# When Neighbours Go Bad **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 13, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094 "2009-01-13T14:36:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/21 "2009-01-13T20:41:30Z")
> [@Algher](#): > > I would like to point out that if someone in the US posted a large sign with an arrow reading “Stopcock” - It would be stolen in minutes and hanging at the local pub / fraternity house / etc. Why does Prop 8 have to come into every thread on the SDMB? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/22 "2009-01-13T20:45:43Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > I really hope Mr. H has a good reason for being out of town – not simply shagging his mistress How could he, with a stopped cock? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/23 "2009-01-13T20:50:57Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > How could he, with a stopped cock? Especially one that’s so hard to find. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/24 "2009-01-13T21:11:04Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > Is the daughter hot and available? Wonderful question. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/25 "2009-01-13T21:59:04Z")
My neighbor’s sump pump stopped working when his aged mother was watching his house. I went over and fixed it. Took a couple hours and I was completely soaked. But that one episode of helping a guy out has been paid back repeatedly. Here’s hoping the same happens to you. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/26 "2009-01-14T01:04:23Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Police in England drive very, very slow cars. Well they do have this…[http://www.carpages.co.uk/lotus/lotus-exige-police-car-29-10-07.asp](http://www.carpages.co.uk/lotus/lotus-exige-police-car-29-10-07.asp) One of the “funnest” cars I have ever driven… ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/27 "2009-01-14T02:32:19Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > I think the thread should be retitled “When good neighbors go awesome.” Seconded. I wish I was well-heeled enough to buy you the lot next to me, and to pay to relocate you and any family/pets you might have to Vancouver. … ---
**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/28 "2009-01-22T22:11:51Z")
One thing I don’t understand…why did you allow him to make you the point of contact for all these companies? You already went above and beyond, there was certainly no need for you to handle the mundane repair details. Why not simply refer them to the owner when they call back? Wish you were my neighbor! EDIT: Sorry, should have read further down. You’re one heck of a nice guy! ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/29 "2009-01-22T22:54:06Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > How could he, with a stopped cock? Hey, even a stopped cock is right twice a day. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/30 "2009-01-23T00:17:17Z")
If the OP is still reading, I’d be curious to hear whether he got paid back. Off-Topic: I still remember the first time our high-school chemistry teacher referred to a “pinchcock clamp.” No further learning was accomplished that day. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/31 "2009-01-24T13:31:13Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Off-Topic: I still remember the first time our high-school chemistry teacher referred to a “pinchcock clamp.” No further learning was accomplished that day. I used to teach chemistry, and this piece of equipment (used to clamp rubber tubing) was on the handout. I would later have an identification quiz (in which the students had to fill in the blanks), and you would not believe the answers I got over the years. At least one student per year put down some version of “cock ring” or “cock ring clamp.” ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/32 "2009-01-24T15:50:14Z")
The daughter arrived home yesterday. She called round earlier bearing a gift, profuse thanks, and £450 in ready cash. I thanked her in return and advised her I no longer wished to accept the responsibility of looking after her father’s house during his absences. I gave her the keys. I have emailed Mr.H. tendering my regrets. For those still interested in this subject, I am curious to know at what stage you would have baled out of the project if, in fact, you had got involved in the first place. Do you respond to the burglar alarm? If so, and noting the water volume from the burst pipes, do you try to stop the water? If so, having called a plumber to turn the water off, do you respond to his suggestion that he fix the pipe? If so, and you are now £355 out by paying the plumber (you would have had to pay him £100 minimum anyway), do you play ball with Mr.H. until you get your money back? Who would totally ignore this situation, bearing in mind that possession of a neighbour’s keys could be construed as a tacit responsibility to implement a remedy _in cases of emergency_? ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/33 "2009-01-24T16:16:24Z")
I have only two comments. 1. Kudos for being a good neighbor. 2. You are the third person I know who has reported a recent domicile flooding. This happened both to my coworker and a client of ours earlier this week. What the hell is in the water lately? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/34 "2009-01-24T16:17:14Z")
> [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > For those still interested in this subject, I am curious to know at what stage you would have baled out of the project if, in fact, you had got involved in the first place. > > Do you respond to the burglar alarm? If so, and noting the water volume from the burst pipes, do you try to stop the water? If so, having called a plumber to turn the water off, do you respond to his suggestion that he fix the pipe? If so, and you are now £355 out by paying the plumber (you would have had to pay him £100 minimum anyway), do you play ball with Mr.H. until you get your money back? > > Who would totally ignore this situation, bearing in mind that possession of a neighbour’s keys could be construed as a tacit responsibility to implement a remedy _in cases of emergency_? Honestly? I’m convinced that I could have found and shut the water off, unless there was a truly, honestly extraordinary circumstance where the water was completely impossible to turn off. I would have turned it off at the meter if needed…oh wait, UK, it might not be metered. If I absolutely could not stop the water, then I would have called a plumber but would not have paid for fixing the leaks, just turning off the water. With respect to the locked room, I would either pick the lock (not really that hard unless it’s a stiff internal deadbolt) or else asked someone else to force the door. Accepting someone’s keys for watering plants does not commit you with no other reservations and limits to doing anything and everything possible to help. You did a good thing above and beyond the call, no doubt about it. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/35 "2009-01-24T16:32:19Z")
I’d have problems once it got to ‘fix the pipe’ just because of ready cash issues. If I was at a stage in my life where I had the money available and safe… no problem. It’s what neighbors do. If I could get someone on the phone… and I’d have a phone contact for their house, because that’s what I always do, I’d get 'em to AMEX it over the phone. If it was my _good_ neighbors, I’d no-problem the money, long as they paid me back, even if it isn’t all that liquid. Good neighbors being my dog’s best friend’s owners. We trade the dogs back and forth when each of us go away, you see. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/36 "2009-01-24T17:04:19Z")
> [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > For those still interested in this subject, I am curious to know at what stage you would have baled out of the project if, in fact, you had got involved in the first place. I’d have paid for the plumber to shut the water off, but only after attempting to call some of my other friends and/or neighbors to help me find the shutoff for free. I would not have authorized the pipe repairs, assuming that the water being shut off meant there was no \*more \*damage being done. But that’s not to say you’re wrong or a chump or whatever. Just that **I** wouldn’t feel as comfortable getting involved and making decisions on my neighbor’s behalf. I’d try my best to keep everything on hold until he returned. Really, it’d be the worry that he’d be pissed I chose the wrong course of action, not any curmudgeonly selfish thoughts, that would make me stay out of it. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/37 "2009-01-24T17:44:59Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > Accepting someone’s keys for watering plants does not commit you with no other reservations and limits to doing anything and everything possible to help. That’s true, but I’d expect like for like behaviour from the neighbour up to and including stopping the water flow. Asking the plumber to then fix the pipe could be interpreted as a step too far but, expecting only one leak for some reason (there were three), I figured he might as well do it while he was there. If I had been out of the country and received an email from my neighbour to the effect he had stopped the water flow from a burst pipe in my home, and paid for the plumber out of his own pocket, I would have been delighted, I couldn’t have thanked him enough and I’d have been on the next plane home. That’s the difference between Mr.H. and myself. Also, regarding the water flow, you’ve got to remember that it’s 3.30am and that looking for an external water shutoff in the dark in a large garden isn’t a simple matter. The time of night is also a factor to consider here… > [@WhyNot](#): > > I’d have paid for the plumber to shut the water off, but only after attempting to call some of my other friends and/or neighbors to help me find the shutoff for free. …so I’d think twice about calling anybody else for help. Not that there is an abundance of neighbours in the locality anyway. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/38 "2009-01-24T18:09:04Z")
Glad you were made whole in the cash department, **Chez Guevara**. I find it difficult to conceive what I would do in your shoes, as I and all of my neighbors live in an apartment complex (meaning it wouldn’t be our problem). If, for instance, I was house-sitting for my parents, and their neighbor’s house had such a problem, I think I’d pay for the water shut-off, then communicate with the neighbor something along the lines of the following: > [@](#): > > Dear neighbor, > I have taken the liberty of paying a plumber to shut off your water, to minimize the potential for damage to your home. I will be happy to wait until your return before we decide on how reimbursement will be handled. In the meantime, I urge you to, with all possible speed, return to your home, or find a reliable agent to tend to corrective actions such as cleanup and repairs. What was the gift the Ms. H brought? ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/39 "2009-01-24T19:07:06Z")
> [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > I open the door to be greeted by the sights and sounds of water gushing from above, the source… I don’t understand. How did you open the door? Did you bust in or was it just open? Edit: nevermind, I just saw downthread how you mention having his keys. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/40 "2009-01-25T01:34:05Z")
> [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > Also, regarding the water flow, you’ve got to remember that it’s 3.30am and that looking for an external water shutoff in the dark in a large garden isn’t a simple matter. The time of night is also a factor to consider here… Sure, I won’t argue the situation. None of it changes the fact that you did a damn good thing for him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094.md?page=3)