My neighbor filed a "formal complaint" against Skittles

[Skittys_Daddy]

So I have lived here in this apartment for over 20 years and I've had Skittles for just over 7 years.

There are two other tenants on this floor- one is a dear friend, the other tenant is words I cannot use on this forum (read between the lines).

Anyways, this "complaining" tenant has a LONG history of petty complaints and she and I are no longer on good terms so she filed a noise complaint against Skittles. The complaints didn't go anywhere (cause the resident services department saw them for what they were) so this tenant went to the housing director which forced resident services to intervene.

Needless to say, I was 100% honest about Skittles and when he makes his noise and none of it violates my landlords "nuisance policy". The nuisance policy states "any noise that goes on constantly for 10 minutes or more OR goes on repeatedly for 30 minutes or more shall be considered a nuisance". IF that ever became an issue (it never would) it would have to become a regular thing. I did tell the landlord that he does go bonkers for a long period once or twice a month when I clean his sleep cage and that isn't a problem.

The landlord even told me that if it becomes an issue they would put in sound barriers to insulate the noise.

In other words, the tenants complaint backfired. I did my due diligence though, I had my other neighbor contact the landlord and defend me and EVERY other tenant in this building (except one who I could not reach) has said Skittles is not a problem and they all offered to stick up for me cause they have ALL been harassed by her.

Now, I could let this go- but she went too far. She went after my "child" and she will answer for it so I am going to file a "harassment" complaint against her. Several other tenants are willing to sign on too.

NOBODY messes with Skittles and gets away with it and I mean NOBODY.

She is going down, legally.

 

[Squeekmouse]

YES!!!!!!!!!!! You Go Skittys Daddy!!!!

That's awesome!! Let us know how it goes. I'm so glad to hear everyone is on YOUR side and not the Evil One's side.

I just don't understand why some people are like that. Are they so lonely that they need this attention? Are they so bitter that the want everyone else to be miserable also? People can be so... so.... AWFUL. Good luck to you and your precious Skittles!

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

She lives alone and is just a trouble-maker.

I go out of my way to get along with my neighbors. We have a new one just below me who hasn't even been here for a month and he already wants to slash her tires (he's not going to).

But its times like this when being on good terms with your neighbors and landlord pays off. Plus, my other neighbor who is a dear friend (she's also Skittles godparent and my power of attorney- so the friendship is strong) and she is MUCH more assertive than I am and has said that she would fight for me in court if need be.

That "tenant" is a lonely, bigoted old lady who has to be in everyone's business.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

Well, it helps that Skittles is so adorably cute.

I mean if you had to choose sides between an adorable little bundle of feathers OR a bitter, bigoted old lady who would you choose?

Heck, I'd choose a full litter box over her!

There was a time when Skittles was MUCH noisier than he is now and there wasn't a problem then.

 

[Inger]

Oh that is perfectly ridiculous. I can't even believe people are so outrageous. But yay for your resident services folks being so supportive!!

 

[GaleriaGila]

It would be easy to go all 'vigilante' and do dirty tricks or whatever. I can only imagine how upset you were. But I admire you for taking the high road and making it official.

Hey, nothing wrong with being an old lady. I'm one! Kiddin'! (Well, not about BEING one!)

 

[Inger]

It would be easy to go all 'vigilante' and do dirty tricks or whatever. I can only imagine how upset you were. But I admire you for taking the high road and making it official.

Hey, nothing wrong with being an old lady. I'm one! Kiddin'! (Well, not about BEING one!)

Haha and I'm an "old lady who lives alone in an apartment" so that in itself is okay too!

 

[greytness]

I am currently going through something similar with my neighbor who supposedly suffers with misophonia, which is an extreme sensitivity to certain sounds, which immediately elicit feelings of rage and anger. My macaws flock call each other twice a day; otherwise they are quiet. Any time they call out, she either peers over our fence to see if our French doors are open or closed, and then she e-mails me about their calls.

I finally had my son's therapist write a prescription for them to be his emotional support birds. This protects them, should my neighbor report them to the city as nuisances.

 

[itzjbean]

If you were new there, or if Skittles really did scream up a storm all day long I would see how yo0u would get complaints but the facts are there - you have lived there a very long time, have had Skittles in this apartment for 7 of all those years, and you have a community that has your back. Karma Is a cruel but just mistress!

What happens now with the harassment complaint? I am interested to see how this will go. Keep us updated Skittys_daddy and give her a good loud screech from all of us here, Skittles!

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

Just to clarify for you folks- I do NOT think there is ANYTHING wrong with being an old lady OR living alone. Heck, my memere was an old lady who lived alone and was sweet as pie. But this woman is just "one of those" types of people and the wording I used was just to give some imagery. She actually doesn't even look like an old lady. She's in her 60s but is more like a Blanche Devereaux kind of 60 and not a Sophia Petrillo. My memere looked like Sophia Petrillo and she was just as salty too.

The housing authority is closed today because its a holiday but they are open tomorrow and I'll file my complaint then.

I live in federal public housing which offers me a lot of additional protections. My therapist has told me that it is EXTREMELY difficult to evict someone for noise.

That being said, as much as I'd love to get revenge, I'm not that kind of person and I will just do what can be done legally and allow karma to take care of the rest. If karma is in fact a cruel and capricious mistress than that lady has one hell of serving of poetic justice coming her way!

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

If you were new there, or if Skittles really did scream up a storm all day long I would see how yo0u would get complaints but the facts are there - you have lived there a very long time, have had Skittles in this apartment for 7 of all those years, and you have a community that has your back. Karma Is a cruel but just mistress!

What happens now with the harassment complaint? I am interested to see how this will go. Keep us updated Skittys_daddy and give her a good loud screech from all of us here, Skittles!

Precisely, she waited too long and I informed housing that this is likely just payback cause she doesn't like me or how I live my life.

As much as I'd love to set Skittles off to get back at her, that wouldn't be productive and would likely backfire. By doing this the proper way I not only protect myself and Skittles but I also am much more likely to be successful.

 

[itchyfeet]

I'm glad at the way this thread turned out....yay for a decent landlord!

 

[Squeekmouse]

I just admire the way you've handled the whole thing. Restraint, consideration and tact, with a healthy dose of Standing Up for Yourself-ness. Kudos!

My husband and I had an upstairs neighbor like that when we got our first apartment together. We didn't have birds at the time, but EVERY time we turned on the TV after 8pm she would start pounding on the floor as her way of telling us to be quiet. I went up to talk to her the first time, just because I wanted to keep things all smooth with her. I had purposely left the TV on just as it was when she pounded because I wanted to see for myself how loud it was from her perspective, and it was hardly audible. I talked to her and assured her I would keep the volume down. Her teenage son was a drummer who would practice late into the night and we never complained about THAT noise... and yet her floor pounding became a regular part of our lives. We used to call her Stompy.

I guess there are just people like THAT all over. Young, old or middle aged, single and alone, or married with kids, man or woman or anything in between, Obnoxious behavior is an equal-opportunity lifestyle. :56:

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

The new tenant downstairs was blaring his bass on his tv and I complained about it. He turned it down.

My other neighbor (the one I'm good friends with) ran into him the other day and he asked her who lived above him and she told him. He wanted to apologize and so I went down there and we chatted for about 45minutes. Me, him and his girlfriend. He's a very nice guy and he even told me I could stop by anytime for coffee or to play cards and I was like "YES!", cause I can't get my other neighbor (my friend) to play cards with me and I can't play cards with Skittles cause all he does is cheat.

He has since turned his bass totally off. He asked if I still could still hear the music and I said yes, and he told me to 'tap' on the floor if I could hear it. I told him that wouldn't be necessary. As long as its not so loud I cant hear my own tv I don't care if I can hear it as long as the bass isn't high (i had a tympanoplasty done in 1994 so my eardrums are VERY sensitive to vibrations).

As for how I'm handling it- its a new thing for me. I'm not exactly known for my instant reactions being responsible ones but this is Skittles we are talking about and when it comes to him, precautions just seem to come natural to me. Its like I literally have a one track mind. lol. Skittles Skittles Skittles lol. But he's all I have.

 

[NightEule5]

Good for you for how you're handling this! I think we all know of at least one person that's like this, and no matter what we want to do it can always be done in a civilized manner. So, good on you for doing that. Also, it's good that your neighbors are on your side. Let us know how it goes!

I am currently going through something similar with my neighbor who supposedly suffers with misophonia, which is an extreme sensitivity to certain sounds, which immediately elicit feelings of rage and anger.

I have that (it's a small world... never mind ) and that's a pretty accurate description. Although it doesn't usually apply to bird sounds for me, mostly just chewing, slurping, etc sets me off. Controlling the reaction toward the trigger is hard (extremely so for me) for some people, so hopefully the way she handles it isn't too bad.

He's a very nice guy and he even told me I could stop by anytime for coffee or to play cards and I was like "YES!", cause I can't get my other neighbor (my friend) to play cards with me and I can't play cards with Skittles cause all he does is cheat.

Lol

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

I've never heard of misophonia before, never knew there was such a condition. It must be hard to cope with.

I will know more tomorrow after speaking with the manager from resident services. I'm going decide then what path to pursue. While I don't want to rock the boat with the annoying neighbor anymore than I have too, I also don't want to be repeatedly harassed by her petty complaints either.

 

[wrench13]

Daddy,you said it. Don't F... with karma!

 

[NightEule5]

I've never heard of misophonia before, never knew there was such a condition. It must be hard to cope with.

People tend not to. It was first discovered back in the early 2000s. My therapist hadn't even heard about it, lol. It's harder some days than others, but as long as I'm eating when everyone else is eating it's usually ok.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

And I'm sure a lot of people probably think "its all in your head" right?

I have Bipolar and OCD and the funny thing is, my OCD is harder to deal with because it doesn't respond as well to medication as Bipolar does. I can't tell you how aggravated I get when people tell me "just turn it off" or "don't think about it". I'm like, jeez, why didn't I think of that! My OCD used to be MUCH worse. But believe it or not, video games have helped immensely in coping, go figure. lol.

 

[NightEule5]

Ya, I've had the worst luck with mental illnesses. I can't imagine what OCD or Bipolar would feel like, but I do have anxiety. I've been prescribed medication, but it's not really helping. So I know how you feel in that way I guess.

Sometimes it's so bad that I'll write a forum post or a post on something else and delete it all because "what will people think?". If only it were that easy, huh? If you could just shut it off...