Neighbor Woes

[Player0]

I have been put in an extremely hideous situation right now. Let me start the story by saying that yesterday, I got home from work at about 7pm. I was dog tired, and pretty much didnt want to move except for getting the remote control. The neighbors who live below me (we share a two family house) were fighting and blaring their rap music. They are a black couple in their 30s with about 5 kids, and I don't think they are married. They often fight, drink, and can be extremely obnoxious. I'm used to their fighting and the kids banging, so I just ignored them.

I heard knocking twice on my door last night. It was late, about 10pm, so I didn't open the door. About an hour later, I hear extremely LOUD knocking on the door, so I decided to go figgure out who it was. Turns out it was a cop. He was asking me if I had called the police to report a 'disturbance'. I said no, and he told me that some lady had called the police like 3 times to report the disturbance and hung up or something. I said I didn't know anything, and just then the neighbors below me walked outside, the lady was extremely drunk, and the cop saw them and went down. I closed my door and went to bed. They continued to fight and slam doors and stuff until about 2-3am, so I didn't sleep well.

I was woken up this morning at 8am by a noise that sounded like knocking. It got louder and louder, but no one was at the doors. It continued, like someone was repeatedly banging on the walls. My wife and I tried to ignore it, but after about 30 minutes, I had enough, and I banged the floor a couple times with my foot. I then heard my neighbor scream f*** you you f*** a*** hole and a whole bunch of other swears, and he continued banging. Then he started to kick the radiators or something, which echoed an annoying 'ping' sound through the entire house.

We tried to ignore it, and things quieted down a little. We were again awoken to screaming, this time outside at about 10am. I heard the male neighbor talking with one of the other neighbors. It was hard to make anything else, but I heard him scream 'That fat fuck called the police on me' and 'He lives with that fucking imigrant, whats the number for the INS'. And a bunch of other nice things, which im 99% sure was directed at us. My wife is a phillipine imigrant.

Screaming continued through out the day, and it has stressed my wife and me out considerably. We feel like we have to step on eggs inside the house, and both of us are nervous about going outside the house because these people are just crazy. They seem to be blaming me for something I didn't even do. I wrote a letter before I went to lunch with a friend, and left it on their doorstep. In the letter I explained that I wasnt sure what was going on or if it was being directed to us. I said I was sorry if we had caused any problems and that we did NOT call the police on anyone. It was a very nice letter. When we came back from lunch an hour later, the envelope looked like it had been moved, but was still outside their door. 4 hours later (and we know that the neighbors have been inside and outside that door), we went to the bank and the drugstore, and noticed our envelope still sitting on the floor, upside down, and having been opened. I dont know what to make of it, perhaps it was the kids messing with it, or perhaps they dont beleive us.

I hate to sound like a pussy. The INS comment makes me mad, and part of me wants to go down there and kick the shit out of this guy. But I want to keep the peace. My home is my oasis, where I go to relax. This has done nothing but ruin my day. I'm not sure how to continue. The jerks have quieted down at least, but this guy was MAD. He gets drunk, and who knows what he's capable of, whether he beleives me or not. Frankily, even if I had called the cops (which is something i have only done once when they were trashing their kitchen (and mine indirectly) at midnight, which was months ago, its no excuse for how they are acting. Im pretty sure they woke us up on purpose this morning, which means the wife and I both have an hour of sleep.

I'm half tempted to call over some friends and just have some support while i go talk to this idiot. Gah.

[spldart]

Your more reserved than I. I would have stuffed my 45 in my waist and pulled my shirt over it. Then as he talked smack I would have gone outside and taunted him harshly deliberately provoking him to violence. Then I would shoot him twice in the chest at my front door.

I had a situation where someone came over to my house that I didn't like. I wanted to make it clear that I never wanted to see him or have him talk to me or any in my family ever again. Greeting him at his car at the end of my driveway with my 45 stuffed in the waist of my Levis did the trick nicely.

Living in fear leaves your life with no quality whatsoever. :(

[attitudx]

WELLL DUDE.... YOu are kinda in a harsh and volitile situation. YOu wanna enjoy your home, without the loudness of drunken and rude neighbors, house sharers or who they are. I would have been reserved as you until the immigrant comments. You are married so she is legal, screw em.. ME at this point would have already thumped him seconds after the ins comment. INvite some friends over talk calmly with him and if that dont work, then make sure he understands that he is not in a position to argue :) then again this smilie works as well:2guns:

best of luck

[Player0]

Well, when he was talking smack, I was kind of groggy and had just woken up. My wife heard the immigrant comment not me. She told me at lunch. Anyway, they haven't said anything since. I dont own a gun (for fear of using it, cause I can be hotheaded) but I have been carrying around my 4" folding knife, just incase he wants some shit. I have NO reservations of using it on anyone who threatens me or my family. However, any thing like that is risky, and I dont need to jeapordize my future over some idiot.

[attitudx]

totally agreeable... I can bet you that he was drunk and now sober doesnt even remember what he said or who it was directed to.... so maybe things will just work themselves out then again i am a smilie guy so you can tell him in these steps :321: :alienbird and then have one of these :drinky:

[kenrippy]

Dude, that sounds harsh. I would be very dissapointed with my living arrangement if I were you. Is there any type of landlord you can complain to? That's the worst thing about finding a place to live, you can change everything in the house but you can't change your neighbors (unless you move).

Next time they harass you, CALL the damn cops then. And keep calling them till they get the idea. If they don't believe you that you never called the cops, hell with them - might as well make some calls.

[ralf_c]

hi p0

man!, don't fu@k with people like that they're not worth it, YOU ARE NOT a pussy for ignoring fraging di%k heads like your neighbors, be smart and control your self, you don't what to wind up in jail for people like those f$%ks. i am in a situation similar to yours but my neighbors aren't loud they are, dare i say it, anal racist mexicans (as some of you know i am a latino from Honduras and NOT Mexican), my neighbors have been nothing but headaches and at some point I felt like going down the street to get a street gun so can bust a cap on these haters I have to deal with. but the more I thought about it the more worthless those people became to me.

[darksaint]

i had some wigger's(white kids that think they are black guys from the ghetto) living next door to me. Some similar stuff happend to me. I hate people like that. Bolt cutters take valve stems off very easy. Also calls to the police about suspected drug dealers always work too.

[Player0]

Yeah, your totally right ralf, thanks. I try to be a reasonable guy, and it just would be a waste to get in trouble over these assholes.

I wish I could just let it go. But I've been wound up all day about this. Honestly, I feel nervous, and I dont know why. Again, my home is my sanctuary, and when there are problems at home...where else can I go? I'm definitely edgy, and I wish my neighbors would write me a letter back or come talk to me or something. I feel like things haven't been finalized...and I'm the type of person who can't focus with other shit going on. I've always been like that. I can't just let things go like that for whatever reason.

What am I worried about? Nothing legitimately. I'm not worried about fighting with them, i'm not worried about getting hurt. Im not worried about getting in trouble. I just hate this unfinished business. I keep arguing with the idiots in my head because I haven't done it for real yet. But now I'm rambling. I just dont need this extra stress in my life right now. I have enough shit in my life with out having to deal with abusive motherfuckers like these idiots.

I wish I had enough money to make moving an option this summer. I want my own damn house, dont want to be living on top of anyone.

[ralf_c]

hi p0

Sounds like your neighbors are detached! The hell with people like that. society can do without. They are the ones who left the business unfinished. just keep an eye on them and go on about your life.

[BigBen]

Sorry to hear your troubles Player0 :( ..... we have a TV program on over here called "neighbours from hell" which is always fun to watch as I don't have to live next to them ...... but we had new scumbag neighbours move in last summer and for some reason they started having a go at my son, they seemed to want to be the bigboys on the block haha .... when eventually they threatened to hit him I decided to make an appearence ..... people think they can fight until they meet an ex-fighter :D biff ... bash ... bosh and it was all over BigBen 3 Neighbours 0 EXCEPT they did'nt like the result and called the cops :mad: which resulted in a court appearence for a bit of assualt and battery on the human anatomy .... I got a small fine but it was worth it as no more hassle has occurred since and they hide away like the cowards they are ..... You just have to stand up for yourself and its lucky this is a no gun country as neighbours would be shooting each other all the time :rolleyes:

Regards

[Synthohol]

Hang in there Tom, years ago i had a mafia landlord who threatened my life, i called the cops, went to court and he left me alone for 4 years after that, would only talk through written word to me. FWIW DYFS is very powerfull at least in n.j. if they suspect violence or drugs or a severe booze problem, they will make their life mizarable and under scrutiny for a long time. perhaps you heard "no daddy, stop hitting me or mommy" in my youth, people looked the other way at that stuff, nowadays they jump on it!

good luck

[Pyro]

If the problems continue you should talk to them, don't wait for them to come to you or to respond to your letter. Tell them you will call the cops if necessary. Call the cops multiple times like kenrippy said if you have too. Just keep your mind clear and try to stay cool about it.

You've handled this situation well.

[Player0]

Well, I still havent talked to my neighbors. The landlord came today to fix a leak in the tub which was leaking down on the neighbors (no, I dont suppose they blame me for that at least). But apparantly, they complained to my landlord that I have been calling the police on them, and also mentioned how *I* was noisy and yet they had never called the police on ME.

Well, anyway I talked with the landlord for like an hour, and I think he beleives me, although he doesn't really give two craps. He doesnt want to be bothered with this, but he seemed shocked about how abusive my neighbors have been, and would call them to let them know that I wasnt the ones to call the police.

The neighbors have remained quiet anyway. Ive talked to my family and they might lend us the money to move this summer, which because of the new job and wife, I probably wouldnt be able to afford anyway. Its not just the neighbors why I want to move, but its the icing on the cake. I want to be closer to work, rent my own house, and have some place nicer than this dump.

My landlord also mentioned that he would be raising my rent due to the fact that I have a wife and a washing machine, since his water bill has been higher than normal. Ive never paid a water bill, I wonder what is 'expensive' for that. Well, thats okay...I dont mind rent going up after 4 years I guess.

[Pyro]

Originally posted by Player0
Its not just the neighbors why I want to move, but its the icing on the cake. I want to be closer to work, rent my own house, and have some place nicer than this dump.

I understand completely. its good to hear that things have settled down lately with that other family atleast for the time being.

Good luck with your future home and I wish you and your family the best of luck.

[WesM63]

Hey tom,
I know I hav'nt been around much lately, but this kinda shit is unnacceptable.

True I live in the middle of Nowhere where I can be as loud as I please and do what I please. So I don't know what it's like to have "pesky" neigbors.

You have handled the situation very well, in my own eyes at least. I'm sure I woulda said something to them in the harsest way I could or walked down there with my loaded 12gauge and talked to them nicely. :D Not really, I woulda had some words with them, then some words with the cops.

If the problem persits, Call the cops. They can be your best friends or worst enemys. I know quite a few cops around here so... its not hard for me to get what I want ;)

But all in all, Tough it out bud. Get the money (I Have some $$ for you.) from your family and find your own house.

[Player0]

Does anyone know if it would be possible to get a log of my 911 phone calls for the past month lets say? Would I call the police for that? Or the phone company?

I dont really NEED this proof, but I want to rub it in the assholes face. I think the guy is scared to have been wrong so is sticking to his story no matter what. If I can somehow prove that I didnt make those calls, I'd have some bargaining tools.

[Synthohol]

this may be a radical idea but it will get his attention.
move furniture around at 2am.
let HIM call the cops! one of two things will happen, a) you get his attention and he will knock on your door and you can explain the floor is thinner than you think and noise travels loudly through it. tell him you would have been man enough to knock on his door to speak to him and not call the cops,and recognise he has done the same. (pump him up a skintch he might relax a little) and whatever else is on your mind and try to make peace. b) he calls the cops, and people like him with that attitude usually hang themselves verbally to the cops and/or it willgive you the oppertunity to explain your situation to the cops so the can go down and tell him it wasnt you that called and you just want to let him know that and you tried in your letter to communicate such to him and you just want to live in peace.
I dont know Tom, its a rough sitch. is there a housing athority that governs apartments in your area? maybe you will get lucky and your lanlord will be forced to settle it.
you can get a pic of a BIG snake and post lost pet in building notices on the mailbox. maybe they will freak out and move.
mail the letter with no return address, maybe it will get read for certain then.
i think you need to file some kind of tenent dispute officially and see where that goes if no other ideas work.
f'kin good luck man!

[darksaint]

the phone company could give you a log of the calls upon request.