To think I shouldn't have to pay for this?

[Pollyxplummer]

I have been complaining to the council about my noisy neighbours for THREE YEARS and they have done absolutely nothing until last Tuesday when they finally wrote them a letter. A bloody letter after three years of complaints. Thanks
Anyway, the noise has of course not stopped and in the email where they informed me they were going to send a letter, they also said that if the noise doesn't stop, I shpuld record it using an app and send them the recordings. They put a link in the email.
I went to download it tonight ready to use for tomorrow mornings inevitable 4am start, and it is a paid-for app!
They haven't sent me a discount code or anything. Are they actually expecting me to pay??
Should I??

Yeah exactly. Do people think I'm stupid 😆

Then you’re lucky you’ve never had to buy a driving test swap app - £15.

I understand the principle of not paying for it regardless of what the cost is, but the fact is, unfair as it may seem, councils are skint and it's their process.

Just do it unless it's an extortionate amount of money.

Have you never heard of the expression. "cutting off your nose to spite your face" because that is exactly what you are doing, sometimes being right is not the best thing, just pay for the app, it's for your benefit.

Just pay it for goodness sake. It can't be more than £3.

People think you’re stupidly stubborn on this issue. They have told you what you need to do and you’re flatly refusing. That’s a problem you’ve made for yourself

Myself and another neighbour were on the opposite side of this. We lived I'm flats and the flat next door to me had a single older lady living in it. We had young children including a new born and the flat above her also had a child under one. She complained every single day about the noise, multiple phone calls to the council, letters to them, in person visits. None of the noise was more than young family everyday noise. The children were all in bed at a normal time, there was no parties or loud music it was simply normal family noise which is more noise than single retired people make. But it wasn't what she was used to and she did her very best to get us evicted. Of course she was unsuccessful. But my point is had the council paid to follow all of this up then it would have been a complete waste of money that could have been spent on other services.

The council won’t care if you don’t download the app, one less issue for them to deal with. They can’t pay for everything!

Not sure how I managed to quote someone there sorry

@Pollyxplummer , the cost is entirely relevant. If cost was £25 it would be disproportionate to other forms of communication you may use , eg the cost of a call to the council or the cost of a stamp to and a letter , or even the cost to charge your phone to record noise . You wouldn't expect the council to refund you for any of these things . If its £2 then your are being ridiculous, and the noise can't be that bad if you are refusing to pay for something that may help you .

The council need evidence to act on your complaints. They can't send council staff round to sit in your house 24/7 to listen and record. They are giving you an option to capture evidence so that they can take it forward. I'm not sure what the alternative is?

Ask the council if you can use a free app instead?

It's not the council's cost. Sue the neighbours for the £2.99 if you wish, it's them causing you the expense, not the council.

I agree that it’s a cheek.

30 years ago you’d have been paying stamps to write to the council, or paying per call to talk to them. Would you have objected to paying for that too?

They’ve had 3 years of evidence.

They've had three years of complaints. They don't have any evidence (but should have asked for it a lot sooner).

Yes, that’s my point. They could have built a case much quicker than this.

I agree with others that @Pollyxplummer should now take this to her MP. The cost of the app is neither here nor there - it’s the incompetence of the council that’s at fault.

Use any app, even just the record function on your 'phone, and email that to them

This is entirely within your control @Pollyxplummer

You either want the council to keep investigating your noise complaint, in which case, get the app or your case will be closed.

The choice is yours. If the app is under £10, I would say that's good value for money to have a better quality of life. Good luck.

Annoying for you, but you're cutting off your nose to spite your face if you choose not to do it.

I P@Y mY council tAX

Well it isn't your point. You said they had evidence. They don't. Anyone could make nefarious complaints, that's not evidence. I agree that they should have done something way before now and also agree with the MP. But no, they don't have 3 years of evidence. At present, they have none.

Enjoy the noise then OP😂