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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Do I say they're being rude or quietly seethe? CF Neighbour

74 replies

HouseIsOnFire · 22/02/2023 16:06

Starting with a TL:DR as it is going to be a long one!

If someone (with a history of CFery) is rude and telling you off one moment and then trying to be friendly the next, do you seethe quietly or point out they're being rude?

AIBU - Tell them they're being rude and you're pissed off, hence not replying
AINBU - Keep quiet and don't engage any more than absolutely necessary, don't escalate it!

I shan't bore people with the back story, but from prior threads, I have an incredibly CF. Main issues outlined here:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4707971-aibu-to-not-lend-neighbour-my-car

Since Christmas, I have been steering clear and doing the bare minimum I feel comfortable with i.e. accepting parcels and letting the window cleaner in (he does both of our houses at once).

This was going much better for me, and I had very little contact and so was content with that. Until...

Twice in the last week I have been told off and lectured via text over complete non-issues. I had a surprise visit from a tradesperson, who I let in via shared access at the back. Normally I would always text the street if I know it's happening, but I didn't. I was clearly visible next to tradie at all times and large logo'd van was in front of my house. I let him in and then rushed to get my phone to alert people, was met with a text about how "terrified" neighbour was and how I needed to let them know. I apologised and said I hadn't known they were coming, otherwise I'd forewarn them as I always have done in the past.... and then for the next 30 minutes received sporadic messages telling me I had to give warning and how unreasonable it was of me. When I didn't reply to any of this post apology, the next day was being sent selfies and updates of what they were up to - not normal even before when we were friendlier!

(NB, 2 days later I had a man hammering at my door after midnight, which genuinely terrified me. Turned out to be neighbour had ordered takeaway to wrong address and instead of apologising, told me off for not taking in the food for them!)

Earlier this week they needed something done and texted to ask if it was ok that the person doing it was blocking my drive (and my car) in - this was after they'd already been blocking it in for an hour. I replied it wasn't great, but as long as it was done by 4 when I needed to go out, then not to worry moving it. Received a stream of messages that I don't go out during the day (true I wfh) so don't need my car and so it was no problem for it to be blocked in. Baffling... why ask if you've already decided it's fine!? I didn't reply to any of these, because honestly what is the point?! Then shortly after received texts asking where I was going at 4 and did I have anything nice planned?!

I realise these are petty examples, but they're endless, I've been told off for my empty wheelie bin being put outside their house by the bin lorry, I've been told off for not being in when they've had a parcel delivery. I don't know what to do - do I just straight up ask if they realise they are being so rude? I know that's a Mnet cliche, but do they honestly think you can tell someone off over nothing and be friends in the next breath!?

Thank you for reading so far!

OP posts:
BankOfDave · 22/02/2023 16:10

You have batshit neighbours. You need to disengage from this texting malarkey as their requests are largely unreasonable and then they blow hot and cold.

SuperSange · 22/02/2023 16:10

They can fuck off. I'd not be telling them they were rude. I'd be having a serious word.

TaunterOfWomenInGeneralSaysSayonarastu · 22/02/2023 16:12

Why, in the name of all that's holy, have you not blocked this hypocritical pain in the arse?

Then shortly after received texts asking where I was going at 4 and did I have anything nice planned?!
"Not sure why you need to know, stop sticking your nose is, also - FUCK OFF" & block.

Sorted.

GodisaBC · 22/02/2023 16:12

Ignore, why do you have to tell them you have tradespeople coming?
don’t engage - you’re enabling the behaviour.

jetadore · 22/02/2023 16:12

Why on earth do you need to “alert” your street about tradesmen coming round? Is there an outbreak of mass paranoia round your way? The whole situation sounds mental.

PleasantZen · 22/02/2023 16:13

Your voting doesn't make sense.

Tell then every single time they are being out of order. And then don't engage in it.

GabriellaMontez · 22/02/2023 16:13

I don't have my neighbours mobiles. (1 only)
Years ago no one had a mobile. We survived.

Is it really necessary? What's the worst that could happen if you blocked them all?

Womencanlift · 22/02/2023 16:15

Why does there need to an announcement to the street when a tradesperson comes? That sounds batshit. The rest of it is beyond ridiculous and I couldn’t live in a street with that much interaction from neighbours.

HouseIsOnFire · 22/02/2023 16:15

GodisaBC · 22/02/2023 16:12

Ignore, why do you have to tell them you have tradespeople coming?
don’t engage - you’re enabling the behaviour.

@jetadore We're a row of terraces, so shared access is through bottom part of gardens. I always give a heads up just to be polite, rather like texting if something noisy is going to happen or whatever, i.e. other neighbour warned us when they were having trees taken out. I've no problem with that, more the being lectured after I'd explained it was a surprise!

OP posts:
TaunterOfWomenInGeneralSaysSayonarastu · 22/02/2023 16:16

jetadore · 22/02/2023 16:12

Why on earth do you need to “alert” your street about tradesmen coming round? Is there an outbreak of mass paranoia round your way? The whole situation sounds mental.

.

Do I say they're being rude or quietly seethe?  CF Neighbour
HouseIsOnFire · 22/02/2023 16:18

PleasantZen · 22/02/2023 16:13

Your voting doesn't make sense.

Tell then every single time they are being out of order. And then don't engage in it.

It doesn't because I know either way, it's not me being unreasonable! Just don't know the best way to sort it out!

For everyone saying why haven't I blocked her, I'd hoped I could just distance myself - she's very good at appearing lovely and everyone keeps telling me how lucky I am to have such a wonderful neighbour - I don't really want to start a proper barny!

OP posts:
BananaBender · 22/02/2023 16:20

Neighbour is crazy and lacks boundaries. Move. That or tell her to go fuck herself and leave you alone. Seriously, disengage. Grey rock her.

HouseIsOnFire · 22/02/2023 16:21

TaunterOfWomenInGeneralSaysSayonarastu · 22/02/2023 16:16

.

😂😂😂This made me laugh, thank you!

OP posts:
GoldDuster · 22/02/2023 16:22

They're not being rude, they're not cheeky, they're round the bloody hat rack.

Don't engage, at all. Not to warn them or alert them, of tradesmen or otherwise. Don't take in parcels or takeaways.

You don't need to be rude or antagonistic to withdraw communication and not be available for their bullshit.

HouseIsOnFire · 22/02/2023 16:23

BananaBender · 22/02/2023 16:20

Neighbour is crazy and lacks boundaries. Move. That or tell her to go fuck herself and leave you alone. Seriously, disengage. Grey rock her.

Sadly cannot move for 5 years otherwise I'd be thinking about it! Even grey rocking isn't working, I haven't replied since being told off for not being happy she blocked my drive and today been asked about when we're meeting up because we haven't seen each other for ages!?

OP posts:
Btjdkfnn · 22/02/2023 16:25

Difficult.

Not engaging would be the general best advice

But that doesn't seem to be working very well. I would be factual and decisive:

Please do not block my car/driveway at any time. [no reason necessary]

HouseIsOnFire · 22/02/2023 16:29

Btjdkfnn · 22/02/2023 16:25

Difficult.

Not engaging would be the general best advice

But that doesn't seem to be working very well. I would be factual and decisive:

Please do not block my car/driveway at any time. [no reason necessary]

That doesn't work, she texted saying "He's ok blocking your drive, he shouldn't be long?" and my reply was "Not great he's blocking me in, just need to be able to get out at 4" and then got lectured on my day to day routine and how it was fine to be blocked in!

I think people are right, I just need to block them, but I really don't want to fall out with the neighbours!

OP posts:
DPotter · 22/02/2023 16:36

I really would continue ignoring them to be honest. They've been like this for years so it's a habit well ingrained.

In the case of people blocking your drive, - when you see this happening, just go out to the tradesman and tell (don't ask) them to move.

Oh and don't reply to the request to meet up.

Intelligenthair · 22/02/2023 16:41

Stop engaging with it. You’re just perpetuating it. Block their number and if you’re genuinely having some hugely noisy work done on your house (how often does that happen) put a note through the letterbox.

rosiebl · 22/02/2023 16:43

I feel like you are being waaaay too polite.

I would just reply to the drive blocking text 'it's not any of your business when I do and don't leave my house. I will allow you to block my drive this time until 4pm, but do not block my drive again without seeking permission first, regardless of what you think I'm doing that day'.

The tradesperson text. 'I can't control random visitors to my house. It is clearly a tradesperson based on the van outside. I suggest if you are that paranoid about people coming and going through our shared access, you move to somewhere without shared access. I won't be informing you in future as it is my legal right to use the shared access'.

BMW6 · 22/02/2023 16:47

Be very firm OP.

"I'm not putting up with your lecturing and overbearing ways. I am now blocking you"

Redebs · 22/02/2023 16:51

Don't text or reply to texts.
If someone blocks your drive, go and have a word with the person doing the work about moving their car asap.
If you're having work done in your house, you don't need to warn neighbours.
Don't engage.
Friendly 'hello' if you see neighbour, but don't stop to talk. Don't explain anything.

Shamoo · 22/02/2023 16:52

I would just completely ignore all messages as they are clearly unhinged. I wouldn’t block them as I suspect it would escalate matters when they realised. Sounds very irritating OP!

billy1966 · 22/02/2023 16:54

Redebs · 22/02/2023 16:51

Don't text or reply to texts.
If someone blocks your drive, go and have a word with the person doing the work about moving their car asap.
If you're having work done in your house, you don't need to warn neighbours.
Don't engage.
Friendly 'hello' if you see neighbour, but don't stop to talk. Don't explain anything.

This.

You are giving mixed messages.

Stop engaging.

Make a not of any aggressive behaviour.

Put a bell camera up so their behaviour can be recorded.

But stop engaging.

N27 · 22/02/2023 16:56

I used to have a friend who was a very “think out louder/ rant on text” kind of person. she would often have little text outbursts and then a few hours later when she’d calmed down/stopped being a nutter she’d send breezy messages as though it had never happened. I’m not sure whether it was conscious on her part that she’d realised she was being a twat and tried to brush over it or whether it was a text by text account of her rollercoaster emotions and moods!