Is my neighbor committing benefit fraud

theartfullodger

Quite so Miles, couldn't agree more: It doesn't matter who you are or where you are from, you're either a decent person or not...


We have a lot to thank the Poles for in this country (see WW2 etc....).

newsgroup_monkey

theartfullodger wrote: »

Cheers!! Artful (British Citizen, not subject....)

I'm really on the fence about the Royals. I'm not entirely sure they do give value for money, however, they do bring in Tourism and whether or not you like them, for most people, the feudal system appears to work.

The serfs (yes, that's us) will always complain and have been for over a thousand years.

I think Britain would be a sadder place without them - it's part of our identity to the foreign world.

SnooksNJ

BobQ wrote: »

These are your words. The OP just said he was Polish. I can see that might be relevant. Many people do not understand the law of the land but if you have entered tyhe country more recently then you are more likely to be unaware of the laws of the country.

You should give the UK more credit because there are a lot of people living here whose native countries laws are based on English Law. Making my front lawn a used car lot would be illegal in the States and I would imagine it would be illegal here. Even if it was I wouldn't do it because I wouldn't want to p*ss off my neighbors.

mrsbmartin

Wowza...what a response!!! Just to clarify...I'm not some PC Vigilante - I just didn't think the guy's nationality changed how the OP should approach the situation because it is of no consequence. If the neighbour is doing something illegal then he should be dealt with regardless of his nationality. I certainly don't consider it an insult to call someone Polish...that would clearly be ridiculous!! I just don't think that it should be used as a factor to give an argument more weight.

As it is - I don't approve of anyone who cheats the system...it's one of the reasons I don't have any contact with my own mother so I certainly wasn't sticking up for the neighbour...just sticking uo for my own principles and I make no apologies for that.

BobQ

mrsbmartin wrote: »

There are enough people born here that don't understand the law...and, somewhat bizarrely, there is even a current thread where someone else is in EXACTLY THE SAME SITUATION...minus the polish element...

Like I said - if he is breaking the law then he needs dealing with but the OP has not actually come up with any evidence of this...and he has zero reason to suspect that the guy is on benefits other than his own social expectation...

Logic dictates that either he is running a business legitimately or illegally. Either way he can be in trouble. If he is doing the cars up for pleasure he is still causing a nuisance. If the OP keeps digging something will be unearthed to be used to against the neighbour.

I had a similar situation in a previous home when a guy moved in opposite me who repaired various builders plant (cement mixers and the like). He had regular visits to drop off and collect these tools and often they would block my drive. So I had a quiet word. I just put it to him that I believed in live and let live, I was not that fussed about the occasional noise, all I wanted was him to tell his customers not block my drive. While I received a lairy response of the two fingered kind, I just told him I was not arguing about it and that I would discuss it with the planning authority or the tax people if he ignored a reasonable request.

I never had any trouble after that and often saw him telling his visitors not to block my drive. Frankly I do not know or care if he was worried about the tax, the council or the benefits, but he did listen.

BobQ

mileslondoner wrote: »

I think the OP would have received a lot more sympathy and support here if he had omitted the word "Polish" in his original post

I remember the story about a Polish guy who received a letter from his Housing Association to inform him that he was flooding his English neighbours downstairs. They did not knock his door to let him know there was a leak, they did not put a letter through the door but instead called their HA. The Polish guy called a plumber, had everything fixed, went downstairs to apologise for the inconvenience only to find out that his neighbours would rather have their bathroom flooded than talk to a Polish person.

Is it relevant that this chap was Polish?

BobQ

SnooksNJ wrote: »

You should give the UK more credit because there are a lot of people living here whose native countries laws are based on English Law. Making my front lawn a used car lot would be illegal in the States and I would imagine it would be illegal here. Even if it was I wouldn't do it because I wouldn't want to p*ss off my neighbors.

Are you saying Polish law is based on English Law?

What you imagine is irrelevant to my comment.

If you bothered to read my earlier post you would note that I support the OP's efforts to avoid being subjected to nuisance practices from his neighbours. I was simply stating a plausible reason why the OP might think the fact that his neighbour is Polish was relevant despite the comment that it was not in the post I was responding to.

brasso

mileslondoner wrote: »

I think the OP would have received a lot more sympathy and support here if he had omitted the word "Polish" in his original post and concentrated on presenting evidence for his claims (that he added in the other post later).

The OP might also be more successful in trying to resolve this issue if he approached the guy next door as a neighbour and not from a position of "local" - "Polish".

There are millions of problems that can be sorted out with a smile and a friendly chat over a pint rather than through so called official channels. What is needed though is treating your neighbour on the same partner level rather than allowing his nationality to influence your way of thinking, talking, behaving (sometimes unconsciously).

I remember the story about a Polish guy who received a letter from his Housing Association to inform him that he was flooding his English neighbours downstairs. They did not knock his door to let him know there was a leak, they did not put a letter through the door but instead called their HA. The Polish guy called a plumber, had everything fixed, went downstairs to apologise for the inconvenience only to find out that his neighbours would rather have their bathroom flooded than talk to a Polish person.

Let's stop overegging this Polish pudding. No one saying he's an appalling person because he's not British, but he seems to be behaving badly whatever nationality he is, and maybe an ignorance of the law offers some explanation.

greenface

I think people are just pointing out the obvious to the OP and would not have posted ("I purchased a house and an aggressive ENGLISH neighbor") but ("I purchased a house and an aggressive neighbor") and bringing the royals or ww2 doesnt really help here. Even if the neighbour was legal paying taxes and flly insured etc he still needs to adhere to many rules and regulations to do with storing chemicals petrol oil noises hours . We lived next door to a fully working garage and they couldnt work sundays . Every so often they needed to but we had a good enough relationship that all was ok and people need to accept some issues with working beyond the rules . Its called being a decent neighbour. This guy next door seems to be constantly working beyond the simple rules of work and being a decent neighbour . Report him to the bodys concerned then let them do their work . Dont expect peaceful enjoyment of life afterwards as he doesnt seem a decent neighbour to understand that its not just his livelyhood affected its yours too .

newsgroup_monkey

OK, all you PC folk, go find another bridge to hide under (yes, it's trolling)

Whether or not this fella is Polish, French, South African or a native American, is irrelevant. I think what the OP is trying to point out is that the neighbour is not originally from the UK and as such may well not understand HMRC rules, planning rules or indeed council or noise rules.

In Poland, for instance, the rules may well be different. You may be able to work on cars outside your house providing terms X,Y and Z are met. An assumption may be made that the laws are similar across Europe (many laws are, many laws aren't).

Poles are very, very tolerant people as a whole, so unsurprisingly find it tough when people question them like this.