Allocated parking confrontation... | ExpatWoman.com
 

Allocated parking confrontation...

66
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 May 2012 - 08:04

Morning ladies,
I just need you input on a letter I'm writing to one of the residents in our building.
Last night he let his brother use our spot only for us come back and block him.
We go through this headache with different people and have had the police tow 2 of the cars and issue fines or black point but the security always labels us the bad guys when the offender approaches them about the outcome!
I know there are a lot of bullies around and people who fee entitled to everything but I've had it and I've decided to confront this guy since he's the only one that security slipped and told me his apartment number ;)

This is the letter:
[i]Morning,

This is regarding the parking spot incident this morning involving you brother (car description and plate number)

We are all resisents and we should respect eachother but if people like you behave in this manner by letting your visitors park anywhere that's conveinient for them then some of us are left with no choice but to behave in a barbaric manner and BLOCK the car from exiting!

I have had 2 cars towed and 3 had fines or black points for parking in my spot!
I dont like doing this but if residents continue to let their visitors park anywhere while inconveniencing others then what choice do I have?

The woman in the car lied and said you were a new resident so you did not know but security comfirmed that you were not new?!

I hate being woken up @ 06:45 on a Friday morning because your brother inconvenienced ME by parking in MY spot then threatened to call the police...seriously?!

Do the right thing and follow the rules, you are NOT bigger than them and nor is your brother

Have a nice day.[/i]
<em>edited by Shukela on 18/05/2012</em>

66
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 May 2012 - 11:58
Thank you SueR, luckily the voice of reason (DH) convinced me to let it go and just stick to calling the cops whenever this happens....and take a deep breath while I'm at it :D Two of our boom gates on the ground floor are broken, making it easy to get in to the ground floor parking (mainly visitor's parking) BUT there are two more gates before you get to the main residents' parking that still require access cards! So, I just don't get why visitors can't just remain on the ground floor.....where they have access to?!
176
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 May 2012 - 11:48
Sue R is right. Although I totally understand your feelings of frustration, and been tempted to block in the car that has taken my space, you may be better to just be measured and factual in your response. Any admission of "barbaric behaviour" from you could be used aginst you if this gets really nasty and they call the police ( even though you are the wronged party.) Good Luck with this, parking is such a major issue and these things cause so much unnecessary stress.
1046
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 18 May 2012 - 11:19
As you have asked for input to your letter, I hope you will find this helpful. I would re-write it completely. Stick to the fact that any mis-use of your allocated space will result in whatever action you intend to take. Keep it clear and direct. Don't debate the woman lying, being woken up at 6.45am, your barbaric behaviour as you make yourself sound like a victim (which you are of course) and you need to come aross as matter of fact and in control. Just simply state what you will do if it happens again.
3220
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 18 May 2012 - 09:49
I so know how you feel. People park in our allocated spot all the time as its a very convenient location. We pay dhs3000 a year for our parking spot in addition to the rent that we pay for our apartment. Every weekend there is someone pretending they didnt know its private parking even though there are signs all around the block ,in front of our parking space and next to our parking space that this is reserved private parking space. I just report them everytime. I have no mercy anymore. Let them get fined and towed....and yes,I also block the cars. I just explain it to the police and they understand.I have kids and if I need to go to the hospital in an emergency or something I need my car nearby my accommodation and paid parking.
3804
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 18 May 2012 - 09:48
Blocking them in, is stooping to their level, don't do it. Send your letter and just call the police every time it happens. Don't even bother to confront them again.
784
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EW GURU
Latest post on 18 May 2012 - 09:39
HHmm...I was wondering if your security can't do anything about it and label you the bad person even tho it's YOUR parking spot, why don't you call Al Ameen when it happens. Take a photo of the car and explain to the coppers that someone has taken your spot and security is doing nothing about it. so ask what can you do? They are very helpful.
66
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 May 2012 - 09:27
I hear you ladies but I'ts almost always a different car, how do you gather evidence. It really irks me that security guards are limited to just calling you when you have blocked someone but fail to call the police on illegally parked cars. I have put up signs saying 'reserved parking' but they vanish... We even had one nailed to the wall but that 'went with the wind' too. I'm always at reception...complaining but they just tell me to call the police and if it's after midnight then the police say they are not allowed to call the offender past that time.....hhhmmm But like I said, some policemen have been helpful and issued fines.....towed the cars away.......it's different cars all the time, it's frustrating:(
370
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 18 May 2012 - 09:00
It is soooo frustrating when this happens. The other thing is - when they park in my spot, I have nowhere else to park except in someone elses spot too! This was happening literally every day when i first moved to my current apartment. I put a note on the wall of the parking spot and would always leave a note on their windscreen stating that I had given their plate number to security. I notified security and management daily - I made sure it was as annoying for them as it was for me :) They put up their own do not park sign. It continued (and I believe I was not the only person complaining) they now have a dedicated parking security guy. He know which cars belongs in which parking space - he keeps a log of it and offenders are first approached by security and if it continues they will be reported to police (has never eventuated to this). I've never had anyone park in my spot since.
4000
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 18 May 2012 - 08:55
Another option if you can find them here is to fit one of these, I'm trying to track down where I can get one. http://www.thatsmyspot.com.au/Manual-Parking-Locks-and-Parking-Barriers
484
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 18 May 2012 - 08:43
Shukela, I so know what you are going through. It is unfortunate you have to deal with these people are just so inconsiderate and on the contrary, turn around and treated you as the offender. From what you have said so far, I don't think sending the letter is going to do much good, but probably escalate the issues further. I would do as Di@DXB suggested, continue to call the police. However, for extra precaution measure, put up a warning sign on your allocated spot. I would also raise this issue with security and management, they are obviously not doing their job. You should request for them to put up a notice to remind residents. Finally, I would also take photos of said offending cars, so that no one can use the "innocent mistake, only this once" BS. Good luck!
66
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 May 2012 - 08:27
I'm glad you can deal with such things so swiftly Anon, I know that this letter may not result in anything but at-least this is off my chest now. I think the size of our building makes it impossible to resolve such issues and security just tells you that they dont know who parked there or they are not allowed to give out apt numbers.... The last policeman I dealt with practically begged me to let it slide since he felt it was too much of a bother for such a small innocent mistake but the previous ones have been helpful.
4000
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 18 May 2012 - 08:24
This happens to me too all the time especially on weekends when people have visitors. I have left polite notes on the offending vehicles many times and the same car still takes my place. Its tempting to block them in but obstructing a vehicles access out of a place is actually illegal and the one being blocked could call the police and make a complaint against you, he would probably get away with what he had done by saying it was an innocent mistake taking your place while you could be fined for obstruction. Annoying I know. The best we can do if we cannot reason with these people is call the police and have the offending car removed.
5452
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 18 May 2012 - 08:17
I hope that you're able to get this resolved. This also happens to me regularly but I am always able to resolve the issue on the spot. I really don't understand how people think they can just park in residents' spaces...
 
 

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