There's that saying about no good deed... Doing favors for family, friends, and neighbors runs the risk of coming back on the giver, especially if the recipient becomes entitled and takes the proverbial mile after being given an inch.
A young woman turned to the "Am I The A**hole" (AITA) subReddit for feedback after her neighbor took advantage of her kindness.
Typical-Ad5254 asked:
"AITA for having my neighbor’s boyfriend’s car towed after they took over my paid parking spot for a week?"
The original poster (OP) explained:
"I (24, female) pay extra for a reserved parking spot at my apartment because parking here is really bad."
"About two weeks ago, my neighbor (26, female) knocked on my door and asked if I could allow her boyfriend who just visited to use my spot just for one night. She said he will move the car early the next morning."
"I agreed since my car is with the mechanic. But the car stayed there for almost a week."
"I reminded her multiple times to move it, but there was always an excuse. And now I have my car back, and keep searching for street parking even though I’m paying for my own spot."
"After several warnings, I finally had the car towed. Now my neighbor says I overreacted and embarrassed them."
The OP summed up why they might be the a**hole in their situation.
"I towed my neighbor’s boyfriend’s car from my paid reserved spot after a 1 night favor turned into 1 week. Neighbor says towing was an overreaction that embarrassed them and cost money."
Redditors weighed in by declaring:
- NTA - Not The A**hole
- YTA - You're The A**hole
- NAH - No A**holes Here
- ESH - Everyone Sucks Here
- INFO - more information needed
Redditors decided the OP was not the a**hole (NTA).
"NTA! They said it was for one night, you agreed to ONE night, case closed!" ~ FindingAWayThrough
"Exactly. There's NO way you're an AH. They abused your kindness. And they had the gall to act like the victims? They only embarrassed themselves." ~ IceSeeker
"This. If she was worried about being embarrassed, that sh*t started at day two." ~ basement-fan
"You actually parked on the street even once? I'd have had his car towed after my first request to shift it was ignored. NTA."
"Embarrassed? She should be ashamed of taking advantage. What did they plan to do if your car wasn't at the mechanic's in the first place? Seems very odd." ~ IllustriousBowler259
"Takers have no shame. They survive on other people giving and will keep taking until they are forced to stop. But at least once you get taken, you can spot others like them a mile away and be like 'nope'." ~ Apart_Shoulder6089
"Maybe she should pay a prorated amount for the days she/her boyfriend used the spot since OP was paying for it." ~ snowbirds-go-home
"They embarrassed themselves with their entitled behavior." ~ OldLadyinFlorida
"After several warnings...enough said. NTA." ~ Shoesietart
"NTA. They don’t pay and you do. They embarrassed themselves all by themselves." ~ Background-Koala8518
"Yeah, you stuck up for yourself against people taking advantage of your kindness as well as your paid parking space. Good job!" ~ Thejokingsun
"They should be embarrassed. Not because the car was towed, because of their sh*tty behavior." ~ spaceylaceygirl
"NTA. You pay for that spot and were kind enough to share it for one night. They should be embarrassed!" ~ A_Shiny_Vaporeon
"NTA. You gave an inch, they took a mile, and now they're upset that their actions had consequences. Sucks to be them." ~ Appropriate-Mall9781
"NTA. It will be a lesson for their whole life. You did them a favor." ~ mightywingedunicorn
"Yes, they just learned what FAFO means. NTA. They f*cked around and found out." ~ FunBodybuilder4620
"You would be NTA even without a warning. They said one night. After that one night, you had the right to tow their car." ~ General-Toe-8686
"NTA they asked for favour and then didn't respect your limits. Of course your neighbor is going to say you overreacted because they know they underreacted."
"You gave them multiple chances to move the car. Also document everything in case they try do something retaliatory. It is your spot to use, period." ~ foxdogturtlecat
"NTA, you gave them more than enough time. When I lived in an apartment with assigned spots, I worked nights and got back after on-site management left for the day. They gave me the number of the tow truck service they use."
"There was a large sign on all the doors that said you will be towed for parking in non-assigned spots. My spot was close to the front door in the first building, so people or guests thought it was up for grabs once it got dark. I called at least once a week and it was always different cars. I stopped feeling sorry after the 3rd towing."
"It's been almost 10 years, but I believe there was huge a** metal signage right when you pulled in and one that had an arrow directing people to guest parking." ~ PeppermintEvilButler
"NTA. Once it was outside of the agreed time you should have had their car towed. You can never play the nice person when someone takes advantage of your paid for parking spot." ~ kiwimuz
"This is exactly why people stop doing favors. NTA." ~ Human-Ad-5574
"Yup. Some people are just takers and they'll take take take until you stop them. Cause there are people who just give and are afraid to stop." ~ Apart_Shoulder6089
"NTA, you agreed to 1 night with the car being gone early the next morning. Then, you gave them warnings which they gave you excuses instead of actually moving the car. I guarantee that they will never ask to use your parking space again." ~ No_Wolf_1756
"NTA. I would have made them move it the second I got my car back. You were way more polite than me." ~ Designer-Lettuce-690
"Definitely NTA if you gave them several warnings. Seriously though, who do some people think they are?" ~ stickybeek
"NTA, even if OP gave them 0 warnings. They knew it was a reserved parking spot and kept it there. It's all on them." ~ Kittymemesallday
"NTA. They embarrassed themselves by being users. You gave them permission for one night, not one week. Good on you for taking action. I would have, too." ~ Gattina1
"NTA, they should be embarrassed for being a**holes." ~ DealerAlarmed3632
"Not the a**hole at all, they took advantage of your kindness and disrespected your property. You gave her multiple chances to fix it, so towing was fair game." ~ Livid_Statement4687
"NTA. They said one day, then were given ample opportunity to move it. Play stupid games win stupid prizes!" ~ Illustrious-Bug-6889
"NTA, she knew what she was doing, she was hoping you wouldn't have the backbone to have her boyfriend's car towed, FAFO." ~ lord_buff74
"Obviously NTA. What the hell is with the 'embarrassment' though? Does she think anyone on earth gave a second thought to the car getting towed?" ~ TalkToHoro
"NTA. You would have been justified having his car towed after they ignored you the first time you asked them to move it. If anything, you under-reacted. And they deserved to be embarrassed."
"You did them a favor for one night, and then they took advantage of you. Her reaction says that they had no plans to move the car any time soon. And keep an eye out - the car might reappear sometime in the future." ~ bamf1701
"I’d tell them, 'I understand why you’re embarrassed. I don’t understand why you blame me. I’m the person who repeatedly asked you to move the car so it wouldn’t get towed'." ~ Literally_Taken
"NTA, but you should’ve called it in 6 days sooner." ~ _PrincessOats
"NTA. In effect, they were stealing from you. Overnight with permission is occasionally acceptable. A week without permission is definitely grounds for towing." ~ Accomplished-Emu-591
"Ask them, 'When exactly did I overreact? Was it the fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh time I asked you to move it?' NTA." ~ Serious-Echo1241
"Yes, you are the a**hole for not allowing someone to steal something you paid for. NTA. They got what they asked for by ignoring your requests to move." ~ Designer_Thought2907
"NTA. Hope you documented everything in case they sue to recover towing and storage fees. Even now you can create a journal of what was said to who and when. Remember: document, document, document." ~ thefrozenorth
"NTA in any way, shape, or form. It’s unfortunate when you do something nice for someone and they choose to take advantage, but you have to do what you have to do. You were nice enough to give them multiple warnings. I would’ve had that thing towed the first time." ~ AttemptFantastic9103
"NTA, if they were in your paid parking spot for 5 minutes. The second you come home, and find someone else is in your spot, start dialing the towing company." ~ Phantom1thrd
"NTA. They asked to use the spot for one night, then it became a week. You got your car back and needed to use the spot that you pay for. You gave them several warnings to move, which they ignored. They f*cked around and found out." ~ Pythonixx
OP gave their neighbor ample warning. Anything that happened is entirely on them.
