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?

What a nutter. I was walking the same day I had an open appendectomy - it’s hardly a sign that you haven’t had surgery. A month later I hiked to Macchu Picchu!

Doubt anything will come of it as if work asks I’m sure you have all your surgery letters etc to prove it - plus the scar if they really want to see (they won’t)

No it wasn't!
Where did this come from? For some people, staying at home when sick (MH issues) is the worst they can do.

Goodness this is a very closely entwined friendship / neighbour relationship - whereby you literally know one another’s daily routine, any days off planned, appointments booked meaning you’ll be showering later and….

do you even have to message her if you decide to take a shower in the evening rather than the morning @Helen1625 ??!

@Megaclean 😁 I think she and her husband thought of us as family, much like we considered them to be. We don't have much in the way of family and their son lived miles away.

But do you have to message her if you decide to ever take an evening shower instead of a morning shower? Or you have a morning dentist appointment so will be getting up half hour later than normal.

Genuine question!!

@Megaclean no problem, ask away 😊

I tend to shower morning and night so that wouldn't have necessarily cropped up.

I think because I was a creature of habit back then; up, shower, into the garden to let the chickens out, get ready for work, then out the door to be at work at a certain time, it was probably easy to spot if one of those things didn't happen.

You've really got me thinking now about this....there must have been a conversation at some point, like me having a habit of pressing the snooze button a few times, or talking about having the windows open vs having them closed all day when at work.

Also, when my husband worked away, I was nervous about being in the house on my own. Perhaps she felt she needed to look out for me. She really is a very caring person. A proper mother hen

Presumably your husband was away when she messaged you about the closed shower window?! 🤞

@Roothewheel Yes 😊

And obviously the neighbour knew that!! 😆

Probably had access to his work calendar (and personal too!)

Oh how naive😂!

If gossips dont 'know', they'll just fabricate it!

They do! I never speak to my neighbour, but I hear her talk about me to others all the time. All assumed or made up shite

PS I'd deffo report to police... If only for audit trail!

It sounds very likely that she'll be known to police! These type of people often are.

Report her to the council and police and if she knocks again tell her do what you like you weirdo but be careful if I have to call the police they may section you.

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.

Surprised none of the lovely community of constantly gossiping neighbour haven’t reported to the police

I don't get the concept of gossiping neighbours. How lame your neighbour's life must be to even care to police what you're doing and what she thinks is benefit fraud. I don't even know the names of my neighbours and specifically wait for no-one to be out there before I put the bins out and suchlike. I don't know them and deliberately don't get to know them.