Home owner demanding money to repair/fix a fence.

GDB2222

Boohoo said:

GDB2222 said:

I put up some fence around 10 years ago, and some of the posts have now rotted. The neighbour built up her garden against the fence, which probably accelerated the process. Two new posts, postcrete, plus a fence panel came to £80. It hardly seems worth worrying about. I fixed another fence post by sinking a spur into the ground, and I used one of the old fence posts for that. 

Maybe, you and the belligerent chap could roll your sleeves up and repair the fence together. It'll save a load of money, plus show him that his neighbours are people, too. 

Thanks for your reply.

I is not me that has the issue but my mid 80's lady from next door.

I will pass on your advice to her but i don't think she will roll up her sleeves and get repairing.

I thought you wanted to help the old lady?

Yorkie1

I'd be going to the police, then. Whether or not the money is in theory payable, demanding it with menaces is an offence. Likewise, harassment - you can't take unreasonable steps to recover what you might be entitled to.
And perhaps trading standards if he is doing this under the auspices of a firm - elder abuse.

Boohoo

Yorkie1 said:

I'd be going to the police, then. Whether or not the money is in theory payable, demanding it with menaces is an offence. Likewise, harassment - you can't take unreasonable steps to recover what you might be entitled to.
And perhaps trading standards if he is doing this under the auspices of a firm - elder abuse.

I think he has gone ahead and got quotes to repair the fence on my next door neighbours side and wants the money to pay the full cost not halves.

I am fairly sure that he has used the same quote for the other neighbour on his other side that some fencing has come down. The firm he got the quote from is legit and i sure has nothing to do with him.

My partner did call the Police but was told it was a civil matter. The elderly woman is not one for confronting people and would rather do what ever people asked(wether right or wrong) rather than stand upto them. She is also old school when it comes to money and wold go to the bank in town and draw out the money in cash and walk through the town and get 2 buses there and back. 

user1977

Boohoo said:

Yorkie1 said:

I'd be going to the police, then. Whether or not the money is in theory payable, demanding it with menaces is an offence. Likewise, harassment - you can't take unreasonable steps to recover what you might be entitled to.
And perhaps trading standards if he is doing this under the auspices of a firm - elder abuse.

My partner did call the Police but was told it was a civil matter. 

It isn't once it becomes harassment or involve threatening behaviour. Yes they're not going get involved in civil arguments about repairing obligations, but they will if it sounds like more straightforward violence is involved...

sheramber

Boohoo said:

Yorkie1 said:

I'd be going to the police, then. Whether or not the money is in theory payable, demanding it with menaces is an offence. Likewise, harassment - you can't take unreasonable steps to recover what you might be entitled to.
And perhaps trading standards if he is doing this under the auspices of a firm - elder abuse.

I think he has gone ahead and got quotes to repair the fence on my next door neighbours side and wants the money to pay the full cost not halves.

I am fairly sure that he has used the same quote for the other neighbour on his other side that some fencing has come down. The firm he got the quote from is legit and i sure has nothing to do with him.

My partner did call the Police but was told it was a civil matter. The elderly woman is not one for confronting people and would rather do what ever people asked(wether right or wrong) rather than stand upto them. She is also old school when it comes to money and wold go to the bank in town and draw out the money in cash and walk through the town and get 2 buses there and back. 

Do you have a community policeman who could have a 'friendly' chat with man?

ThisIsWeird

Boohoo said:

Yorkie1 said:

I'd be going to the police, then. Whether or not the money is in theory payable, demanding it with menaces is an offence. Likewise, harassment - you can't take unreasonable steps to recover what you might be entitled to.
And perhaps trading standards if he is doing this under the auspices of a firm - elder abuse.

I think he has gone ahead and got quotes to repair the fence on my next door neighbours side and wants the money to pay the full cost not halves.

I am fairly sure that he has used the same quote for the other neighbour on his other side that some fencing has come down. The firm he got the quote from is legit and i sure has nothing to do with him.

My partner did call the Police but was told it was a civil matter. The elderly woman is not one for confronting people and would rather do what ever people asked(wether right or wrong) rather than stand upto them. She is also old school when it comes to money and wold go to the bank in town and draw out the money in cash and walk through the town and get 2 buses there and back. 

It's good of you to be looking out for her like this.
You cannot always be there for her, of course, but perhaps you could tell her (a) this is not her responsibility, and (b) to call you immediately should he come back. If you could then do the video-recorded bit similar to what I suggested before, and if there's any hint of continued 'demand' or belligerence from him, do call the police again, and inform them you believe this elderly lady is being harassed. 

Boohoo

ThisIsWeird said:

Boohoo said:

Yorkie1 said:

I'd be going to the police, then. Whether or not the money is in theory payable, demanding it with menaces is an offence. Likewise, harassment - you can't take unreasonable steps to recover what you might be entitled to.
And perhaps trading standards if he is doing this under the auspices of a firm - elder abuse.

I think he has gone ahead and got quotes to repair the fence on my next door neighbours side and wants the money to pay the full cost not halves.

I am fairly sure that he has used the same quote for the other neighbour on his other side that some fencing has come down. The firm he got the quote from is legit and i sure has nothing to do with him.

My partner did call the Police but was told it was a civil matter. The elderly woman is not one for confronting people and would rather do what ever people asked(wether right or wrong) rather than stand upto them. She is also old school when it comes to money and wold go to the bank in town and draw out the money in cash and walk through the town and get 2 buses there and back. 

It's good of you to be looking out for her like this.
You cannot always be there for her, of course, but perhaps you could tell her (a) this is not her responsibility, and (b) to call you immediately should he come back. If you could then do the video-recorded bit similar to what I suggested before, and if there's any hint of continued 'demand' or belligerence from him, do call the police again, and inform them you believe this elderly lady is being harassed. 

She is a lovely, kind and helpful woman who has been really godd for us over the years.

When we moved in she came round with i tray of sarnies, cake and biscuits and a flask of tea and said if you anything more let her know and she also said if we needed any food shopping tell her as she was going to the shops that day.

We have told her to look out the front room window to see who is at the door and if it's him not to answer.

Boohoo

sheramber said:

Boohoo said:

Yorkie1 said:

I'd be going to the police, then. Whether or not the money is in theory payable, demanding it with menaces is an offence. Likewise, harassment - you can't take unreasonable steps to recover what you might be entitled to.
And perhaps trading standards if he is doing this under the auspices of a firm - elder abuse.

I think he has gone ahead and got quotes to repair the fence on my next door neighbours side and wants the money to pay the full cost not halves.

I am fairly sure that he has used the same quote for the other neighbour on his other side that some fencing has come down. The firm he got the quote from is legit and i sure has nothing to do with him.

My partner did call the Police but was told it was a civil matter. The elderly woman is not one for confronting people and would rather do what ever people asked(wether right or wrong) rather than stand upto them. She is also old school when it comes to money and wold go to the bank in town and draw out the money in cash and walk through the town and get 2 buses there and back. 

Do you have a community policeman who could have a 'friendly' chat with man?

I don't think we have a community Police person to talk to them about this.

This person is the type that when things don't go his way he is on his mobile calling his mates to come round and they turn up in cars and intimidate whoever this man was arguing with.

I have only found these things out at the weekend when i was talking to the neighbour behind me and said that on the estate there have been lots of rows/spats between him and some of the residents of the new estate.

Jude57

Boohoo said:

sheramber said:

Boohoo said:

Yorkie1 said:

I'd be going to the police, then. Whether or not the money is in theory payable, demanding it with menaces is an offence. Likewise, harassment - you can't take unreasonable steps to recover what you might be entitled to.
And perhaps trading standards if he is doing this under the auspices of a firm - elder abuse.

I think he has gone ahead and got quotes to repair the fence on my next door neighbours side and wants the money to pay the full cost not halves.

I am fairly sure that he has used the same quote for the other neighbour on his other side that some fencing has come down. The firm he got the quote from is legit and i sure has nothing to do with him.

My partner did call the Police but was told it was a civil matter. The elderly woman is not one for confronting people and would rather do what ever people asked(wether right or wrong) rather than stand upto them. She is also old school when it comes to money and wold go to the bank in town and draw out the money in cash and walk through the town and get 2 buses there and back. 

Do you have a community policeman who could have a 'friendly' chat with man?

I don't think we have a community Police person to talk to them about this.

This person is the type that when things don't go his way he is on his mobile calling his mates to come round and they turn up in cars and intimidate whoever this man was arguing with.

I have only found these things out at the weekend when i was talking to the neighbour behind me and said that on the estate there have been lots of rows/spats between him and some of the residents of the new estate.

You will have a Neighbourhood policing team, details of which should be on your local police website. There'll be named officers who are responsible for community policing in your area and you should be able to arrange a visit to your neighbour, with you present, to discuss the harassment, alarm and distress being caused by this man, either by a police officer or by a Police Community Support Officer. Be very clear (on your neighbour's behalf if she's agreeable) that she does not expect police to resolve the fencing issue but needs help to stop the man hassling your neighbour. His behaviour so far certainly seems to fall under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1997/40/contents

The man has paid your neighbour more than one visit about the issue, and that indicates a course of conduct as outlined in the Act. If this has no other effect, it puts this man on police radar - assuming this is the first time he's come to their attention which, if what you've been told is true, it may well not be. If the Neighbourhood policing team refuses to engage with you/your neighbour, escalate it to the Neighbourhood policing Inspector, in writing if necessary. If you still have no joy, a joint report to the Police and Crime Commisioner for your area (details of who that is and how to contact them are on your Police force website) and to the local Councillor responsible for Crime, Community Safety and Anti-social Behaviour, details on your local Council website. Again, be clear that it's not the fencing issue but this man's harassment of your neighbour that's the issue. Your neighbour might also consider whether a 'cease and desist' letter from a solicitor, setting out that, according to the available records, your neighbour is not responsible for the fence and that any further contact from the man must be via the solicitor, otherwise it will be considered harassment and reported to police accordingly. Personally, I'd go to police first, rather than incurring solicitors fees.

People who bully defenceless old ladies are beneath contempt and need to be stopped.

ThisIsWeird

Boohoo said:

sheramber said:

Boohoo said:

Yorkie1 said:

I'd be going to the police, then. Whether or not the money is in theory payable, demanding it with menaces is an offence. Likewise, harassment - you can't take unreasonable steps to recover what you might be entitled to.
And perhaps trading standards if he is doing this under the auspices of a firm - elder abuse.

I think he has gone ahead and got quotes to repair the fence on my next door neighbours side and wants the money to pay the full cost not halves.

I am fairly sure that he has used the same quote for the other neighbour on his other side that some fencing has come down. The firm he got the quote from is legit and i sure has nothing to do with him.

My partner did call the Police but was told it was a civil matter. The elderly woman is not one for confronting people and would rather do what ever people asked(wether right or wrong) rather than stand upto them. She is also old school when it comes to money and wold go to the bank in town and draw out the money in cash and walk through the town and get 2 buses there and back. 

Do you have a community policeman who could have a 'friendly' chat with man?

I don't think we have a community Police person to talk to them about this.

This person is the type that when things don't go his way he is on his mobile calling his mates to come round and they turn up in cars and intimidate whoever this man was arguing with.

I have only found these things out at the weekend when i was talking to the neighbour behind me and said that on the estate there have been lots of rows/spats between him and some of the residents of the new estate.

A lot worse than we thought, then :-(
Worth having your local police on speed dial - is it 101?