What is wrong with some people (More neighbour drama)

aileth

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

it does sound like she's got some sort of grudge against you for some reason.

I really wish I knew what it was because then I might have a chance of at least sorting it out. She doesn't know our names, we don't know hers. We only know her son's name because you can hear her shouting and swearing at him through our double glazing. It literally started one summer three years back out of the blue. We hadn't even met her or seen her before!

lindens

Really, you are feeding her enjoyment with your reactions.
Next time it comes over, answer the door, listen to her, dont speak, shut the door and go and get the ball. hand it back without speaking. after a few times of that she'll soon get bored.

BTW I'm not saying I dont have any sympathy or would act any differently, as thats not the case.

alias*alibi

Can't you ask the council or HA to put up a no ball games sign in the side of your house?

jess1974

just dont answer the door to her x

Edwardia

As long as the warning sign is displayed, and the PrikkaStrip is 2m from soil level, you're fine, local police confirmed this to me.

If people can climb into your garden this is a security risk. Tell any over-zealous plod that you don't want your dawg, washing, child, garden tools <insert applicable> injured/stolen bc other people see her climbing into your garden.

Trespass isn't a criminal offence but damage is. You could place objects to dissuade her from landing in your garden eg fishpond, statue and if she damaged them it certainly would be criminal damage. However if she injured herself she could sue you.

I suggest you don't answer door, then if she climbs over, photograph her. Reiterate her doing it makes your house look easy target.

Ask police to refer you to mediation (if they do) and if she says no it makes her look difficult (you don't have to be in same room btw). You might find out what her beef is if you do.

DON'T spray the ball with anything. That could be considered an offence by police espesh if she/child developed a reaction. Start a diary and inform HA. Might be worth asking them about a sign saying 'no ball games'.

aileth

Many thanks, Edwardia.

I'm looking at investing in a camera + dvr to stick up in the back garden for when we're not in. If she's going to spew false allegations against us, I want to be the one with evidence.

We have already contacted HA and they are getting in touch with the local ASBO officer who will send us incident log sheets.

OH is off tomorrow, so he's going to get some prikka strips and basically do all he can to make our garden crazy neighbour proof.

tea_lover

Edwardia wrote: »

As long as the warning sign is displayed, and the PrikkaStrip is 2m from soil level, you're fine, local police confirmed this to me.

Yep. That PCSO you spoke to aileth was talking nonsense from the sounds of it.

The prikkastrip also needs to be visible - it should be a deterrent (can't spell that, you know what I mean lol), rather than a hidden trap.

moneyistooshorttomention

pearl123 wrote: »

Don't answer the door, unless perhaps at a convent time. Put up security cameras, especially over areas she might climb.
I'd be inclined to padlock gates if a neighbour annoyed me off.

I suppose at the end of the day it depends upon how intrusive next doors behaviour us.
i find with my neighbours I sometimes have to grit my teeth.
I suppose if the Police have been she should know the rules regarding trespass.

Seconded.

My thoughts too are that this "hammering on the door" would surely be something that she would find physically painful if she kept it up for long? I would think several minutes of solid bashing at your door with her fists would make them feel rather sore...so is it possible to either leave your house by a backway when she starts that lark up (whilst she is still thinking you are at home) or using earplugs or something (ie so that you cant hear her) whilst smugly wondering just how much she will hurt her hands if she keeps the hammering up?

moneyistooshorttomention

heartbreak_star wrote: »

Really thorny roses? Blackberry brambles?

HBS x

Sloes.

Dual purpose = you get the sloes and she gets some pretty nasty scratching from them.

aileth

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Seconded.

My thoughts too are that this "hammering on the door" would surely be something that she would find physically painful if she kept it up for long? I would think several minutes of solid bashing at your door with her fists would make them feel rather sore...so is it possible to either leave your house by a backway when she starts that lark up (whilst she is still thinking you are at home) or using earplugs or something (ie so that you cant hear her) whilst smugly wondering just how much she will hurt her hands if she keeps the hammering up?

Sorry I probably worded it wrong! She hammers on the doorbell until you answer. My husband installed an 'off' switch for it which we haven't used in the winter months. We turned it off yesterday.

I think the best scenario really is turning it off again, and then reinforcing our garden even more than we have done with the pyracantha etc, so she realises that when she kicks the ball over she's completely at our whim and mercy as to when we decide to return it. I'm hoping when she realises she can't brute force us, she'll move on.

We aren't unreasonable people. We asked her to wait until we finished our lunch, which apparently was unacceptable to her, as she demanded it back right then and there. However, when we were finished, my husband did give it back. We are quite happy to return said ball, but when it suits us, not when she demands it. If she wants to kick the ball against our house, she's going to have to accept the consequence that when (not if) it goes in our garden, she might have to wait six hours until we get home from work, or when one of us can be bothered, not on her beck and call.