My Neighbour Is Invading My Privacy

[1PrincessPink]

My neighbours are watching everything I do and taking notes. I am not doing anything wrong, just doing normal things like parking my car on my drive, doing my garden, going to my bin etc. However, they watch and take notes. I have had solicitor's letters telling me that they are watching me and alleging that I am doing very very minor things such as starting my car and then going back into the house. Should I consider Protection from Harassment?

[Hypognosis]

drat! I've contracted the your->you're virus. Gah!

[jackthehat]

I'd set up an on-going correspondence with their Solicitors.
Solicitors charge for every letter sent *and * every letter received. If you reply to their Solicitors, the Solicitors will write to this couple explaining (and possibly enclosing a photocopy of your letter; for which they will also charge) and asking for further instruction.

As you are not doing anything wrong, except living your life, content yourself with getting a small revenge by hitting them in their wallets.

You'll just have to learn to ignore their behaviour, I'm afraid.

[maggiebee]

How annoying. Shouldn't matter one whit what your country of origin is, they sound downright nasty. Good advice already given - take letter to police and get your solicitor respond to their solicitor's letter.

[tonywiltshire]

I am surprised any Solicitor would waste their time writing to you over such trivial matters as starting your car or entering your home there surely must be more to this. If you feel the quiet enjoyment of your home is being interfered with by others you have the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 or The Criminal Justice and Police Act S 42A which may be able to be used to help obtain a restraining order.
Or you may prefer to use the Public order act 1996, under an amendment made in 1994 where an offence is committed when harassment, alarm or distress is caused.

[shoota]

Are these private houses or council?
If council owned I would inform them of what is occurring and request them to intervene.
It is also possible that there is a mediation service, (independant of, but supported by, the local authority and Police,) who could get involved and help you to resolve this. Not all areas have one but if you have the Police will be able to give you their number.
Failing that: I would go with Jack the hats suggestion.

[murraymints]

I'd return letter to sender and just ignore them...

[cassa333]

I was going to say exactly the same as jackthehat. Hit them in the pocket. Reply to every solicitors letter with ... Thank you for your letter dated XX XXX XXXX I shall reply in due course.

Then the next day reply with your responce. double wammy of costs to the neighbour :)

Always keep it factual and usually only what you can prove. Don't get into a discussion on 'other stuff' Just answer each point and no more.

[askyourgran]

I would do as jack suggests, the police won't do anything unless they trespass or confront you directly. What a nasty peice of work they are.

[pixie373]

Would it be worth princess keeping a log of the neighbours' harrassment herself? Then, if it goes any further, it will be easier to prove who the most annoying neighbour is.

[Butterbun]

Also keep photocopies of all correspondence.

[EDDIE51]

Do not go to a solicitor your self, it will cost you at least £50 for a letter possibly as much as £250 a letter. I once had a similar situation, the next door neighbour came round with a letter complaining about how many times we had flushed the toilet she said it was too loud and woke her up in the night. ( there were 5 in our house but just her on her own next door)
She had even recorded the exact time of each toilet flush to the second! We just made sure we flushed at least twice as often for a few weeks after just to get our own back. We never heard any more.
Remember they are paying for every letter, a solicitor will write any thing you tell him/her to as long as it is not illegal and you pay them. Just ignore them.

[joko]

write to them and say you realise how much time it must take them to watch you al day every day, so to give them a day off here is a list of what you intend to do today

and write a big long tedious list of mundane things
say you will inform them of any deviations to this plan

then say i hope you use the time this has saved you to do something fun and worthwhile - for extra sarcasm enclose a few leaflets of local theatres, museums, local sales etc haha.

i am amazed they have the nerve to even mention stuff like starting the car and then stopping again - even if you had done it to annoy them, its not illegal and you are entitled to stop and start your car all day long if you like.
and what has it to do with them where you store your bins?

[1PrincessPink]

there is a reason for all this. They want us to offer them use of our land to park their cars. We said no, we need it ourselves. Then the watching started...and the solicitor's letters.

[woofgang]

reason or no reason, the advice stands

[1PrincessPink]

thank you all. Some very good suggestions here for dealing with it. I don't understand why people can be like this as neighbours. It is not only weird but stressful.