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AIBU?

AIBU and over reacting? Or is this man's behaviour around my home strange?

47 replies

ziggiestardust · 16/09/2013 19:34

This is long. And I don't know if I'm being silly. So I'm coming for some straight talking.

We had a window cleaner come and do our windows. In January, he came and said his PayPal was going wrong and people were having trouble paying him. Fine, I asked him to write down his bank details and I'd just transfer the money for the clean into his account when he came by. He cleaned, I nipped on the iPad and paid him. But the system was slow, and I clicked twice and paid him twice by mistake. I went out the door to see if he was still about so I could let him know, but he'd left. I tried ringing him over the next week, but I couldn't get an answer and assumed that since I'd paid using my full name as a reference, that he'd see the payment had gone in twice and just not collect next time.

Six weeks later, he cleaned my windows again during the working day, and pushed a bill for 2 cleans (the one six week previously and that one) through my door, along with a hastily scribbled note saying he needed payment and was struggling up meet his bills. Again, I tried calling the number on his website, no answer. Just constant ringing. I tried sending an email, but it was returned saying the address wasn't verified. I double checked and made sure the payments had indeed left, which they had. I checked then against the payment details he'd left and they matched. I assumed he'd made a mistake.

Anyway, fast forward 6 months. Window cleaner comes round at about 7pm (ish). Says we owe him money for 3 cleans now and we're his worst customers. He's shouting and we try to calm him down. He's almost incoherent. I offer to show him my Internet banking log on to show I paid him twice in the January, he says 'it isn't good enough'. He also said he came round earlier that week and cleaned the windows, so it's 3 cleans we owe him for. I said I hadn't seen the windows had been cleaned, but as its been raining ill give him the benefit of the doubt and pay him cash for that one now. Whilst I get my purse, he's ranting and raving and really going crazy, and then calls me 'a fucking bitch'. DH said 'right, that's enough. We've paid all that we possibly owe, you don't want to see the Internet banking transactions even though we've offered. Here's the money for the clean you said you did in the week. Please leave now or I'm going to call the police.' He steps back onto the pavement and says 'nothing you can fucking do now, I'm on public property!' And starts almost bouncing on the spot with energy. DH tells me to go inside the house and phone the police. I turn to go inside and the window cleaner gets inside his van and drives off quickly.

We didn't call the police because it was so bizarre, we talked ourselves out of it, and I felt like we'd be wasting their time.

A few weeks later, we are coming home from work and getting our son out of the car. Window cleaner has seen our car pull up from his view point about 100 yards up the street, as he's cleaning gutters for a new family who moved in. He gets down from his ladder, walks over a bit further and yells 'alright mate, how are you doing?' To my DH. DH replies 'very well thank you, good night.' And we go inside. As we do, he calls something else but DH ignores it as he can't make it out.

Fast forward to this evening. He's cleaning a chimney and we see his van on the drive him. I jokingly say to DH 'I wonder if he'll speak to you again?'

As I'm putting DS to bed and reading him a story, there's a knock on the door. DH answers and sure enough, it's the window cleaner. He was almost manic, very loud and forward and almost aggressive in manner. He says he wants to apologise for what happened, and here's our money back (?!), as he proffers the cash. Begs DH to take it and give it to charity, and if he doesn't take it, he'll put the money under our car wiper or post it through the letterbox. He says he's now got so much money from his new business in chimneys, he doesn't know what to do with it, a point which he almost shouts several times, and our set to that evening prompted him to leave window cleaning and start chimney sweeping, so thank you SO much, to the point DH asks him if he's alright and that he's really happy he's doing so well, but it's all forgotten and in the past. The man then says 'what goes around comes around you know.' And DH says that's great, that he hopes he does well for himself and says good evening.

I've never seen anything like his behaviour. It's aggressive, jittery and very random. I'm frightened that next time he comes, I'll be on my own. It feels like an invasion of personal space and I don't know if I'm over reacting or not. It's so bizarre, I almost talked myself out of posting in case I'm lying in my head iyswim?

I have checked and checked that we paid the right person against the details given, and we have.

Please tell me what I should do, and how I should feel. I'm a bit concerned tbh.

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ziggiestardust · 16/09/2013 19:35

My goodness that's long. Blush I just don't want to drop feed. I want to give as good an account as I can remember.

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ziggiestardust · 16/09/2013 19:39

Argh! drip feed! And I'll! I can spell and punctuate I promise, I was just rushing to get it all down.

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AugustaCarp · 16/09/2013 19:39

I think he sounds unwell, as if he could be in a manic phase.

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ryangoslinglovesmedamnit · 16/09/2013 19:40

He is very strange. Log it with 101 number.

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ziggiestardust · 16/09/2013 19:44

ryan do you think? I was thinking about it but now I'm scared in case the police take a trip round, and he comes and hassles us more Confused

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hippo123 · 16/09/2013 19:46

Sounds like he's on speed to me. I don't reckon you have anything to worry about though, just smile and nod if you see him again.

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headsspinningforachange · 16/09/2013 19:46

Id definitely be concerned over his behaviour, I second calling 101 & logging it with them

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microserf · 16/09/2013 19:47

Log it. He sounds like he is entering a manic phase and is mentally unwell. That is sad, but it also sounds like he is fixing on your family and I think you need to be documenting it now. I would.

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fatfingers · 16/09/2013 19:49

either mentally unwell or on drugs imo. Don't answer the door if he knocks again.

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pianodoodle · 16/09/2013 19:51

I'd at least put it in a journal with dates and maybe also make a note of any other times you see him just in case.

He does sound a bit manic. Not necessarily dangerous but an ex of mine used to have these phases and would do lots of the things you describe such as the bouncing about, getting fixated on certain people that were only briefly in his life for a minor reason, and also attempting to give away money.

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ziggiestardust · 16/09/2013 19:52

hippo that's what DH said! He came to me after he'd closed the door and I'd finished with DS upstairs and explained what had happened. He said if he didn't know better, he'd have thought he was on something.

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ziggiestardust · 16/09/2013 19:52

But if you make a 101 call, do the police go and follow it up?

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Coconutty · 16/09/2013 19:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ziggiestardust · 16/09/2013 19:56

Thank you so much for the replies, and I apologise for the length of my OP! Thank you for being so prompt and understanding. I'm relieved to know I'm not just being silly Blush

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ziggiestardust · 16/09/2013 19:57

But also, won't we just make him angrier/more obsessed by ignoring him?

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topicsactiveimon · 16/09/2013 19:57

I'd say he sounds like he has a mental health issue. As he hasn't actually threatened any violence, I'd just keep an eye out and try to avoid him. Don't answer the door to him if you're alone.

Could be drugs, though.

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InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 16/09/2013 19:58

He definitely sounds deranged. I wouldn't answer the door to him tbh

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InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 16/09/2013 19:59

I would hide so that he doesn't know you're ignoring him! Sounds bizarre I know but I'd be scared of him

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ziggiestardust · 16/09/2013 20:02

I bloody know inspace! I am really quite freaked out! I'm worried, he seems to have boundary issues and I don't know if he's going to knock again. Because really, there is absolutely nothing the police are going to do, is there?!

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Shutupanddrive · 16/09/2013 20:03

Agree he sounds like he is on something. Don't engage with him in any way, don't answer the door. If he tries to speak to you cut him off, shut the door in his face if necessary. Call the police if your worried or he won't leave

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medhandthekiddiesvtheworld · 16/09/2013 20:03

are you in south wales

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ParsleyTheLioness · 16/09/2013 20:04

Either MH issues or substance abuse IMO.

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ziggiestardust · 16/09/2013 20:05

No I'm not med

God this whole thing has made me really paranoid.

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SisterMonicaJoan · 16/09/2013 20:06

I don't know why people say to call 101 just to "log it".

You're right op. The police will take a statement and then follow it up. Then decide whether it will go further i.e. prosecution / caution. It doesn't just get "logged" somewhere after a quick chat over the phone.

Btw, I think drugs too. Keep your wits about you and don't answer the door if your DH isn't in.

Hope it works out ok

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SisterMonicaJoan · 16/09/2013 20:07

Or "no further action"...

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