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??

It's cheaper than moving house surely.

I understand the principle, that you feel you shouldn't have to pay, however the council has to sift out the trivial problems that are not worth their time or money to sort out, and this procedure will be part of that. Their tardiness in dealing with your problem, after filling in a diary 3 times, is just inefficiency, but as you have managed to get to the next stage, I think if the app is less than £20, it would be worth paying it, just to move the process on.

Ouch. That's a lot!

You’re right, I should have said they’ve had 3 years to gather evidence and have just sat in their hands. They’re still at fault either way!

They do have evidence though. As I said, I filled in their stupid three week diary sheets three times. They only paid attention to the third lot I sent them.
I'm also not the only neighbour who has complained. Two other households have also been complaining and one have offered their ring doorbell footage several times, offers which have been ignored.

They need physical evidence not written evidence by the complainant. People can and do fabricate and exaggerate in order to get the results they want. One of the complaints our previous neighbour made against the couple above her was they had a drum kit that they played during the day- this turned out to be a 6 month old playing on a baby gym

Surely if several neighbours have complained, it's fairly obvious it's not just a malicious complaint?

Our council use an app called ‘The Noise App’ and it’s free. A bit of a Google shows multiple councils use it, might be worth asking them if you can use this free version?

Well since you mentioned it….

She won’t say because she knows she’ll be told to get on with it (£4.99).

The issue is she thinks she shouldn’t have to pay at all, whether it’s pennies or pounds.

OP, most councils are on the verge of bankruptcy. You’ll just have to pay it if you want a resolution. I can’t believe you’re even moaning on here about it.

Im guessing they need court to evict? Therefore concrete irrefutable evidence that will stand up in court. They need to build a rock solid case.
You filling in some papers doesnt do that. Recordings however will.

It’s free. That’s why she won’t say how much it is because then we’d know the thread title wasn’t true. She isn’t being asked to pay anything. I’ve downloaded the noise app councils use and it’s free.

Well they've told you the next steps.
Your choice is to do it and keep working towards a resolution.
Or moan about your council tax, don't do it, and let them close your complaint.

We all have to chip in sometimes. Some people are child free yet their taxes pay for education. Some don't drive yet pay for upkeep of the roads. Some are never ill yet pay for the NHS.

Coughing up a few quid for an app for your own personal issue seems reasonable to me tbh.

Oh god. I can see what you’re like. No one will say £1,000 is cheap. Everyone will say £1 is.

Yes yes yes, we all agree, you shouldn’t have to pay to report a noisy neighbour but it looks like if you want to pursue it you simply HAVE to. So up to you. If you think £2.99 is a deal breaker then just drop it and put up with the noise. If it’s not then download the app and crack on with the process.

I have spent around 20 seconds googling. Many councils in England and Wales make reference to the totally free Noise App.
so unless OP lives elsewhere or has misunderstood I can’t imagine this won’t be.

many years ago we had a similar noise issue and a council employee came round very late one night with equipment to measure. Apps didn’t exist back then. I am sure his time and expenses were £££ not to mention clients resources. it was quite intrusive having another person in the house although I was glad of their support, an app would have been brilliant and worth a few quid.

It’s costing you anyway OP. Perhaps not in hard cash, however I rate other things more highly such as a good night’s sleep and feeling good the next day. Even if you keep a log on paper that’s costing you - paper and ink costs.

What hard work this OP is. I wouldn’t be surprised if the neighbours had a different side to this story.

What's hard work is trying to politely reason with your neighbours, then when that doesn't work, shouting out the window at them at 4am, then when that doesn't work spending three years trying to get the council to do their jobs.
And I'm sure the neighbours do have a different story, problem is two other neighbours can see the truth and side with me.

In principle you shouldn’t have to pay. But that’s not the reality. In principle people shouldn’t commit crimes so perhaps we should get rid of all the prisons because in principle we shouldn’t need them. In practice however, we all know that’s not the case. I understand this situation has really got under your skin, which is perfectly natural. However, stressing over whether or not you should have to pay is achieving absolutely nothing other than to make you more stressed, which is the last thing you need given that you’re already dealing with lots of stress caused be the actual noise issue. Sometimes in life you really do need to pick your battles. Just pay for the app and try not to give it any more headspace.

Oh it's free, even better.

OP been telling porkies then! Busted!😁

Of course you shouldn't have to pay but as @ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine says - pick your battles. Living with noise is awful but you need a cool laser focus on the outcome you want and how best to get there if you've a chance of solving this. Emotion (anger, frustration at injustice) won't help, however understandable. I'd get the neighbours to download the app too, find out who the head of dept is, contact them repeatedly for updates, put in a formal complaint if nothing happens.... Of course you shouldn't have to do any of that - your neighbours should just shut up. But that's not life.

You have done 3 years of legwork on this and are now going to dig your heals in at the last minute for what? Pay for the app, do as asked or live next door to these people until you or they move or die. You are being ridiculous. Do you want them gone? Then download an app and use it to record their noise.

Can you not just record it on your phone?

It is pretty standard to have to record it (else people could just lie).

A few years ago someone I knew had to get a dictaphone to record it.

But if you use your phone then you can just email the recordings and it won’t cost you anything.

From the 'noisy' neighbours perspective, they are just getting on living their lives while all their neighbours are running a campaign of bullying and harassment against them. If you are all in council housing, the council has equal duty of care for all of you and can't stomp over their right to a quiet life because Polly Plummer and her pals don't like them.

If you aren't willing to do the legwork to prove they are a problem, you will be classed as a vexatious complainer and your complaints will go in the bottom drawer to be ignored rather than dealt with.

It's your choice though.

The bottom line is: What's more important to you - the principle or potential action being taken against your neighbours?

I'm with you on principle. You shouldn't have to pay. But they may be using it as a way of discouraging timewasters and malicious reports.