Advice needed regarding my private parking space

CLAWS · 23 Sep 2008 at 13:20

Simple enough situation.

The wife and I drove back up to Birmingham on Friday night and stayed there for most of the weekend. We returned on Sunday evening around about 20:30.

I went round the back to park the car and someone has taken my space. I was annoyed. Anyways, I parked on the street in front of our flat because it's free, so not too much hassles.

I come home yesterday thinking that if someone was visiting over the weekend they would have moved it. When I checked, it was still there. So I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote on there -

"Please can you move your car because I need to park back into my space. Thanks".

I put the paper underneath the windscreen wiper of the car. I checked this morning before going to work and the car is still in my parking space. If the car is still there when I get back from work, any advice as to what I can do?

Whats worse is that I don't know whos car it is because we're surrounded by other flats.

:confused:

Moley · 23 Sep 2008 at 13:23

They'll move it eventually, just be patient.

OR block them in with your car - my wife does this all the time.

Kanifee · 23 Sep 2008 at 13:23

report it as abandoned and then chuckle to your self !

Booner! · 23 Sep 2008 at 13:25

Wipe poo on the doorhandles and glare through a gap in your curtains suspiciously.

Neodite · 23 Sep 2008 at 13:26

damian666 said:
report it as abandoned and then chuckle to your self !

TripleT · 23 Sep 2008 at 13:27

Is there not a towing company operating there? (No signs up etc) Just ring them and have it removed, they've had enough time and if there are signs up it's their own fault.

Russinating · 23 Sep 2008 at 13:27

Is there a company that manages the spaces? Who gives the permits out? They should move people along with clamping threats!

lookitsjonno · 23 Sep 2008 at 13:28

do you have an RAC subscription? give them a call and claim you have lost your keys? when then get it unlocked just release the handbreak and push it out of your space.

BENdage · 23 Sep 2008 at 13:28

Let his tyres down and paint the windows with some household gloss. That'll teach them lol

Metalface Mark · 23 Sep 2008 at 13:29

Is it marked as your space, or does it say residents only? How are the spaces managed?

Fisk · 23 Sep 2008 at 13:29

Was the note still there when you checked this morning? If it was I'd wait until whoever it is has seen the note, it may be an honest mistake. After you're sure either way then take action (though I'm not sure exactly what action!).

blastman · 23 Sep 2008 at 13:30

Booner! said:
Wipe poo on the doorhandles and glare through a gap in your curtains suspiciously.

gets my vote

2blue4u · 23 Sep 2008 at 13:31

is your 'space' on your land or is it a parking space alloted to your flat or is it on public land or the street? If it is one of the first two then start knocking on doors.

If you can't find who owns it then call the local police station. Ask them if they are looking for a make/model as one has been dumped in your parking space for x days.

rsatd · 23 Sep 2008 at 13:38

Had a similar thing, went out for a ride on my motorbike for an hour or two on saturday, return to find space allocated to me nicked by some car. Think nothing of it and park in someone else's space.

Fast forward to monday morning, and the car is still there, come back in the evening and its gone. Naturally I moved my bike back where it should be asap. No need for notes, probably someone visiting. If someone complains about your car, tell them to complain to the person who nicked your space. If the spaces are not marked (ie I was told where mine was by the estate agent) I don't blame people for parking in wrong spaces.

One of the people I spoke to said she parks on someone else's spot all the time as she doesn't like hers for some reason. So either she sorted something out with the person or they don't have a car.

Edit: Only thing you need to watch out for, are people who get **** about it and could cause damage to your car because it is in their spot. If you are worried put a note on your car saying something like "Sorry someone parked in my spot, call xyz and I will move it" or something like that.

CLAWS · 23 Sep 2008 at 13:44

rsatd said:
Edit: Only thing you need to watch out for, are people who get **** about it and could cause damage to your car because it is in their spot. If you are worried put a note on your car saying something like "Sorry someone parked in my spot, call xyz and I will move it" or something like that.

Pants, I didnt think about that. Better get a note onto my car soon as I get back.

The parking space at the back is marked with our flat number and it is very visible.

Some of the suggestions you guys have provided have given me some uncontrollable giggles. The poo one is awesome!!!

D4WNO · 23 Sep 2008 at 13:48

Used to get this all the time with my old flat, my space was also marked with my flat number. I'd just get the other half to park as close as possible behind them so they had big problems getting out. Only did this to repeat offenders though who knew better.

rsatd · 23 Sep 2008 at 13:51

I guess it depends how busy the parking gets around where you live, if there are a lot of spaces free then it shouldn't be an issue really. Most normal people will realise, "ah someone is in my space, il go take next one that is free and not throw a brick through the window" or something like that.

Speaking of that, I should really invest into a standalone webcam type thing to point at my parking

dowie · 23 Sep 2008 at 14:39

I'd first knock on a few neighbours doors to check if its one of them otherwise assume it is a non resident taking the mickey and get it removed by some clamping firm. I don't think you should park in another empty space as that would just pass the same problem onto another neighbour who then also has no-where to park - tis the owner of the offending vehicle who should have to deal with any fallout not anyone else.

Adsta · 23 Sep 2008 at 14:43

Booner! said:
Wipe poo on the doorhandles and glare through a gap in your curtains suspiciously.

This

rsatd · 23 Sep 2008 at 14:50

dowie said:
I'd first knock on a few neighbours doors to check if its one of them otherwise assume it is a non resident taking the mickey and get it removed by some clamping firm. I don't think you should park in another empty space as that would just pass the same problem onto another neighbour who then also has no-where to park - tis the owner of the offending vehicle who should have to deal with any fallout not anyone else.

But where are you going to park? Can't just leave your car in the middle of the car park while you go around knock on doors? Now I live a 3 floor high block of flats, we got 3 flights(right word?) of stairs with 2 flats per floor on each. There are 2 other identical blocks of flats, think one of them only has 2 flights of stairs.

That is a nice 48 doors to knock on and those are small blocks of flats. Nearby there are blocks with think 9+ floors. Are you seriously going to go around the all to find out who parked on your spot?

Where you going to park in the mean time? Outside someone else's house? Ok spaces there are not allocated but you think they will be pleased as well?