Neighbor problem

[3DisneyBuggs]

Our next door neighbor has a tenant that is becoming very irritating. First she will block our driveway when she parks. We normally park in the street but if I need to I'd like to park in my own driveway. For the past week her car alarm has been going off during the night. One night it kept cycling on for over an hour, starting at 3 am. The alarm is the horn blasting, about 50 blasts a cycle. It just went off now. Aaahhh! DH keeps saying he will talk to her but never does. I think we feel bad saying something because she is here working on a research fellowship and her family is in another state. She's a nice lady but enough is enough. WWYD?

 

[cornflake]

Call the cops. They'll come out and shut off the alarm themselves if they can't find her, at least that's what they do here, as long as it's been going off for a decent period without intervention.

I don't think they'll tell her who called - could be any neighbour.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

I'd call the cops, too. I'd be over the top angry if that happened on my street. I have 4 small kids and someone would be going down! LOL

She may be nice, but blocking your driveway, by parking in front of it, is out and out rude. I'd say something or put a cone or sign board out so she gets the message.

 

[thinkerbell]

I would call and let her know when the alarm is going off. If it is cycling, it sounds like she may not hear it. We had trouble with the alarm on my husband's truck one time and it went off in the middle of the night. It was in our closed garage. Our bedroom was at the other end of the house and we didn't hear it--I'm still not sure how that happened. Our house wasn't that big. Our next door neighbor did hear it and called to let us know. If they hadn't called, it would have kept it up all night.

As far as parking in front of your drive, that is just being rude and I wouldn't have a problem letting her know to move her car.

 

[alex9179]

Definitely talk to her. You said that she's nice, so I don't see any reason to avoid it.

I REALLY hate passive-agressive techniques for dealing with a disagreement or situation. It just creates more drama, as far as I'm concerned.

"Hi Cindy-Lou, are you having trouble with your car? No? That's good! I thought there was something going on when you were parked in our driveway and your car alarm has been acting up. Anything I can help you with?

Polite, helpful, understanding...they go a LONG way.

 

[Schmeck]

When people block our driveway (they tend to park right across from it, and our very narrow part of the street makes it impossible to get out) I call the police, and they come tag/tow the vehicle. It's a very important safety issue. If there was an emergency at your house, and you were blocked in, or rescue equipment couldn't get in, all because she parked there, it would be horrible.

We had neighbors from Hades across the street who had a vehicle with a touchy alarm system. Seems like every time someone showed up in the middle of the night to buy drugs, the car alarm would go off, and we'd call the police. It was pretty handy, actually. Luckily, they were finally busted and are gone for now.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I am not into passive-aggressive.
But, I am def. not into passive either...

1. Speak to her... Let her know that you can not have her block your driveway. That simple... No vague questions... No excuses... "I am sorry, but I can not have my driveway blocked."

2. I wouldn't be passive about the car alarm in the middle of the night, while her car is parked at your driveway. First, I would get with my husband, immediately, and go bang on every door and window to see if she is there. Take care of it, right then....

After you have done those things, ONCE, I would be calling the cops....
Hopefully you live in a jurisdiction where the cops will actually come to a call. Again, when you call, no hemming and hawing and discussions, etc.... I would assume that in both cases, laws are being broken... If the car alarm is going off, dial 911, "somebody might be out there trying to steal a car!!!!" If your drive is blocked... again, make a serious deal out of it.

If you speak to her... no response...
If the cops offer no response...
Find a tow truck company who could use the business.

 

[Hannathy]

I am wondering about 1 thing you said. You said you don't park in your driveway you park in the street. When you do this are you taking up the spot where she is "supposed" to park and making it hard for her to find parking? Does this make her have to park in a way that blocks your driveway?

Does she have a driveway? She shouldn't block it completely but if you are taking up all the street parking does she have a choice?

As far as the alarm I would just see her during the day and ask her if there is a reason her alarm is going off so often and that it is really bothersome for you.

 

[Tozzie]

I am wondering about 1 thing you said. You said you don't park in your driveway you park in the street. When you do this are you taking up the spot where she is "supposed" to park and making it hard for her to find parking? Does this make her have to park in a way that blocks your driveway?

Does she have a driveway? She shouldn't block it completely but if you are taking up all the street parking does she have a choice?

As far as the alarm I would just see her during the day and ask her if there is a reason her alarm is going off so often and that it is really bothersome for you.

I am sorry but no one has reserved parking on the street, the neighbor is supposed to park legally, where the OP parks her own car is a non issue.

 

[Hannathy]

I am sorry but no one has reserved parking on the street, the neighbor is supposed to park legally, where the OP parks her own car is a non issue.

There is legality and then there is living together and cooperating together as neighbors.

It is common courtesy that if there is limited street parking and you have a driveway that you use your driveway instead of taking up the only parking that others have to use. They should park a block away from their house so you can be on a power trip and park on the street instead of your driveway?

There is something called treating others as you would like to be treated.

 

[Tozzie]

There is legality and then there is living together and cooperating together as neighbors.

It is common courtesy that if there is limited street parking and you have a driveway that you use your driveway instead of taking up the only parking that others have to use. They should park a block away from their house so you can be on a power trip and park on the street instead of your driveway?

There is something called treating others as you would like to be treated.

Wow A power trip because you don't park in your driveway. Treating others how you want to be treated means you don't park in their driveway and if that means parking a block away so be it. I have never heard such nonsense as someone being on a powertrip because they don't want to park in the driveway .

 

[LuvLDM]

I agree it sounds annoying but I don't understand why you don't approach her and attempt to have a polite conversation regarding your concerns?

I wouldn't call the police without speaking with her first.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Our next door neighbor has a tenant that is becoming very irritating. First she will block our driveway when she parks.

I had a guy who used to do that when I was in an apartment. Parked right in front of the driveway so nobody could get in (parking for 20+ cars in back). One day, he came outside to find me with a chain hooked to the back of my truck just as I was about to hook the other end to his car. When he asked what I was doing, I replied "Moving this piece of ---- to a proper parking spot". He wasn't happy with me, but he never parked there again

 

[Hannathy]

Wow A power trip because you don't park in your driveway. Treating others how you want to be treated means you don't park in their driveway and if that means parking a block away so be it. I have never heard such nonsense as someone being on a powertrip because they don't want to park in the driveway .

Have you ever lived for years in a city with street parking? Yes neighbors cooperate with each other so all can park.

And yes it is a power trip to take someone else's parking spot when you have 1 they can't use.

 

[hereyago]

O I think we feel bad saying something because she is here working on a research fellowship and her family is in another state. She's a nice lady but enough is enough. WWYD?

See, this wouldn't even be on my radar. If someone was blocking MY driveway and having their car alarm blaring, my feeling "bad" for someone would take a back seat to me getting ticked.

Blocking someone's drive way is rude. They may not hear the alarm, but I certainly would let them know.

I totally agree with WOAS's post about how to handle. If your husband doesn't want to then you do it yourself. I was never one to "wait" and see if my husband talked to someone about something, I have a mouth and very capable of using it,lol.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

There is legality and then there is living together and cooperating together as neighbors.

It is common courtesy that if there is limited street parking and you have a driveway that you use your driveway instead of taking up the only parking that others have to use. They should park a block away from their house so you can be on a power trip and park on the street instead of your driveway?

There is something called treating others as you would like to be treated.

Be that as it may, there is no excuse to park in such a way as to block someone's driveway - whether they use it or not.

 

[Disney Doll]

I'm not sure why you can't go over and nicely say "I love having you next door but I have 2 problems. One,when you park you block my driveway and two, your car alarm goes off in th emiddle of the night and wakes my whole house. So can you do me a favor and give me your phone number so I can call you if either of those things happens?"

I guarantee you that one or two times of having to move the car or one or two times of being called at 3am to shut off the car alarm will solve the problem.

Then, if she stops answering your calls, you call the police, because she has been duly warned.

 

[Tozzie]

Have you ever lived for years in a city with street parking? Yes neighbors cooperate with each other so all can park.

And yes it is a power trip to take someone else's parking spot when you have 1 they can't use.

I have lived in the city for my entire life and never heard of the nonsesne you are spouting, so get a grip. Secondly I don't know where you live but I pay extra in the form of property taxes to have a driveway, if I choose to use it fine if I don't that is my choice to and has nothing to do with a power trip and if I choose to park on the street for various reasons, that doens't give someone the right to block my driveway.

 

[cornflake]

I am not into passive-aggressive.
But, I am def. not into passive either...

1. Speak to her... Let her know that you can not have her block your driveway. That simple... No vague questions... No excuses... "I am sorry, but I can not have my driveway blocked."

2. I wouldn't be passive about the car alarm in the middle of the night, while her car is parked at your driveway. First, I would get with my husband, immediately, and go bang on every door and window to see if she is there. Take care of it, right then....

After you have done those things, ONCE, I would be calling the cops....
Hopefully you live in a jurisdiction where the cops will actually come to a call. Again, when you call, no hemming and hawing and discussions, etc.... I would assume that in both cases, laws are being broken... If the car alarm is going off, dial 911, "somebody might be out there trying to steal a car!!!!" If your drive is blocked... again, make a serious deal out of it.

If you speak to her... no response...
If the cops offer no response...
Find a tow truck company who could use the business.

Please don't call 911 with nonemergencies or fake emergencies. They know the stupid alarm is just random. Just call the cops regular and tell them the alarm has been going off for 20 minutes or whatever, they'll come out and shut it off if they can't find her. Like I said, at least that's what they do here and goodness knows they have other stuff to do, it's not like I live in Mayberry.

 

[declansdad]

I don't understand why you wouldn't park in your driveway. That is what driveways are for.

As for blocking your driveway and the car alarm, just talked to her about it.