Post by buffyasummers on Jan 27, 2015 12:31:06 GMT -5
TL;DR: Our neighbors reported us for H parking his plow truck at our house, and I feel it's because they have singled us out.
So I am on the other end of the spectrum. H and I are the reported. I need to know if our neighbors are just being assholes or we are being overly sensitive to them.
Backstory: These neighbors run the HOA are and Anal Andy about EVERYTHING. Last winter was particularly rough for H (he salts and plows for his company in the winter) and he was out for days at a time. DD and I were hit with a lot of colds and stomach flu at the same time. So we didn't always clear our walkway and steps of snow. Our sidewalk was cleared, just not our own property. Of course we were reported by the neighbors. Fine, whatever. Summer rolled around and we did some clearing of the basement crap. So we moved Hs' pickup truck to the backyard where we could just go right from the basement, out the sliding glass door onto the deck, and put the boxes in the bed of his truck. After an hour, the cops were there because our neighbor had reported us for having a vehicle in the yard while we were moving stuff. They have also called the police for noise complaints while we have had outdoor gatherings of 4 people or less. No music or anything. Just chit-chat. But apparently, we were too loud.
Now the latest.... H has a work truck with a plow and salt spreader on it that he brings home from his shop that is 30 minutes away when he knows he will be going out around 4 am to salt or plow. It is pretty big and when he backs it in, the salt spreader does cover the portion of our sidewalk only in front of our property. Whenever he leaves, he always makes sure to drop salt over the whole parking lot and push any accumulated snow out of the way so people can at least get in/out etc... Because the company that our HOA has do our parking lot does a terrible job and don't even show up until well after people need to leave for work etc...
So H gets a call from his boss that our neighbors called him and complained about the truck and also said they were going to call a tow company if it wasn't moved. Really? You couldn't have just knocked on the door and said something? So now we have to keep the truck at H's parents place 5 miles away, which means I have to wake up DD and get everyone bundled up to go drop H off at his truck at 4 am when he has to work.
Does this seem excessive to you? Like just because it's us? I am allowed to be annoyed, right? If you were our neighbors would the truck be that much of en inconvenience to you, especially when it helps you out, that you would call my H's company and threaten to have it towed right off the bat? I realize it's probably a zoning thing or fire safety or some shit. But it just feels like they have set their targets on us and are looking for any reason they can to report us.
Post by shopgirl07 on Jan 27, 2015 12:34:15 GMT -5
Your neighbors are jerks, and not very neighborly IMO. I think it would be a good trade-off for them to deal with a truck blocking part of the sidewalk in exchange for some plowing and salting.
Post by sparkythelawyer on Jan 27, 2015 12:34:56 GMT -5
I can't wait for people to respond with all the "But our HOA is awesomes" to somehow make up for this type of fuckery. I am so sorry you are goign through this crap where other people are throwing fits about how you manage your own property.
While I appreciate that your husband salts and clears the lot, I can see how people would think that it's an eyesore. But it does sound like they're super picky and prone to just resort to calling authorities/reporting. Can you sit down and talk with them?
ETA - Do they even realize he's helping the community by salting and clearing the snow? Or do they just assume it's the company you hired?
Post by EmilieMadison on Jan 27, 2015 12:37:11 GMT -5
It seems like you are BEC to your neighbors, but it also sounds like you're actually violating some of the rules. Do you only have 1 car? Why can't he just drive to wherever the truck is located so you dont have to get your kid up and out at ungodly hours? It may not be convenient for your DH, but that's kind of part of his job.
Also, tell him to stop plowing and salting the parking lot. It sure was a nice thing to do, but maybe they'll only appreciate it once he stops doing it as a favor. Perhaps your HOA would like a bid from a new plow company that's is available right on site (hint hint)?
Post by buffyasummers on Jan 27, 2015 12:39:41 GMT -5
The cops were visibly annoyed that they even had to come out and deal with it. We got the "Well there was a call so we had to come see..." spiel. And we kept right on doing our thing. A few weeks later, we got a letter in the mail from the HOA saying if it happened again, we would be fined.
I don't think they know H is the one who drops the plow and puts down salt because he's never made a show about he. He has just always recognized that it's the nice thing to do with his equipment he has available, if not for anything else than to make it a little easier for the other company to come in and finish the job.
We have talked to these people before and they either play dumb or just yes us to death ("We'll come talk to you if we have any problems...)
I think it's stupid of your neighbors, but most HOAs have rules about work vehicles being parked in the driveway/on the street. If yours does, you knew about it when you moved in and should have known better.
A vehicle in the yard for moving? Calling the police for normal chit chat in your own back yard? Yeah, your neighbor is obnoxious. If they continue to call the police on you for things that are clearly not illegal or against the HOA rules, I would probably speak with someone at the non-emergency police line about filing a harassment complaint.
Post by buffyasummers on Jan 27, 2015 12:44:08 GMT -5
Ironically, the next door neighbor and BFF of the asshole neighbor is a police officer who brings his squad car home and parks it. So would that be considered a "work vehicle"? If there is a clause about work vehicles, wouldn't that be a violation?
Your neighbors sound like busy bodies. I would go over and talk to them and explain to them about the snow plow. They probably have no idea that your husband is the one that is doing this.
You're both a little wrong. They sound trigger happy, but you are knowingly violating rules. The noise complaints are laughable, but it you're actually blocking the sidewalk with your husband's work vehicle then you need to stop doing that. I'm not surprised they would complain about that, regardless of your history with them.
No, I agree. It's HOW they did it. If they would have just knocked on our door and said "hey you know, your truck really can't be blocking the sidewalk like that" it would have been perfectly okay. It's just calling H's company (and making him look shitty) and threatening to have it towed is what pissed us off.
I'd let the other neighbors know that your DH was the one being helpful and salting so they could get out, but Mr and Mrs HOA had a problem with his worktruck being there, so now you have to schlep your child and DH out in the snow at the crack of dawn yada yada yada and sorry he can no longer help out. I'd put them on blast.
But I am not known for having the warm+fuzzies for the HOAs in general.
I get that the HOA has their bylaws, but to call the cops for moving things out to a truck that had been parked for 1 hour? Yeah, I'd start having a turf war. Not doing things TO Mr and Mrs HOA but constantly going to their house and saying "did you call the police for XYZ? Really? You said you would speak with us before doing so. That is TERRIBLY UNNEIGHBORLY of you to waste the police' time and resources over something so petty and childish, don't you agree, Mr&Mrs HOA??? When you said you would speak to us 1st, was that a lie? I don't understand why you would say one thing, but do the exact opposite." <---- insert heavy disappointment and side-eye. I'd just want them to understand that you know it's them calling.
The older I get, the more internal Sue-Sue I find. :^)
You're both a little wrong. They sound trigger happy, but you are knowingly violating rules. The noise complaints are laughable, but it you're actually blocking the sidewalk with your husband's work vehicle then you need to stop doing that. I'm not surprised they would complain about that, regardless of your history with them.
No, I agree. It's HOW they did it. If they would have just knocked on our door and said "hey you know, your truck really can't be blocking the sidewalk like that" it would have been perfectly okay. It's just calling H's company (and making him look shitty) and threatening to have it towed is what pissed us off.
Sure. This is because they're umitigated assholes.
The thing with assholes is that you can't lose the upper hand with them or they will POUND YOU INTO THE GROUND. You lost the upper hand when you broke the rules (the truck in the backyard was wrong too, though I understand your POV).
Post by sparkythelawyer on Jan 27, 2015 13:09:54 GMT -5
I hope their cars get stuck in the snow that is now not longer cleared out because your husband no longer can plow it out of the goodness of his heart. They are, in fact, assholes.
There is definitely wrong on your part, but your neighbors are assholes too. Your truck was out back for an HOUR and they called the cops? Ridiculous.
While you're more in the wrong w/ the work truck, i would write a letter to the HOA and say "Sorry about the work truck. Our mistake. DH did always plow and salt the street, though, simply to be nice and to make up for the truck being there. I hope that you (the HOA) will be proactive in getting the company that's supposed to do it to be more punctual since DH won't be able to do it anymore".
Post by captainobvious on Jan 27, 2015 13:32:59 GMT -5
You say you think it's because they have "singled you out." Why do you think that? Simply because the call you on rule violations (without first giving warning or speaking to you directly) or because they do it to you and no one else. I'm assuming that someone called Anal Andy probably calls on everyone (and has nothing better to do.)
There is definitely wrong on your part, but your neighbors are assholes too. Your truck was out back for an HOUR and they called the cops? Ridiculous.
While you're more in the wrong w/ the work truck, i would write a letter to the HOA and say "Sorry about the work truck. Our mistake. DH did always plow and salt the street, though, simply to be nice and to make up for the truck being there. I hope that you (the HOA) will be proactive in getting the company that's supposed to do it to be more punctual since DH won't be able to do it anymore".
I'm not all together rational, and would probably bring this up at the next HOA meeting, rather than by letter. using ecb ' wording. And then suggest that they amend the bylaws regarding vehicles on lawns for purposes of moving provided they're removed within a reasonable length of time. Make it about making it easier for everyone rather than just your issues
I live in a HOA community, my parents built the house which I bought from them. My previous neighbor was a cranky bitch. I kind of don't blame her; her life sucked- she had MS and depression and was so unpleasant her DH moved out the day after the youngest child left for college. So long as she could use a keyboard she was in constant communication with the HOA.
I can't wrap my mind around calling/writing about a truck being in active use moving things from a basement, or the decibe; levels associated with cocktails on your deck. But a big ol' plow in the drive way. Nope. I wouldn't like it.
Our HOA restricts commercial vehicles, boats, RVs. You can have a pickup, but it can not have a company logo on it. When my dad lived here he had a huge Grumman Step Van that he parked elsewhere. Maybe this would be an option for your DH. Dad parked at a local garage, he parked at the local police station for a time until they asked him not to.
In the rare instance that he stopped by the house mid-day for 15 minutes Mrs.Cranky-pants would write a letter. The great irony is that her DH bought an SUV on ebay that he parked on my side of the house next to their garage because he didn't want her to know about it. TBH, I only noticed it driving into the culd de sac so I never got my skivvies in a twist over it.
I think that if you have any intention of living peacefully with your neighbours there is a little give and take. You ignore 90% of what pisses you off, speak directly to them for 9% of the shit they do that you can't live with and involve outside sources 1% of the time or less when all else fails. They should have come to you directly and you could have explained your side. If they still disagree with you and what you're doing is against the rules then I think you have to acquiesce to them.
I'm kind of chuckling at the idea of leaving vehicles at the local police station for free parking. I'm picturing a "I'm a TAX PAYER so that lot belongs to ME!" rant on Facebook to justify it, lol.
We have a huge municipal complex across the street from the backyard. In the early days when this neighborhood was built it was pretty common to use the lot- there was a real small-town Mayberry vibe back then. The community is bigger these days, so it really wouldn't work now. The garage owner never charged him either, though he did use them for repairs and fuel. People still use it for overflow parking when they have a party in my neighborhood- the cops are cool with it on an occasional basis. I'm cool when they cut through my yard on their bikes. Especially when they have shorts on.
Post by emoflamingo on Jan 27, 2015 16:01:28 GMT -5
Why, if you know you live next to the HOA president, would you continue to break bylaws?
The only two times I've called the cops on neighbors for being loud was the time shots were fired* and my car had a bullet lodged into the back window and then the following weekend when they had yet another loud party like the one the weekend before that caused the gun fire.
*I really did not live in a bad neighborhood, even if the gunfire and hooptie with hydraulics says otherwise.