uncollected bin bags!) or toddler dropping a chip etc.

[notacooldad]

On mn I mostly di t see a problem with a lot of things or get furious about stuff but this really is not acceptable.
My recycling bin is often used for storing parcels. I'm due a large parcel from Boots today that will be out in there. The council guys would have a field day if they saw that!
I would be freaked out seeing two men skulking around on my drive!

[notacooldad]

Which council is it?

[BaconMassive]

Why would you involve your counsellor? Is it affecting your mental health?

[tiredanddangerous]

I'd have called 999 to report an intruder in my garden! Absolutely ridiculous if they're genuinely allowed to skulk about your private property in the dark.

[notacooldad]

Why would you involve your counsellor? Is it affecting your mental health?
Seriously?🙄

[ThePlumVan]

I’ve heard everything now !
Surely you can put what you like in your bin 6 days of the week - it’s what you put out in bin day that counts ??

I’d be massively complaining about every aspect tbh

[TheViewFromTheCheapSeats]

@BaconMassive because if they do it again without objection they have told me it’ll result in an £80 fine? Seems a pretty good reason.
Also, people creeping around my property in the dark does actually impact me

[billy1966]

Log it with the police that there were unauthorised men in the dark roaming your property and interfering with your property.

Tell the police you wish to make a formal complaint as it was frightening.

[GertrudeKerfuffle]

@BaconMassive

Why would you involve your counsellor? Is it affecting your mental health?

It doesn't make it difficult to understand the thread because councillor has been spelt counsellor, does it?

OP, don't let them fob you off by telling you to only deal with the third-party company. The council hired that company, the council administrators work for the councillors, and the councillors are answerable to their constituents. If they have hired a bunch of charlatans they need to deal with it.

[lorca]

OP - baconmassive is pointing out that a counsellor is someone you'd see for your mental health. A councillor is someone who sits on the council and could possibly intervene in stupid disputes like this.

You def need to write to your councillor. Or MP. And/or get the Police involved.

[RosiePosieDozy]

That's not on. It's scary. Men who you don't know coming onto your property in the dark without you authorising it.

I would consider raising it with the police.