Work-from-home employee draws the line after retired neighbor treats him like his personal handyman: 'He called me three times in one day'

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    AITA for Telling My Neighbour I'm Done Helping Him After He Keeps Asking for Favors Every Day?
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    Hey all, this has been bothering me for a while, so I figured I'd ask here. I (27M) live in a quiet neighborhood, mostly older folks. A few months ago, this guy "Rick" moved in next door. He's in his 60s, retired, and seemed like a nice enough guy at first.
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    When he first moved in, he asked me for some help with small things like lifting boxes, setting up his Wi-Fi, stuff like that. I didn't mind at all, happy to help a neighbor. But over time, it's like he started to rely on me for
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    everything. At first, it was once or twice a week. Now, it's nearly every single day. It's not even big stuff, either. Last week, he called me at 9am asking if I could come over and "fix" his toaster (it just wasn't plugged in).
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    Another time, he needed me to reach a bowl from a high shelf. One time, he even asked me to help him put on his wristwatch because the clasp was "tricky." I've tried to set boundaries. I
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    work a pretty demanding job from home, and I can't drop everything whenever Rick calls. I've explained this, nicely, a couple of times, but it doesn't seem to get through. A few days ago, I told him I was on a tight
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    deadline, and he still called twice once because he lost his remote (found it under the couch) and once because his porch light bulb went out. The breaking point for me was two days ago. He called me three
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    times in one day. The last call was at 8pm to ask if I could come over and "fix" his sink, which was literally just a clogged drain. I told him I couldn't help, and he got all huffy, saying something like, "Guess I can't count on you anymore."
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    That's when I kinda lost it. I told him, "Rick, I'm not your personal handyman. I've got my own life and responsibilities." He looked hurt and just said, "Well, sorry for asking," and hung up. Now he's giving me the cold shoulder and
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    even told another neighbor that I'm "selfish and unhelpful.” I feel bad because he's older and lives alone, but I feel like he's been taking advantage of my kindness. I'm all for being neighborly, but this feels like too much.
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    So, AITAH for finally putting my foot down? Or should I just it up and keep helping since he doesn't seem to have anyone else?
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    facinationstreet • 1d ago LOL! He's in his 60s, not 123 yrs old who lived as an Amish person for 122 yrs and has no idea how electricity and looking under the couch works. NTA Start calling him Colin Robinson
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    peppersteak_headshot 1d ago • Feels like there is more to the story. Either Rick is lonely or he's so incapable of performing the daily functions of living in a house he is in cognitive decline.
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    Bellette 1d ago • NTA. Being neighborly is cool and all, but you're not the 24/7 tech support or handyman. Maybe Rick needs a hobby that doesn't involve your phone number.
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    Candid Process1831 • 1d ago Top 1% Commenter NTA! He is taking advantage because of his age, helping out is nice of you but that is to much know.
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    ComplexSevere8771 • 1d ago NTA. But I think he was doing this because he is lonely, you were his source of company. It is sad but it's also not your responsibility.
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    . Stephie Rosee 1d ago He seemed to expect you to be available at his beck and call, which is unfair. LOL
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    Farmhouse Rules • 1d ago NTA. He's sucking the life out of you. If you want a middle ground tell him you'll help him one day a week and for him to make a list instead of calling you every day.
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    Crazy-Rat_Lady • 1d ago Please don't feel bad. My son (25) was helping a lady down. the road (in her 70's) and it got to the point where she was calling at all hours for him to "urgently" fix things. It got to a point where he was ignoring her calls and she was ringing me leaving messages that I needed to "urgently" call her.
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    Thankfully she has found another slave to help her. It is really unsettling when someone constantly invades your personal time and space where you get to the point of thinking "I think I will just stay away another hour. Your home is your haven and he has set up. camp in the lounge room. Time. to ignore him. Definitely NTA. Oh, and perhaps if he persists ask him what his last slave di d of. Best of luck.
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