I (29F) live in a duplex with a tandem driveway where the lease gives me the left side, but my new neighbor keeps parking his massive dually pickup over the line and pinning me in. After he told me to "deal with it" and forced me to take a $40 Uber to a big work presentation because I was blocked, I finally reached my breaking point. My landlord authorized a tow, so I sat on my porch with a bowl of Cheerios and watched the truck get hauled away while the guy came out screaming. Now my partner Leo is freaking out and sleeping on the couch because he thinks I’ve "started a war" and put us in danger of retaliation, but I feel like I was just finally standing up for myself.
AITA for being petty and getting him towed, or is my partner just overreacting to me setting a boundary?
NTA Gotta set the tone 🤷🏽♀️ neighbor told you to deal with it and you dealt with it
I think that you did the right thing. The minute he told you to “deal with it” it was clear that he had no intention of using any courtesy in his parking.
I mean the neighbor did tell you to deal with it
NTA. He told you to deal with, and you did.
Your partner is being a bit extra. If he “retaliates” by causing any harm/damage, just call the police.
NTA,
You’re awesome. The dude can deal with it and stay on his property. BF can just tell him to park in his lane if the conversation ever happens.
You’re NTA but it would have been nice if your landlord had stepped up and dealt with it.
NTA While I think you were in the right, I would still be worried/prepared for retaliation.
Be careful.
Leo needs to understand that bullies like this will continue to push and push and push until they get pushback.
Put up a few security cameras, refuse to engage and refuse to talk to the neighbor, and call a tow truck every time he does this.
If he escalates, you’ll have it on camera and then you can call the cops.
NTA, it’s absolutely insane to think anyone has the right to block your vehicle in forcing you to pay for an Uber. You tried discussing it with the neighbor and he said deal with it, so you dealt with it. Now he can deal with the consequences. If he does it again keep having it towed. If your partner can’t understand that and this is his reaction, may be time for a new partner.
Get some cameras up for your safety.
NTA and you’re not being petty. Your new neighbor said, “Deal with it” and you did. Your partner is asking for you to give up your half of the driveway forever. That’s not right. If your neighbor starts retaliating, keep a log:
1) Times he blocks your half of the driveway
2) Times you call a tow
3) Ways in which he “retaliates”
If you cave to bullies, they keep bullying
Documentation is key. Keep a google doc or something with a date history and log incidents in real time—even the little things like him telling you to “deal with it.” If he “retaliates” in a way that is illegal, call the police. You have a legal right to live free from harassment, so he doesn’t have to physically assault you.
NTA. The neighbour has already started a war by blocking you in and being verbally aggressive towards you when you asked him to park far enough over that you could access your own vehicle.
Your choices were to either wait for him to move and then park somewhere off the drive, or have his truck towed so that you could get to your own car.
NTA but your partner is probably right there is likely to be retaliation of some sort. You’ll need to deal with that too. In my experience assholes don’t stop being assholes. As another commenter said document everything. This may end in court. Some outdoor security cameras probably wouldn’t go amis either.