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AIBU?

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Original poster

To send an anonymous letter

39 replies

unvillage · 26/08/2023 01:02

I live in a small block of flats. 2 storeys, 9 flats. Opposite is exactly the same. We don't have a neighbourhood whatsapp, we don't communicate, the turnover is pretty high. We share a car park. The opposite flats have living rooms and kitchens overlooking the car park. My block's bedrooms overlook the car park.

I know of the guy in the flat opposing mine because we get his deliveries occasionally and he gets ours, but it's a "leave on doorstep" situation, no interaction.

He has a motorbike. Probably the loudest motorbike known to man. My bedroom overlooks the car park. Every morning around 6 his engine starts up. And he sits there with his engine idling for 10-15 minutes before he finally drives away. It. Is. Loud. I can't tell you how loud this machine is. I wake up instantly upon it starting and I'm not a shallow sleeper. If he would just drive away I wouldn't mind. But it's waiting for him to go. Every. Fucking. Morning.

I don't want to wake up at 6am!! My partner is often working late at night and only gets to bed at 5! He doesn't want to wake up at 6am! There must be others in the block who are similarly fucking fuming every morning. But we don't know this guy, and we never see him. I don't want to buzz his flat to tell him to shut up in the morning because he has a perfectly nice wife and child who presumably don't have a part in his ridiculous penis extension Harley Davidson.

Would I be unreasonable to send the guy a letter, or a Moonpig card, to tell him to shut the fuck up? There's no way he doesn't know how loud his fucking motorbike is. I don't mind paying for a stamp if he would just think. Arsehole

OP posts:
YakChewCrumbs · 26/08/2023 01:05

You don't need to be so rude. Just explain politely and gently that it's really disturbing and upsetting and ask him to tone it down. Really no biggie.

XenoBitch · 26/08/2023 01:11

I used to have a motorbike that I used for commuting. I had to let it idle for a while in the early morning for it to warm up. Maybe this is the case with your neighbour.

Original poster
unvillage · 26/08/2023 01:13

XenoBitch · 26/08/2023 01:11

I used to have a motorbike that I used for commuting. I had to let it idle for a while in the early morning for it to warm up. Maybe this is the case with your neighbour.

Is this actually a thing? I was talking to my friend who has a motorbike and she said it's totally unnecessary, especially in the warm weather.

OP posts:
mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork · 26/08/2023 01:25

Yes, it is a thing with some bikes. Mine needed to idle a bit on starting too. If I tried to move off too soon it would stall and the neighbours would have to put up with listening to my attempts at kickstarting it again. (Temperamental old two stroke). I did have to start quite early for work so I sometimes coasted it down the (sloping) road a bit so as not to have to disturb my immediate neighbours who knew me. (Sorry, unknown neighbours further along)

Greenshake · 26/08/2023 01:26

Why don’t you just speak to him? An anonymous Moonpig card or whatever is a bit juvenile. Be an adult.

ilovesooty · 26/08/2023 01:29

I agree with @Greenshake

Just speak to him and point out that he's causing a disturbance.

undercoveraessedai · 26/08/2023 01:33

XenoBitch · 26/08/2023 01:11

I used to have a motorbike that I used for commuting. I had to let it idle for a while in the early morning for it to warm up. Maybe this is the case with your neighbour.

This is a thing, but my neighbour rolls his down to the main road before starting it when he's got an early start - I love engine noise but am grateful as also often go to bed at 4-5am.

PizzaPastaWine · 26/08/2023 03:03

I'd just go and speak with him.

Tbh, a moonpig card or anonymous letter would annoy the hell out of me and wouldn't encourage me to do anything differently.

As other posters have said, the bike may need to idle and if that's the case by doing things anonymously you wouldn't know thsy was the case.

SunRainStorm · 26/08/2023 04:45

He should walk it out from the block, and start it on the street if he's leaving that early and it's that loud.

I think you'd be better knocking or putting your name to it, but if you're not game then a polite anonymous letter from a 'neighbour' is probably better than nothing.

ShickAsthit · 26/08/2023 13:12

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TinkerbellefromYorkshire · 26/08/2023 13:31

Well if it's an Harley yes it's normal to leave it.. same with Triumphs.. l used to have a Bonneville 750cc T140v.
Yes l was a female biker and a motorcycle instructor.
Think you just don't like bikers.. No need to be adverse.. just politely ask him.
5 mins to leave idle should be enough..not 15.

5128gap · 26/08/2023 13:36

Just knock his door. Unless you're planning on being rude and aggressive about it, why should it upset his lovely wife and child?
Anonymous notes are strongly associated with cowardly busy bodies, and far more likely to annoy or be ignored than a perfectly reasonable and polite request.

neverbeenskiing · 26/08/2023 13:37

Think you just don't like bikers..

OP has been pretty clear that it's the early morning noise she objects to. If someone was waking her at 6am by revving their car ending loudly I doubt she'd be like "that's ok then, at least its not a bike".

OP, I agree with pp who've said just talk to him. An anonymous note is likely to get his back up, a polite conversation will probably be more productive.

WhenIWasAFieldMyself · 26/08/2023 13:39

People often report anonymous letters as malicious communication. It's not illegal per se to send one. It is illegal to send a communication which the receiver construes as threatening, malicious or harassing.

Is that really the road you want to go down? Because someone goes to work earlier than you?

5128gap · 26/08/2023 13:47

WhenIWasAFieldMyself · 26/08/2023 13:39

People often report anonymous letters as malicious communication. It's not illegal per se to send one. It is illegal to send a communication which the receiver construes as threatening, malicious or harassing.

Is that really the road you want to go down? Because someone goes to work earlier than you?

Well they'd get pretty short shrift from the police if they reported a one off "would you mind not leaving your bike engine idling for 15 minutes each morning please?" as 'malicious, harassing or threatening', wouldn't they? Vexatious complaints that waste police resources are also frowned upon.
I'm no fan of anonymous letters, but I do think that's a reach too far.

WhenIWasAFieldMyself · 26/08/2023 13:48

5128gap · 26/08/2023 13:47

Well they'd get pretty short shrift from the police if they reported a one off "would you mind not leaving your bike engine idling for 15 minutes each morning please?" as 'malicious, harassing or threatening', wouldn't they? Vexatious complaints that waste police resources are also frowned upon.
I'm no fan of anonymous letters, but I do think that's a reach too far.

Show quote history

They would indeed.
That's not the wording the OP was suggesting though, so irrelevant.

Runnerduck34 · 26/08/2023 13:51

You have my sympathies OP, a neighbour of ours used to do the same- i didnt know motorbikes had to be left idling before they were driven off. Totally anti social machines imo that can be heard for miles ( we live about 3 miles away from a coastal A road and theres constant motorbike noise coming from it during summer months- even from that distance) and Harley Davidsons are the worst offenders. No advice really either speak to him or put note through the door , wouldnt do a moon pig card

5128gap · 26/08/2023 13:52

WhenIWasAFieldMyself · 26/08/2023 13:48

They would indeed.
That's not the wording the OP was suggesting though, so irrelevant.

Show quote history

OP didn't suggest any wording. The tell him to shut tf up was presumably to us, and not what she'd have written. After going to the trouble of a Moonpig card, I was thinking something more subtle would be likely.

BashCandicoot · 26/08/2023 13:54

I cant believe the amount of
people who are like “Oh yeah you have to let them idle for a while”.

ffs if you have to cause a noise disturbance to
other people then maybe get another mode of transport!! Selfish selfish people!

MasterBeth · 26/08/2023 13:56

TinkerbellefromYorkshire · 26/08/2023 13:31

Well if it's an Harley yes it's normal to leave it.. same with Triumphs.. l used to have a Bonneville 750cc T140v.
Yes l was a female biker and a motorcycle instructor.
Think you just don't like bikers.. No need to be adverse.. just politely ask him.
5 mins to leave idle should be enough..not 15.

This is such a stupid post.

"Think you just don't like bikers."

No, think she doesn't like loud noises at anti-social hours. Five minutes of anti-social noise is no fucking good either.

iwasthereason · 26/08/2023 13:56

You lost me at 'ridiculous penis extension'. I had sympathy up until that point but if a male made a similar comment about a female there would be uproar.

Daphnis156 · 26/08/2023 13:58

I'm not sure when/if an anonymous letter can be necessary.
And why in this case do you think it would work?

If you report it to the Council he might receive a visit or a warning, but you'll have to give facts, times, dates, frequency, effects it is having on you etc, and his address.

FUPAgirl · 26/08/2023 14:04

He clearly isn't sitting there for 15 mins just for the craic of it, there is obviously a reason. Why don't you just speak to him? Maybe he doesn't realise how loud it is and would agree to roll it out to the street before starting it up.

suckrifice · 26/08/2023 14:08

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AnneAnon · 26/08/2023 14:14

This is what people use Moonpig for?? 🤯

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