# When Neighbours Go Bad

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094>\
**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:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/41 "2009-01-25T12:50:59Z")

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You’re a fine neighbor. I have a few neighbors who’d deserve such “above and beyond” treatment, but most wouldn’t.

Nonetheless, had someone done something like this for me, I wouldn’t just make him whole on the expenses he paid on my behalf; I’d definitely compensate him for his time and trouble. I’m talking a minimum of $1000.

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**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/42 "2009-01-25T13:57:51Z")

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You’ve put yourself on the list of people to be reimbursed by the insurance company. You don’t have any responsibility to be his house guardian. Bow out and let him deal with his own shit.

But good on ya for being a good neighbor.

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**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 25, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/43 "2009-01-25T17:13:14Z")

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> [@kaylasdad99](#):
>
> What was the gift the Ms. H brought?

A nice piece of glassware containing a candle holder.

Presumably she wishes to protect us against a possible power failure should we have our own burst pipe. Still, it’s an improvement on a shirt I received last time. I’d only ever wear that if I was dead, and even then I’d think very carefully before putting it on.

Apparently, more gifts are on the way from the parents. I’m not interested in them. Now that this

> [@Kalhoun](#):
>
> Bow out and let him deal with his own shit.

has been put into effect I’m just happy to be out of the neighbour’s loop.

Thanks for the opinions.

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**Author:** ![Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bites_when_provoked/32/18073_2.png) [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neighbours-go-bad/481094/44 "2009-01-28T02:06:10Z")

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> [@Chez\_Guevara](#):
>
> 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.

I’d have asked if it was possible to direct-deposit the cash (plus a thank-you figure) into my neighbour’s bank account, before I did anything else. I wouldn’t fly back early though; it’s too expensive to travel overseas at short notice.

I’d also insist that my insurance company deal with me, and only me, rather than expecting my neighbour to be their intermediary, mind you.

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