I went too far trying to get my neighbor to stop parking in my assigned spot.
By @judekk · Who's in the Wrong
My apartment building has assigned parking, but my new neighbor keeps taking my spot. After notes and talking to him failed, I had his car towed, and now he's furious and says I've created a huge problem for him.
The full story
I live in an apartment complex where each unit has one designated, numbered parking spot. It's been this way for the five years I've lived here. About two months ago, a new person moved into the unit next to mine. Since day one, he has intermittently parked his car in my spot. It's not every day, but it's often enough to be a major inconvenience—maybe 3-4 times a week, usually in the evening when I get home from work. At first, I left a polite, handwritten note on his windshield: 'Hey, welcome to the building! Just a heads up, this is the assigned spot for unit 3B. Your spot should be [his spot number]. Thanks!' He didn't park there for two days, then it started again. I left a second, more direct note: 'Please stop parking in my spot.' No change. Next, I tried talking to him in person. I caught him as he was getting out of his car (in my spot, of course) and calmly explained the situation. He was apologetic and said he sometimes gets confused or forgets. I pointed out the numbers are painted clearly on the ground. He just shrugged and said he'd 'try to do better.' He didn't. After another week of this, I spoke to our property manager. they said she would send him a formal notice but also mentioned that the building's official policy for immediate resolution is to call the towing company listed on the parking signs. The signs are everywhere, with the number and the warning that unauthorized vehicles will be towed at the owner's expense. Last night, I came home late, and his car was in my spot again. I had to park three blocks away. I'd had enough, so I called the towing company. They came and took his car. This morning, he was waiting for me when I left for work. He was livid. they said it cost him almost $400 to get his car back and that he missed an important early meeting. He called me an incredible jerk and said I could have just knocked on his door. I told him I'd already tried being nice with notes and conversation, and he knew he wasn't supposed to be parking there. Now he's threatening to make my life 'difficult' and the atmosphere is incredibly tense. I just wanted my parking spot back; I didn't want to start a war with my neighbor.
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