My neighbour is threatening to report me for “benefit fraud”

[AugustSlippedAwayInto]

I’m currently signed off sick from work after an operation last week. My street is full of gossips (to put it nicely) so the entire street knows why I’m off. Brill.

For full disclosure, the relationship with this neighbour is rocky at best. She’s screamed abuse at me and my family in the street before, she watched everyone from her window and films people walking past very regularly.

I decided that I felt well enough for a short walk yesterday, so my mum came over and offered we went. I think we were out for about half an hour, with a break halfway.

This morning as soon as she’s seen I’m up (lights on, curtains open etc) she’s banging on my door saying she’s contacted my work and “the government” to report that I’m “committing fraud”. I’m talking shouting, banging my door so hard I thought she’d break the glass, slapping the front windows. It’s all on the ring camera.

I’m not on SSP, as I get occupational sick pay, and after my walk I slept for three hours! WIBU to just tell her to do one and to leave me alone?

She's contacted the government..I'd go with MH issues tie it in with banging on your door I wouldn't engage with her but would get it logged with the police.

How old are you Op? Do you live alone?

I have had a neighbour like this before. Absolutely nuts and also absolutely trying to rule the street.
It ended up after a police call with police having a word with her about banging on doors, windows and shouting being very aggressive, and likely to take her towards an issue where she damages something or says something which could end up in a charge. That calmed her down for about 6 months....

Yep this is harassment! Call 101 & report her!
she’s a nutcase!
if she’s filming people without their consent then that’s a crime also
good luck

It's interesting, I think the opposite - it sounds a really lovely street to live on (other than the neighbour OP is having issues with).

What makes the cracked cow so sure you’re even claiming any benefits. You could have money saved up for a rainy day for all anyone and his wife knows. What is happening to you is harassment. In future don’t tell anyone anything including your nice neighbors because there’s been a leak some where along the line.

Everyone gossiping
even to the extent it all gets back to the mentally unwell neighbour?

I'd just have said "ok, thanks for letting me know". And shut the door.

Surely the gossip is a red herring? The neighbour will have seen that OP isn't going out to work so will presumably have come to her own conclusions about what's going on and would likely still be shouting about 'benefit fraud' even if she hadn't heard anything about OPs op?

But doesn’t negate fact everyone gossips and clearly it is getting back to her, for her to even know where the OP works fgs!

and the op and neighbours have been gossiping about this woman’s parents mental health!

It's not my mum, is it?

Two sides to this story. The street is known for gossiping what have you said/ done to her in the past to rub her up the wrong way. People don’t just go knocking on doors hurling threats

We live on the same street. Not actually, but I have a neighbour who is the exact same as her. She actually had the police do a raid on a neighbour recently due to her malicious allegations. She's truly evil.

She has reported every neighbour to the council for various things (all a load of crap but still stressful to deal with).

If I were you, I'd log everything in an online form for your police. I'd also send any ring doorbell footage you have. It will build up a picture, keep logging more stuff as and when it happens, then see if you can have something done about her. Also see if you can get a solicitors letter to her for harassment or something. You also need to tell her she is not allowed on your property, so if she comes on it again, it is trespass. I did this with my neighbour's husband before he died, as he used to continually be on my driveway, shouting abuse at me. I revoked his right to be there and then told him repeatedly to remove himself as he was trespassing. He knew he couldn't argue, so then had to shout at me (in front of my young children), from the middle of the street. Shame he didn't get run over, but the silver lining was he was dead within 11 months, what a shame. Doubt his old crow of a wife will croak anytime soon unfortunately.

Hitting your windows? You wouldn't be the slightest bit U to report it to the police. Why don't you?

Is she mentally ok?

Well according to all the gossip on the street, yes, history of mental health illness and they have even gossiped about the mental health of her family too.

This is awful and not warranted whatsoever. Hope you recover soon

Regardless how what you discuss with your neighbours, this person sounds mentally unwell. Her behaviour is not normal or acceptable.

Keep a log of everything.

It sounds a lovely place to live with neighbours who look out for each other and actually talk to each other. Aside from the odd few here who do speak, most neighbours work harder at pretending they haven't seen you in the time it would take to say hello 😆.

I had one neighbour who was an absolute gem, I overslept one morning and she rang me as she'd noticed my bathroom window wasn't open at the time I would usually be up taking a shower. That was one of many examples of what a beautiful soul she is.

Anyway, I digress...keep logging the incidents with your neighbour, video and audio, also a written log of dates, times and incidents. Would it be worth a call to the local council Anti Social Behaviour team too?

Someone has got to do something to rescue you from this horrid woman's behaviour, if she's not engaging with mental health services, it's not a good enough reason to just leave you to contend with her disruptive behaviour. There must be someone who can help. What if she starts damaging things? Scratching cars? She may decide to step up her actions to get a reaction.

I hope your work were understanding?

I had one neighbour who was an absolute gem, I overslept one morning and she rang me as she'd noticed my bathroom window wasn't open at the time I would usually be up taking a shower. That was one of many examples of what a beautiful soul she is

Sorry, but I would find that really weird. Who tracks their neighbour's shower habits? Does she have a notepad with this sort of info in?

@Helen1625 I had one neighbour who was an absolute gem, I overslept one morning and she rang me as she'd noticed my bathroom window wasn't open at the time I would usually be up taking a shower. That was one of many examples of what a beautiful soul she is.

what happens if you had booked the day off and was having a lie in? Or you’d had a terrible night sleep because you weren’t feeling well, Called in sick and had only just dozed off.

Agreed

and she took a risk.

unless the Poster told her each and every time she booked a day off. Or rang her when ever calling in sick or didn’t need to be in work usual time due to an appointment

Sounds like the old bat next door to me. One day she is calling me a whore...the next she wants a lift to town or running down the shop. She once repeatedly told me and D.P to 'f off and die!'
She hammered my doors and windows with her fist and walking stick because my dog barked at her through the back fence when she turned the hose on him. She then went home and called the police on me.. luckily my other neighbours backed me up. That's just a few things! 😂

Phone the police now!
how does she know your on benefit’s though? 🤔

Op isn't on benefits. She is just off sick from work.