What Would You Have Done?
I had a small argument with a neighbor yesterday about damage done to my Property by his "Moron" of a Cement truck driver, who did damage to my Property while delivering to property across the street from me. (3-4 weeks ago.)
I only saw that they had broken off a 4x4 post with a solar light mounted on it, that was set in concrete, and left it laying at the head of my drive. (One on either side of the head of my driveway.) I saw that the next day when leaving my property and upon returning home, drove to the guy's shop to ask (nicely) that it be repaired. Seemed to go okay. When I saw his "repair," a couple days later, I was not too thrilled. He had taken the broken off post, and lightly planted it back in the ground, no concrete, no new post, no replaced broken solar light. (And) He didn't even orient the post correctly, but had the eye bolt facing the street (chain/rope from post to post when I decide to put it up.) and my reflector pointing in my yard instead of into the street. (Sigh.)
Kinda let it go. Well a couple days ago, I walked a chair I was giving a young Couple that moved in beside me (200 yards away +/-) over to them and saw several deep ruts (he had been here during a very wet period.) About 4' into my yard (over largish Rocks bordering my property, pushing them down into the ground.) Two ruts 4' long, each 2' wide and between 9"-12" deep. I can not mow over them.
I sent a nicely worded text to him a couple days ago, to "Please call me when you get a chance, I have found more damage to my yard by your Concrete driver." Nothing. A day or two later, I called his cell phone. He did not pick up, No answer, "Mailbox full."
Well yesterday his 18-19 year old Son was mowing the property and I stepped over to "ask his Dad to Call me when he got a chance." And was in the midst of exchanging a few pleasantries with his Son, when Dad strode up. "What are you doing over here, bothering my Son?" I replied I am not bothering your Son, am I?" While looking at his Son. Son - "No."
Went from there, going downhill. I was struggling to keep my cool and not raise my voice. He basically said "Call the Concrete company, it's not my problem." Wrong answer. I told him he has heavy equipment, I do not, he could easily fix the damage to my Property. I also told him that "He had contracted the Company, HE could call them to come back out to fix the damage they did to my Property, or he could fix it himself." (That he knew about and was 3-4 weeks old, by the way.) And I strode off.
Last night he sends me a Curt text that "He will repair the damage to my yard, this week sometime, only because I am trying to be a good neighbor."
Grrr....................😡
*I also discussed the fact that he had been present at the Concrete delivery and was directing the truck. "You knew they had done this to my yard. They pulled up and back at your direction." Which he admitted.
-
Idiots are verywhere! It seems that you handled the situation as best as possible. Hopefully he will actually fix the damage and you can move on.
3 -
Hope he follows through and does the repairs. I think I would have started with the concrete company about repairs. Their trucks must have insurance and also they need to know about the poor performance of their driver. I am surprised that the neighbor didn't contact them about your concerns. Bob
6 -
I do not sleep well anyway, like @Ditch-Runner, and spent pretty much most of last night, dwelling on this. What bugged me about it most especially, was that he was trying to make me out to be "The Jerk," in this.
What also bothered me about this, was that he felt/thought it was MY responsibility to contact the Concrete Co. Not HIM. (Not only could he fix this himself and has the equipment to do so,) I told him "YOU contracted for them to come out, not ME. I'm not going to try and call/convince them to come out to repair damage to my property that you admit you knew about. YOU call them, or YOU fix it." I then strode off before things devolved further.
When he stated earlier in our conversation, "It's not my problem." I got angry.
6 -
While you’re at it, you should push over your post and leave at lay. Hopefully your neighbor will realize he did a piss poor job of repairing it. Then, maybe he’ll fix it properly
6 -
Well, as much as I would like to do that ^^^^^^^^^I already addressed it. There is however a broken Solar post top light, that is still broken/not replaced. We'll see if he does anything about that. (I am doubting it.) Based on the quality of the "repair," he did to the post - confidence is really low on the quality of the rut repair. 🤔
He apparently now thinks I am a Jerk. (So be it.) I told him I am not of the mindset and makeup to just let someone blatently damage my property and then ignore it/not address it. (3-4 weeks.) I also told him, "if it was your Property, I would have fixed it when it happened, without being asked, much less argue with you about it."
3 -
"He apparently now thinks I am a Jerk."Â
He sure went to alot of trouble to find that out. We woulda told him that, for nothing.
(just kiddin ya)
Hope he makes it right with you. I think you are handling pretty darn calmly and fair.
15 -
What's that old saying about fences?
I figure if folks think I'm a jerk they won't do things to make me have an interaction with them.
3 -
A great reason not to live close to anyone.
6 -
Wow sorry to hear but seems like there is always that one in the area
And hope it does not escalate to a bad level
i hate to say it Sadly I think I am the one in our area lol
We are Always shooting and with big loud guns my son has a Barrett 50 and just bought a cannon lol
We always have done nothing terrible or damage any property but do make a lot of noise not at night just during the day usually weekends. both families seem to be decent people and good neighbors as we don't talk why I like them
my close neighbors we have two family's 2 sets are just across the road and it's at least 1/2 mile on each side to the nearest one and over a mile to any one behind us
We have been across the road from both sisince they moved in at least 20 years in one case
I guess is a good thing saves any arguing we just nod or wave if we happen to see each other in the yards or close to the mail boxes We may have said a dozen words over the years
And lol
I am just now trying to sleep from yesterday sleep is elusive to more often than not
hope your neighbor comes around and does the right thing
0 -
I am not too close (in yardage) to this guy @Mobuck, his house is probably 1/10 mi. away. He (unfortunately) cleared about 1/4 acre of woods right across the street from my house, to build for his Mom. The cement delivery, was them pouring a slab/foundation. Not much room to turn around or get into position on our little gravel road. (1 lane.) We are very rural, back in a Holler.
*This is the same neighbor that came down and "borrowed" my long extension ladder, I used to have hanging on the backside of one of my buildings. No permission, no asking, just took it and had it for several weeks, until I had to start asking around and looking for it. (He had borrowed it a couple times with permission before.) Someone told me "I think Ricky has it building his large metal shop." Found it laying on the ground beside his now completed building. It had rained several times (with it on the ground) and now had reddish earth/clay all over it. (Sigh)
I sold it another neighbor shortly afterward.
I told this guy, "Are you kidding, I stay to myself on my property and mind my own business." (The other day) When he indicated he thought I was being difficult. 🙄
He had plenty of room for the truck to get on his cleared/prepared land and turn around/get in position. He chose to have them damage my property instead. It had been raining almost every day for weeks. The ground was soft. I reminded him that "I had seen HIM directing the truck up and back. I thought everything was okay and went back behind my property on the deck."
0 -
He sounds like one of those types that loves to be miserable.....that type person is fueled by drama. They are always in the middle of some nonsense and its always someone else's fault for whatever is going on. They are a real joy 100% of the time.
It might be easier to just call the company that delivered the concrete to let them know about the damage.....not because you should, but because there is a chance there is a decent person over there who will fix it and you will not have to deal with him any more. If that happens I'd look him in the face and tell him "I got the damage YOU did to my property dealt with this time, but you need to be extra careful that it doesn't happen again."
3 -
You shound have called the police and gotten an official report. The concrete company would probably make it right, the CDL driver is ultimately responsible for any damage done so either he or his company should man up.
Don't make it personal.
15 -
I tried to contact the Concrete Co. Yesterday. Voicemail runaround, no one picking up. No call back. I made it very clear their Company and driver had damaged my Property.
bullshot: 30055759134235/comments/30055795647387
You shound have called the police and gotten an official report. The concrete company would probably make it right, the CDL driver is ultimately responsible for any damage done so either he or his company should man up.
Don't make it personal.
"Calling the Police," around here, makes it Very Personal. (And it's the Sheriff.)
(And) I was being very Civil and non-confrontational with this neighbor, (I had been on good terms with) until he started dodging my texts (1) and call. (1) He is the one that turned it in to another direction and was confrontational.
He has (reluctantly) agreed to address it.
*His striding aggressively up to me the other day and being short and aggressive, "It's Not My Problem" etc. did not set well with me. Neighbors around here do not treat each other that way. He found out, I was not going to back down/be pushed around/dismissed.
0 -
beat his ass and burn his house down.
15 -
^^^^^^^^^^^^Right^^^^^^^^^^^^^
@Sam06. A very measured response. Thank you, Sir.
*You are okay with people damaging your Property and then pretending like it didn't exist? Just asking.
*(Or) Are you just having a bad day, Sir?
0 -
Next rains go muddin' on their patch if they don't make it right.
3 -
Im not a sir I worked for a living.
3 -
Part of your problem is, he took your ladder without asking. But that started with your lending him that same ladder on two occasions. Shakespeare says that is a mistake:
"Never a borrower or a lender be
For borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry,
And a loan oft loses both itself and friend."
I hope you can calm things down because this is headed for a very ugly confrontation.
6 -
The guy has already reluctantly agreed to repair the damage. I do not see the situation getting ugly. I was very civil with him, I did not raise my voice and no names were called. We have always been on good terms, until this. I think we both realize that we will continue living near each other and do not want things to escalate.
3 -
Sam06: 30055759134235/comments/30055761510939
Im not a sir I worked for a living.
Comes from my rigid upbringing and trying/endeavoring to treat people with Respect, Sir.
I remember the NCO mantra/saying. It is unfortunate, you have an issue with someone calling you "Sir," out of Respect.
3 -
Bud I don't have an "issue" with someone calling me Sir in fact I don't really have any issues with people calling me what the heck they want on the internet its a mostly free country.
My 1st post was an attempt at a joke or humor if you will, you didn't see it that way maybe we have a failure to communicate or you are a little defensive on forums, whatever.
I will refrain from commenting on your posts from here on out so you don't get upset.
Have a good one
3 -
Tough call and certainly annoying.
But it’s not worth losing sleep over. If you can fix it and move on, that was the cost of getting to know the neighbor.
But don’t let crap like this eat at you.
3 -
No problem @Sam06, I took your post as a dig, that I was overreacting.
If I misread it, I apologize.
If you wish to refrain from posting on my threads, that is fine also. (And) I am not upset, "Bud."
0 -
I would have just repaired it myself, all of it. You will get no where with any concrete company, I know. But with "borrowing stuff" that would end, imo only.
6 -
My son ran over the neighbors mailbox and flowers a couple weeks ago. How??? He was being an ass in his camaro, lost control and ran his stuff over. He knocked on the door, told the neighbor and promptly fixed it the next day. New mailbox, new flowers and a dozen roses for his wife as an apology. He made it right, but I told him that it doesn't exclude him from being an idiot in the first place. I wish most people responded like he did, but most people, don't care enough.
3 -
We seem to have had a communication breakthrough over the last several hours. I sent him this:
"I was not going to communicate w/you again on this, but I will share. After coming back from burying my Mom on Monday, I left 3 different Voicemails with Chandler (Mtn City plant and their Regional Director "Joe.") Gave it a couple days and then, did it again. No call back. Apparently, they "Could Care Less." Just so you know."
He responded, and we had a Civil discourse. He say's "I will fix your Property tomorrow." Let's see how this plays out. I told him," We have always been on good terms, I would like to keep it like that." He agreed.
3
Post is closed for comments.
Comments
26 comments