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Original poster

Neighbour taking liberties

188 replies

Jaybird43 · 27/12/2022 15:33

I’m just so angry right now. I live on a busy new build estate and parking is a luxury. We have one parking space big enough for one car. DH and I were away over Christmas and mentioned to our next door neighbours, who are elderly, that they could park in it to save them from finding a space. DH told them we would be back Boxing Day.

We arrived home last night and a totally different neighbour has parked there! We then couldn’t park in our own space and we ended up scouring the street trying to find a space and had to unload the car with several trips!

I’m annoyed because the elderly neighbours have obviously told these neighbours that they could park there (we NEVER said anyone else could - we were trying to be nice to the elderly neighbours). Also, it’s been 24 hours and the car is still there! We’ve had to find another space on the road AGAIN - I’m angry because these other neighbours have my mobile number and I thought they would’ve at least text me to ask if they could use my space, and also because the car still hasn’t moved.

DH has been over to the other neighbours and they aren’t in, and I’ve text them and put it nicely, but bluntly, “move your car” - but no answer.

DH says it’s fine and that I’m getting upset over nothing, but I think both sets of neighbours are being CFs!

So please, shall I take a chill pill or would you be angry too?!

OP posts:
melj1213 · 27/12/2022 15:56

Jaybird43 · 27/12/2022 15:45

It just grinds my gears! I think a text of “do you mind if we parked there instead” from the other neighbours would’ve been fine, but they have their own space too, so it’s like more if they can’t be bothered to find a space on the busy road so they’ll use my space! Most of the houses here have one space and they’re like gold dust. I couldn’t imagine just dumping my car in someone else’s space without asking and without replying to the message asking them to move it. I know the man has read my message as I sent it on WhatsApp and it’s got 2 blue ticks!!

If the CF neighbours have their own space, who is parked in it currently?

Surely if they have a space but their car is parked in your space then their space is free ... If it is then I'd be parking in it until they move their car.

Spect8 · 27/12/2022 15:56

Nip it in the bud NOW. Do what you have to do, that kind of entitled tone deaf and blind behaviour gives me the rage I'm afraid.

JoyBeorge · 27/12/2022 15:56

You're absolutely sure it is their car and not someone else's?

SomethingOriginal2 · 27/12/2022 15:56

I definitely think they've gone away some where and left their car on your drive. Do they not have their own space? Or do they have a car there already? They'll have left it on your drive to keep it safer than just parking on the street.

Usually if your car is home then you are too so there's more to it if they aren't in.

poefaced · 27/12/2022 15:57

Never offer your parking space, especially when you just have one!

We almost offered our space to a neighbour but reined in the impulse. A moment of feeling good is not worth the aggro.

JoyBeorge · 27/12/2022 15:57

melj1213 · 27/12/2022 15:56

If the CF neighbours have their own space, who is parked in it currently?

Surely if they have a space but their car is parked in your space then their space is free ... If it is then I'd be parking in it until they move their car.

Show quote history

That's a good point actually 🤣

IToldYouAmillionTimesAlready · 27/12/2022 15:59

If the car is ON your DRIVE, you have every right to be annoyed.
If it's blocking your drive/path, you're right to be annoyed.
Anywhere else with your house number on the spot, yes, be annoyed.

Anywhere else on the road/street, hard luck.

CoffeeBeansGalore · 27/12/2022 15:59

Try calling but withold your number - dial 141 before their number. Just shows as private number calling.

Dragonskin · 27/12/2022 16:01

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 27/12/2022 15:52

Can you park in front of the car and then go and have a nice drink. It is not as if you haven't warned them to move.

I would absolutely do this, the cheeky bastards can wait until it is convenient for me to stop drinking move my car

Tirediam · 27/12/2022 16:04

Yes this would give me a rage. Do you know of a couple of string types who could carry it elsewhere ?

Original poster
Jaybird43 · 27/12/2022 16:05

It’s a big boy racer type so we know it’s his. It’s the only one in a vile colour so no mistaking the owner! Sometimes the elderly neighbours have their son come to visit so I thought if they needed him to park in our space / they could park in our space, it would save them aggro over Christmas. It really was a “trying to do a good thing” scenario. I won’t offer again.

OP posts:
SinnerBoy · 27/12/2022 16:05

IToldYouAmillionTimesAlready

Anywhere else on the road/street, hard luck.

Unless the spots are assigned to the house, which is what I was wondering.

Original poster
Jaybird43 · 27/12/2022 16:06

Forgot to add! I’ve just parked in front of the parking space now. God, I’m on an adrenaline rush!! Let’s see if the CF ignores my texts now!!

OP posts:
bluejelly · 27/12/2022 16:07

Try not to get too cross. It is only a car parking space. Not worth falling out with your neighbours about.

PissedAgain · 27/12/2022 16:09

I'm with you OP. I'd be pissed off. My DP is more like yours and wouldn't care.

ScroogeMcDuckling · 27/12/2022 16:13

heres hoping you won’t have to get one of those parking bollards installed, although in some cases it helps with the insurance

Addymontgomeryfan · 27/12/2022 16:13

I would be angry like you. We have turned around front garden into a drive, but also have an allocated spot in the parking area at the end of our cul de sac. Many others in the cul de sac are the same. Regularly one house or their visitors park in other people's kes spaces, and its the house that makes no effort to be friendly and cause constant issues. If they were polite and asked them I know that all of us would have no issue with them using the space.

Original poster
Jaybird43 · 27/12/2022 16:13

@PissedAgain its annoying isn’t it when your other half is cool as a cucumber and you’re in a stress. I know it’s not worth falling out about, totally get it, but it’s just such a rude thing to do. Im not a confrontational person at all, so doing something like that would never occur to me. DH thinks everyone is his friend and so, for him, it’s not a big deal - which I can understand that it’s not to most people, but when it’s a horrible road to park on at the best of times, it’s a pain in the bum to have to drive around because some git thinks it’s OK to park in someone else’s space.

OP posts:
CremeEggThief · 27/12/2022 16:20

Now you've parked your car there, make sure you don't respond to any texts or go and move it until it's convenient for you. You've made the choice now, don't be half-arsed about it or back down before you're ready. And if you do see them when you're out and about and they try making comments, say something breezily like I love how we're all relaxed about parking spaces round here and you know nobody ever minds when you have to share!😅

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 27/12/2022 16:22

Glad you have blocked them in. Leave a note on the windscreen explaining that as they have parked ON YOUR DRIVE, you have nowhere else to park. Dob't leave a phone number; they can knock on your door.

And if your DH is too chicken to deal with them, you can sort it. I'll cheer you on! x

SinnerBoy · 27/12/2022 16:24

Jaybird43

Forgot to add! I’ve just parked in front of the parking space now. God, I’m on an adrenaline rush!! Let’s see if the CF ignores my texts now!!

Are you 5mm off his bumper? What about the other end?

Also, do you have reserved spaces?

Original poster
Jaybird43 · 27/12/2022 16:26

Haha! Thanks @GreenFingersWouldBeHandy! Im curtain twitching now to see if he comes back!

OP posts:
SaintLoy · 27/12/2022 16:29

Dear P, Sorry, I'm not clear on something. When you say 'We have one parking space big enough for one car', do you mean that space is actually allocated to you and belongs to you in some kind of formal way? We have this issue in our street (late Victorian terrace) where some people feel they own the car-sized bit of the kerbside in front of their house. Other don't feel that way, let alone the people from outer suburbs who use our street as a 'park and walk' during the working week. We are conflicted about getting an electric car because we can't be sure to always park right in front if we want to charge it.

Original poster
Jaybird43 · 27/12/2022 16:29

@SinnerBoy I’ve parked sideways on to him, so he’s got about a foot between his car and mine. There’s a wall behind his car so he’s well and truly stuck. I’ll move it as soon as he comes to the door / texts me but I just want him to fee inconvenienced for a minute! Parking spaces are marked with our house numbers as well, so he knows it’s my space

OP posts:
SinnerBoy · 27/12/2022 16:30

Thanks for the clarification. If he comes over, just pretend that you're pissed and can't move it till tomorrow.