What is wrong with some people (More neighbour drama)

Toomuchdebt

Incidentally there are no ball games signs on my garden wall, anti climb paint, and a park literally at the end of the street and yet they play right outside my house. I haven't even opened the curtains for 2 years because if I do, they bang on the windows or throw eggs at them.The parents of the kids don't care what the kids do as long as they aren't doing it at home.

barbiedoll

OP, you'll never find out what her "beef" is with you, she probably couldn't articulate it even if someone asked her, she is just a bully, pure and simple.

My best friend had a neighbour like this, her mistake, and yours, was to be perfectly reasonable in your initial dealings with her. If you'd shouted at her and told her to f*** off, you probably wouldn't have heard another word from her. But by being reasonable (i.e. normal) you have pushed her buttons and she now gains pleasure from annoying you, that's why she sends her kid out to kick a ball against your wall. Any normal person would realise that this is not acceptable, and I daresay she knows full well that your complaints are perfectly valid but because she is a moron, she can't accept that she is in the wrong. You can't argue with a moron but you could try fighting fire with fire...

carefullycautious wrote: »

I would be in the garden like a shot to retrieve the ball and throw it over someone else's garden. I bet she soon gets fed up of dealing with different neighbours than yourselves.

^^^This is brilliant!! And a good example of bouncing her bad behaviour back at her, without actually doing anything "criminal".

Get photos of everything. When she knocks at the door, get your phone/camera and take photos of her, make sure that she knows what you're doing. If she says anything, tell her that it is evidence for the police. When she starts shouting, calmly ask her if she minds if you record the conversation, then make a big show of fiddling about with your phone to set up the recording, you could hold up your hand to indicate to her to shut up until you're ready.

You need to show her that you're not intimidated by her, you're doing the right thing by not dancing to her tune at mealtimes. Keep records, hassle the police and the H/A, make a nuisance of yourself, no-one will take any action otherwise. And is there any chance that you could borrow a scary dog occasionally? One with a nice loud bark?

Keep your chin up and don't let her get the better of you. People like her do get evicted but it's only down to neighbours like you, complaining loudly and often. Do let us know how you get on and good luck!

Dr._Shoe

Some people just like to pick on people hey percieve to be smaller or weaker than them. All the above advice is sound.

Putting Pikkastrip along your fence is enhancing the security of your home. Not only is this legal but it is actively encouraged by the police. Same applies to the installation of security cameras too.

I know an old lady who had problems with a neighbour like this. One day her strapping "grandson" turned up to stay along with several of his mates. They soon had it sorted.

krlyr

redvision95 wrote: »

If she happens to be in the garden whilst you are letting your dog out for the toilet and it bites her, there is nothing they can do. We happen to have a large dog who doesn't take kindly to visitors in the garden and is often outside for the toilet. But make sure there is one sign at the front of the property saying there is a dog running loose and one at the rear or on the gate saying a dog may be running loose. If she ignores it and the dog is using the toilet and bites her.... oops.

Sorry, but this is absolutely not true, and may cost OP's dog its life. Changes to the DDA recently mean that whilst you're covered if your dog bit an intruder in your home, out in the garden this does not apply
http://blogs.rspca.org.uk/insights/2014/05/14/how-the-changes-to-the-dangerous-dogs-act-affect-you-and-your-dog/#.VQdR0-HWicY
http://www.nawt.org.uk/advice/changes-dangerous-dogs-act-advice-owners

In the event a trespasser was bitten in your garden, the case could go to court - you would hope that common sense would prevail in that situation, but I would not want to chance it (and subject my dog to being seized and kept in police custody in the meantime)

DCFC79

Don't let her determine when she gets the ball back, its your garden and she will the ball back on your terms eg after you have eaten. Easy for me to say this but don't let her get to you.

eskimo26

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say she doesn't work? Sounds like a bored chav looking for some entertainment.

Can't you send a letter withdrawing her right to enter your property? I've heard you can do that with some companies.

A hedge to replace the fences would work, especially a spiky dense one that puts plenty of space between you and her. Unless she's feeling particularly adventurous with a ladder and she wants to pretend she can fly. :rotfl:

Be as non committal as you can, same way you ignore bullies and not engage with them they get bored. Right now your just entertaining her.

DKLS

I liked the idea of answering the door shirtless, but why not take it to another level and wear a selection of scary halloween masks to answer the door, there are loads of great masks for under a fiver on eBay.

robotrobo

DKLS wrote: »

I liked the idea of answering the door shirtless, but why not take it to another level and wear a selection of scary halloween masks to answer the door, there are loads of great masks for under a fiver on eBay.

We have been through the same as you & police were involved , my experience says you are on a loser &you have to move to get away from these morons.
We moved 1 mile away &purchased a bungalow , in 9 years I have had no trouble from anyone & no noise at all from humans , nothing as woke me up at night , it's that quiet , but it did take me 3 years to really settle in &enjoy what we have.
But I could have murdered the !!!!!! At the time, of course they will have moved on &got there own places now. I lived in the last semi for 25 years ! , now it's detached heaven , & even my nice neighbours live in Spain for 6 months of the year

FatVonD

barbiedoll wrote: »

OP, you'll never find out what her "beef" is with you, she probably couldn't articulate it even if someone asked her, she is just a bully, pure and simple.

My best friend had a neighbour like this, her mistake, and yours, was to be perfectly reasonable in your initial dealings with her. If you'd shouted at her and told her to f*** off, you probably wouldn't have heard another word from her. But by being reasonable (i.e. normal) you have pushed her buttons and she now gains pleasure from annoying you, that's why she sends her kid out to kick a ball against your wall. Any normal person would realise that this is not acceptable, and I daresay she knows full well that your complaints are perfectly valid but because she is a moron, she can't accept that she is in the wrong. You can't argue with a moron but you could try fighting fire with fire...

I agree with this, the only way to nip these things in the bud is to let them think you are even more of a nutter than they are

I once lived next to neighbours who threw a dirty nappy over the fence on our first week, it went straight back over. When they played loud music I didn't bother asking politely but stood in the back garden and screamed 'turn that ****ing music down', it really is the only language/behaviour some people understand.

FatVonD

Just a thought, these strip things people are talking about, I'm assuming they are spiked? Could you not put strips of them on the actual wall 2m up (with signs) so the ball punctures when they kick it against the wall?

I have some really spiky ferns in pots in my garden, I'll try to find a picture of them, but, assuming the cats don't have to jump down the same way, I'd put a few of those where she would be landing.

They look a bit like this, they are bloomin' painful!:

http://www.123rf.com/photo_5697826_green-plant-spikes.html