how do you stop them?

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we have folks from so many goverment agencies show up here to look around that it is kinda funny, but iam getting real tierd of it. can i say no? will they go away? or will it just make them mad and they will come back w/ full force? we are not talking big issues either, just the good old neighbor playing her games. i guess i have always backed down because i am her alone w/ 4 small kids alot of the time and dont want to cause a scene in front of them. has anyone just told them to leave? like i said the issues are stupid and we have never been sighted for any of them, they range from slaughterhouse hiden in the basement to flood lights on the barn.

-- renee oneill (oneillsr@home.com), October 16, 2000

Answers

Renee.....In spite of what a lot of people like to think, most government employees aren't out to get you. They are just doing their jobs. When they get a formal complaint from your neighbor, they are required by law to check out that complaint. You do, however, have a way to avoid this, without having the government workers think you're trying to hide something or being a trouble maker. Make a list of all the agencies you have been visited by, when the visit occurred, what the complaint was and what the findings were. Then file this list with each agency. Notify them that you are being harassed by your neighbor, who is using these government agencies for the purpose of harassing you. No government agency takes being used and abused lightly. When you file such a complaint, and have the proof to back it up, the agencies are no longer required to respond to every little uproar your neighbor tries to create. If you want to take it one step further, take your list to either your local sheriff's office or the FBI. Harassment is against the law, and abuse of the government to achieve that harassment is too.

-- Julie (rjbk@together.net), October 16, 2000.

Renee, to take Julie's answer one step further -- if you can prove a persistent pattern on this woman's part, you can probably get a restraining order against her, and add that to what you file with the agencies. If she's harrassing other people, get them involved in the restraining order, also. A friend of mine (in town) has a neighbor from hell also. She was harrassing the whole neighborhood, and they finally all banded together and got a restraining order against her, and now the police don't respond to her petty little complaints. If you haven't been keeping records, start. You may not be able to stop her right away, but eventually you will be able to. I don't know if you can get copies of the reports from the agencies who have been out -- they will have them, but I don't know if they could give them to you. But if they could, that would help. Julie is right that for the most part government agencies aren't out to get you (I know there are exceptions), and if you explain the situation to them, they will probably try to help. It is wasting their time and resources to have to respond to fraudulent complaints. You will get a lot farther with them if you ask for their help in solving this problem than if you get defensive and angry -- then they might really be out to get you!

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), October 16, 2000.

i have always been nice and willing to let these folks look around ask questions and so on, i know most of them by their first name,i just want then to stop. they claim and i do see there piont, it is her right to complain and they do have to investigate but the way she does it is not to make more then 1 complant every 30 days. a loop hole in the system, files are re entered every 30 days. i just want them to stop i did not know if i could say no, get off.

-- renee oneill (oneillsr@home.com), October 16, 2000.

When was the last time you tried "burying the hatchet"? Our NFH is still 50 foot from our house, but we all live side by side with minimal contact. They watch our place, we watch theirs, no other socializing. We have all gotten along 4 out of 5 years this way. I can truthfully say our NFH has become a good neighbor.

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), October 16, 2000.

Hi Renee, Here in OH if you don't want someone on your property, they have to get a warrant or the Sheriff if they can prove you are breaking the law. Just say " I'm not voluntarily allowing you to have access to my property without due process and probable cause for your coming here." Be polite, but be FIRM about this, they should back off after you stand up for your Constitutional rights. Good luck, and let us know how it goes. Annie in SE OH.

-- Annie Miller (annie@1st.net), October 16, 2000.


How about telling them you don't have time for them know , you have 4 small children to tend to and please come back when Hubby is home around six. Most of these guys get off at 4 and if they can't go home on time they may forget it or in time start looking into the neighbor .

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), October 16, 2000.

I really like Patty's answer. Just politely tell them you don't feel comfortable with letting them on your property/in your house at this time and please leave a business card so your husband can call them when he gets home to arrange a late evening appointment. Be sure to get their home telephone numbers.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), October 16, 2000.

Renee, what ever happened with the neighbor they caught breaking into your house? This is still the same woman, right?

-- Cathy Horn (hrnofplnty@webtv.net), October 16, 2000.

Just what I was wondering, Renee. Didn't she get into some legal trouble for what she did to you? Thank GOD we seem to have good neighbors; the one that was a turkey moved back to the city, and a wonderful couple moved in in their stead. Good neighbors are a gift from God.

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), October 16, 2000.

yes it is the same neighbor,so far all court cases and such have been thrown out why? great question.the only 1/2 reply we get from the judges and such is i should have locked my door, and posted the property{she takes the signs}. i do believe there are a few more cases pending against her. the state and fed. government are filing those, i wash my hands of all ties to our"great"system.

-- renee oneill (oneillsr@home.com), October 16, 2000.


I think you should moon them.

-- Joe Cole (jcole@apha.com), October 17, 2000.

Bad idea, Joe. Last I heard, mooning was a sexual offense. Hard to believe, but I'm serious.

-- Laura Jensen (lrjensen@nwlink.com), October 18, 2000.

Renee,

I would go the opposite way entirely. If this is only happening once a month or so, and these are people/agents you know by sight, I would kill them with kindness. Invite them in for a cup of coffee and cookies, talk, laugh, be friendly. Explain that you are just going to put up with this lunatic neighbor because it's easier than getting ulcers over it. This would do two things: make your NFH furious and put you in good with the investigators. Whenever you're faced with a situation like this, you've got to figure out what is going to do YOU the most good in the long run. I think this method would be it.

-- Peg (NW WI) (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), October 18, 2000.


I have to agree with Peg!!! I was an inspector for beauty shops/ I soon got to know the people who owned them & the easier you made my job the nicier I was to you!!! There is a reason for the jobs these inspectors have! If they see you have NOTHING to HIDE they will be working to help you!!!! Believe it or not all inspectors are not idots!!! They are trying to do their job--if you share the TRUTH with them you will be suprised at what can happen!! I don't think you even have to kill them with kindness--just be polite the way you would want to be treated--& they will see where the problem lies/ if you are truthfull with them! They are not there to make your life miserable they are there to help YOU!!!!! Let her complaints work for you!! Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), October 19, 2000.

Yes you can tell them to buzz off. When they have to get legal papers to go on your property they have to explain why. The judge will get real tired of this. Also put your signs up high using a ladder and they will not get to them. I have used this in several states. Also you can request them to make an appointment to come on your property.

-- Nick (Wildheart@ekyol.com), October 22, 2000.


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