Daycare tows office worker’s truck from shared lot costing him $600, instantly regrets it when he installs a gate and blocks them out: 'The mayhem was well worth it'

Author image for Isabella Penn
Isabella Penn
Nov 1, 2025 5:00 AM EDT

Sometimes karma doesn't take long; it just needs a remote-controlled gate.

A small business owner shared a parking lot with a daycare next door. His company had exclusive rights to all 24 parking spots, but since they only used a few, he didn't mind when daycare staff and parents parked there during drop-off. That is, until one morning when the daycare manager had his car towed without warning for parking in their lot.

When he politely asked for an apology (and permission to occasionally use their lot), she doubled down, claiming he was a liability and should "let them park there instead."

Big mistake.

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  • Two weeks later, a shiny new gate appeared around the lot, paid for by him, approved by the landlord, and accessible only to his team. The next morning, the daycare descended into shambles as parents circled like vultures looking for a spot. Staff scrambled, children cried, and the manager fumed while he watched the whole scene from his office window with a smile.

    She wanted him gone from her parking lot. Instead, she lost access to his. Fair’s fair... and a little petty.

  • Cheezburger Image 10570401024
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - Been waiting for this one My partner and I own a small 8 person company that shares a building with only a daycare.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - Our company consists almost exclusively of higher-level professionals (a couple lawyers, CPAs, etc.), so most have their own large office plus, a couple of common areas, conference rooms, a nice kitchen.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - All in all, it's about 3,500 sqft which is obviously a lot for 8 people, but necessary for our line of work.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - Due to the size of the office, the lease has a parking provision which grants us exclusive rights to all 24 parking spots.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - This is somewhat important (to the story not our work we only need 8 + clients).
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - Also, important is the daycare's parking lot only consisting of about 10 spots in front of the building
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - The parents would use our lot to drop off as the daycare's lot would be mostly full with their staff's cars and even some of their staff would park in our lot.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - I didn't mind at all. We had over a dozen empty spots each day, and it was nice to have the (mostly) happy children around in the mornings/afternoon.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - Until a month ago. I started coming in a bit later at the same time as daycare drop off.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - Our lot was crazy with parents/kids walking and parking, so I used their lot like they have done with ours for years.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - First day, no issue. Second day, the manager saw me get out and gave me a piercing stare.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - A week later or so, I did it again, and my car was towed. Not a warning or word from the manager/anyone at the daycare to me or our office.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • in Sushi R&D 784-6446
    via Jonathan Cooper For Unsplash+
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - I went to the daycare to ask if they knew it was my car(it is a very distinctive old blue truck) and if some kind of mistake had been made.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - The manager came out and said it was not a mistake, and in a very rude demeaning tone her exact words were along the lines of "unfortunately we can't have the liability of non-staff and parents within our lot and I'm sure the parents don't appreciate having to walk further either or an unknown adult like you in the lot" she looks me up and down and I am a totally nor
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - "Don't you have some reserve spots in the back? You should really park there and let us park here." With an eye-roll, she walked off.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - I was happy I held my tongue in front of the children considering how f -king angry I was, knowing it was not the time for that conversation.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - A couple days later I told the manager, while we were outside the office that I wished she would have come to me before towing my car and costing me $600, asked for an apology, and said since we share the backlot and the parents take up almost all of our spots in the morning and afternoon, can I park in the front lot the occasional morning the timelines align.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - She flatly said no - and basically gave me the same speech she gave last time, at least not commenting on my appearance this time.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - I left things for a week, thinking it was over. Until again, I had nowhere to park one morning.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - Having to wait 10 minutes for parents to filter out of our lot lest my car be towed, and who do I see but the manager getting a spot in my lot before me even.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - I decided to comply with the manager's wishes then and developed a plan. I contacted the building owner, and said (or more accurately lied) that due to compliance reasons with a state license we're applying for, we need to have a gate installed with employee/guest pass access only on our parking lot.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - Our company would of course cover the cost. Same day approval from landlord. Installed two weeks later.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - I drove in early that first day after install. I tell you the mayhem was well worth it.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - Watching from the corner window gave me a perfect view of it all. It started with daycare staff pressing all sorts of keys on the gate to try and get in; trying to park where they have for months, years even.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - Then their lot filled up completely. Parents started arriving. A staff member had to stand at the gate telling parents there was now no access.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - Their parking lot was basically congested with parents double parked taking their children in. Other parents parked a quarter mile down in another lot at the park our office overlooks.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - I eventually went down, to give the manager a nice little wave and walked back up to my office.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - She gave me a piercing stare that just made me grin ear to ear. I guess she sent the owner a rather angry email about parking rights to the backlot afterwards and how it's crazy one small office gets the entire thing.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - Apparently, she did not know we had all of it. He said him and I may have to discuss the parking provision in the future and he also did not know the lease gave the entire back lot, but it's not a big deal to him.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - (Not sure why he let me put the gate in) Regardless, I still have 2 years left on my lease with another option to extend an additional 5.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - So no plans on moving anytime soon from the office or my 24 parking spots. P.S.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - it's an office building next to a park and residential homes. I am in no way endangering these children since they now walk through a quarter mile of grass and playground to get to daycare.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - There's not even a street to cross from that lot. If anything I made the days of the employees and parents better in retrospect (actually not sure employees can park in the playground lot for that long).
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - Edit: finally figured out how to edit! Newer around these parts. To everyone asking me why I did not tow, two reasons: 1) most importantly, I was tired and working 12+ hour days for a few months at that point.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - That day she parked there was the last or second to last day of that stretch, and then I'm basically 4-6 hours a day for 9 months.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - Towing a car was the last thing on my mind; getting into the office and finishing my work was my only goal.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - Then my partner suggested it when I recounted the story. 2) $600 can be a lot of money for some.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - I grew up fairly poor and know how devastating a towed car can mean to a family struggling month to month.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • RelativeSalad1409 https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1okd4pl/daycare_wants_my_office_to_park_in_our_reserved/ - Another day, I may have done it. I'm glad I didn't.
    via RelativeSalad1409
  • SkyRemarkable5982 Touché to the daycare worker! I was really hoping you towed the car when you said she got a spot in your lot before you did.
    via SkyRemarkable5982
  • OP RelativeSalad 1409 My partner(business not life haha) wanted to, but I chose against it. Would rather inconvenience the manager as much as possible, even better if the owner of the daycare has to move his business simply due to a couple of conversations and a measly parking gate.
    via RelativeSalad
  • aquainst1 Someone above mentioned that a smart parent would somehow sneakily get the gate code. SO... Change it every month.
    via aquainst1
  • OP RelativeSalad 1409 It's not a code luckily. License plate reader mainly/you can open it from your phone with an app. Well there is a code, but I don't even know it off the top of my head.
    via RelativeSalad
  • Mental-Dot-6574 Love a good Spaceballs reference!
    via Mental-Dot-6574
  • OP RelativeSalad 1409 I'm ashamed I didn't catch. Watching it this week to comb the desert for any forgotten references
    via RelativeSalad
  • Coder Joe1 Time to lease them some of your parking spots for $10/day until you pay off the cost of the gate and getting your car towed.
    via CoderJoe1
  • OP RelativeSalad 1409 I don't care about the money. I care about the inconvenience of the manager. Unfortunately, there is great collateral damage with the parents/staff convenience too. Sacrifices must be made in this great petty war.
    via RelativeSalad
  • aquainst1 Yes! "Due to liability issues involved with these parking lots, this lot can not be accessed by anyone other than staff or clients of <insert company name here>." Or something like this.
    via aquainst1
  • OP RelativeSalad 1409 May do that, but not sure how it'd look in the eyes of our clients. Would definitely raise some questions, that some would love the answer to and others would have some pause over.
    via RelativeSalad
  • _Kramerica_ It's absolutely flabbergasting that people would rather treat a stranger like a complete piece of shit rather than just talk to them in a normal, non-aggressive/non- confrontational way. It literally costs nothing to just at minimum have 1-2 conversations and feel people out before you make a decision on how future interactions should be handled. People like that deserve every single inconvenience possible.
    via _Kramerica_ '
  • OP RelativeSalad 1409 It's shocking honestly. Happens for too often with Opposing Counsel's Clients or even Opposing Counsel who cannot remain civil, so luckily I basically deal with uncivil a-holes for a living. Easy to deal with a situation like this in normal life with nothing at risk.
    via RelativeSalad
  • Acruss_ So you saw that manager parking in your parking spaces and you didn't tow her?
    via Acruss_
  • OP RelativeSalad 1409 I'm fine losing $600. Idk if someone else is. I know she's not the owner, so she probably doesn't make a lot. This was kind of fun for me with too much time on my hands and money to spare in our slow season to make someone have a headache who isn't a kind person. But I didn't want to financially hurt someone.
    via RelativeSalad
  • doc_skinner How do the clients get in? Do you need to send them a guest pass in advance? Seems like inconveniencing your own clients might not be the best way to go.
    via doc_skinner
  • OP RelativeSalad 1409 We spent decent money on the gate, so you can open it from your phone/computer. Receptionist works it when we're expecting guests/outside of the daycare rush.
    via RelativeSalad
  • da9621 Probably messaging the client and saying "hey, the code is X"
    via da9621
  • OP RelativeSalad 1409 That too, we try to open it before they even have a chance to roll down their window. Like I said, not many clients and a more white glove service. If anything, I like the touch that it adds.
    via RelativeSalad

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daycare store owner parking space employee satisfying job tow truck malicious compliance work entitled people karma comedy workplace business funny
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