Would You Help Neighbour Identify Car Incident Footage from Your Camera?

L[Deactivated] on 09/12/2022 - 21:16

I was hoping for an opinion on this hypothetical matter. A friend was thinking of charging their neighbour a base rate to trawl through camera footage to find out who hit the neighbour's car.

This camera overlooks a main road and people freely park on the road side. The issue is my friend do not really like this neighbour and these people don't have a camera installed plus they parked in front of his house which makes it further away to walk towards his house. Now if someone hit the neighbourss car and my friend being the only one with good footage, would you in this scenario shame the neighbour for not instalking their own camera and parking in their own area… And charge them for the time and service. Or just give it to them freely?

Thank you for you enlightened opinions…

Poll Options expired

  • 904
    Give it to them
  • 181
    Don't give it to them
  • 107
    Charge them for it
Home & Garden

Comments

  • boomramada on 09/12/2022 - 21:18
    +60

    This gonna be a awesome troll post 😆

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 09/12/2022 - 21:34
      +14

      Pulls up chair, breaks out popcorn.

      • SpotTheOzzie on 11/12/2022 - 10:45
        +52

        Spoken like a true extreme OzBargain member..

        Cmon bro, real world. Sometimes you should just help people out.

        • initiateit on 11/12/2022 - 11:53
          +14

          Yah it's always fine to be an ass untill it happens to you! Then you can post it OZB for advice on how to deal with butthurt.

          • Kangal on 12/12/2022 - 01:33
            +2

            @initiateit: AmayzingOne does have a point.
            You can charge them upfront for $50 (for example) as service for your time to trawl through the footage, and give them a copy. He is right that you aren't under any obligation to give the footage, unless there is a warrant or court order. Also the OP has a point that this is a neighbour he doesn't have good relations with due to previous parking hassles.

            So I think that's the appropriate way, and might incentivise their neighbour to park on their side, and setup their own camera.

            Me personally? I wouldn't charge them, because I usually go out of my way to form good relations with my fence buddies, and expect them to be decent in-return. But if I had a "neighbour from hell" I wouldn't charge them, I would probably say sorry there's no footage.

      • jerjergege on 11/12/2022 - 12:21
        +16

        Thats 804 characters, that'll be $8.04 for me reading your comment thanks.
        paypal.me/jerjergege

        • s1Lence on 11/12/2022 - 16:32

          We can't find this profile
          Make sure the link’s right and profile hasn't been turned off.

          • jerjergege on 12/12/2022 - 08:28
            +1

            @s1Lence: I purposely put that one, as a real one would give out your real name etc.

      • [Deactivated] on 12/12/2022 - 19:11
        +2

        so if you were about to get robbed down the corner of a street and I am able to call the police should I spend my ten minutes and be a good fellow human or should I ask you for $50 upfront cause I maybe a lawyer and my hourly rate is $300? I used to have a friend like you and he is unfriended irl god I hate how people are nowadays!

    • xtremehell on 13/12/2022 - 17:27

      I remember reading a similar thread years ago. Think this was the one: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/495331

  • mbck on 09/12/2022 - 21:21
    +26

    We're all charging you per letter of each comment

  • mapax on 09/12/2022 - 21:22
    +44

    Member Since
    19/03/2013

    Wait, what? That’s not how this usually goes.

    • dcep on 09/12/2022 - 21:45
      +9

      L-plate
      Statistics
      2 posts / 13 comments

      • techlead on 12/12/2022 - 13:22
        +6

        The OP is a lurker, nothing wrong with that.

    • El cheepo on 10/12/2022 - 02:11
      +38

      This troll post has been almost 10 years in the making.

  • cashless on 09/12/2022 - 21:24
    +7

    Yeah, that short film clip of a car accident is gonna make you (r friend) a millionaire. Do it

  • AustriaBargain on 09/12/2022 - 21:25
    +1

    Six thousand dollar fee.

  • SF3 on 09/12/2022 - 21:26
    +5

    Post on OzB 1st for FREE before anywhere else.

    • iNeed2Pee on 09/12/2022 - 21:32
      +7

      My head is exploding these days with these posts.

      • DashCam AKA Rolts on 09/12/2022 - 21:36
        +9

        At least it's not your bladder.

      • SF3 on 09/12/2022 - 21:38

        Their self preservation animal instincts kicks in.

        • iNeed2Pee on 09/12/2022 - 21:53

          Yes, lets put emphasis on the word "animal" 😂

  • cookie2 on 09/12/2022 - 21:35
    +36

    Not charge. Seems a bit screwed up. If it was quick I'd do it for free. Maybe it'll improve the relationship.

    • dcep on 09/12/2022 - 21:45
      -4

      Hmm.. ok

      when?

      • cookie2 on 09/12/2022 - 22:59

        What do you mean?

        • ThithLord on 11/12/2022 - 09:46
          +3

          I think they meant to ask when?

    • capslock janitor on 11/12/2022 - 11:38

      BIG MAYBE THERE

      plus they parked in front of his house which makes it further away to walk towards his house.

  • hasselbladsnapper on 09/12/2022 - 21:36
    +41

    I had a big planning issue with my neighbour across the road, WE attempted to fix the issue with talk, did not work out and it went to court and very big $$$$$.

    Helped him with their build over 2 years on & off and ended up becoming good friends!. Moral of the story, a hand of friendship can go a long way to resolving a difficult situation, I suggest helping out over your friends neighbour issue could well turn the situation for the future harmony!. I say offer the help!.

    • ntt on 12/12/2022 - 10:59
      +1

      hmmmm, interesting story. Care to tell?

      • ankor on 12/12/2022 - 13:20
        +1

        He bought a hasselblad and some lenses after winning the court case..

    • GourmetFoodie on 13/12/2022 - 10:58

      Can you explain why you helped them with the build if they made you spend $$ in court?

      • DingoBlue on 13/12/2022 - 14:03

        That rhetorical question is the entire point of the parable.

  • pegaxs on 09/12/2022 - 21:37
    +12

    “Sorry, my camera only covers up to the line of my own property…”

    • SF3 on 09/12/2022 - 21:40
      +8

      “Sorry, my camera only covers up to the line of my own property…”

      Until your pay me to show you the other half.

      • pegaxs on 10/12/2022 - 17:24
        +17

        Nah, I just let my neighbours know that my cameras are there to protect my own property. If the cameras face their property, some people get weird about it, right up until something happens at their place, then it's all "I had a break in and was wondering, does that camera see my front door/garage from there?" when last week it was all "DoNt FiLm mUh ProPErTy, cReeP!!!1!1"

        So, I just tell them;

        Sorry, my camera only covers up to the line of my own property…

        On the odd occasion, I have pointed a camera at the neighbours work truck when he goes away for a few days, but he is a good bloke and he asks me to watch his truck for him.

        • [Deactivated] on 10/12/2022 - 20:50
          +3

          That's a good point, people can be touchy about being filmed

          • Banj0 on 12/12/2022 - 17:50

            @[Deactivated]: Funny, with mobile phones all over the place you'd think we'd be a bit more chill with it.

          • secondstory on 13/12/2022 - 16:54

            @[Deactivated]: It also becomes a great place to decide to continue parking their car if it has security footage available on demand regardless of any cost.

  • tabz on 09/12/2022 - 21:42
    +26

    If it were me, I would give it to them for free… but only if they asked.

    I probably wouldn't volunteer to help them if I didn't like them.

  • jjjaar on 09/12/2022 - 21:51
    +38

    It would depend why they don’t like the neighbours, but based on charging them being the instinctive response, I’d assume it’s your friend that is the problem, not the neighbours.

  • Muzeeb on 09/12/2022 - 21:59
    +5

    Ahhh. How long does it take to prepare microwave popcorn?

    • kaleidoscope on 11/12/2022 - 14:38

      depends on the answer to how long is a piece of string

      • furyou on 11/12/2022 - 21:55
        +2

        it takes 10s per cm of string.

  • MagicMushroom on 09/12/2022 - 22:03
    +6

    1st conversation: what date & time? I will look into it tomorrow.
    2nd conversation: Sorry I checked but it's not recorded

    3rd conversation
    If they turn a bit nicer or appreciates you: Hey found the footage!
    Anything else: Nothing or ask them to pay

  • dogboy on 09/12/2022 - 22:13
    +7

    Mr Rogers says be kind to your neighbour.

    • Millikano on 10/12/2022 - 21:18
      +12

      Being kind to your neighbour is what made me love being an Australian growing up. It was a key part of our culture, and a good way to learn about different people from different backgrounds. If the shoe was on the other foot, surely you would like to be able to ask your neighbour if they could help you out?

      • macrocephalic on 13/12/2022 - 12:15
        +2

        We never used to talk to most of our neighbours, pleasantries at best. Since we had young kids, and then covid hit, we've gotten to know our neighbours really well. We see them every day and sit out on our lawns and have drinks while our kids play together. When I had my birthday party and half my old friends couldn't make it - it was my neighbours who were there with me.

        You don't have to like all your neighbours, but life is a lot better if you are friends with your neighbours.

    • belongsinforums on 11/12/2022 - 18:27
      -1

      Same guy believes that gays go to hell so

  • Tee Rex Arms on 09/12/2022 - 22:25
    +3

    Shame and/or charge them? Righto…

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 09/12/2022 - 22:38
    +37

    plus they parked in front of his house

    How dare they!

    Asking them to pay is scum. And there's no need to "trawl" through the footage. Either offer them all the footage (they can "trawl" themselves) or refuse. Simples.

    • outlander on 11/12/2022 - 11:41
      -8

      If I had to choose between them, I'd rather be scum with money than a host to parasites. But I agree it's not a very suave move, is it? The most I'd feel comfortable charging a neighbor for that is $50, which isn't worth the damage it could potentially cause being known as the neighbourhood profiteer.

      You know how I'd get around it? I'd say its my policy in these cases to ask them to donate $50 to charity before I checked.
      That way they're the (profanity) if they make a fuss about it hahaha

  • bobbified on 09/12/2022 - 22:40
    +36

    I would say that if you're going to give it, give it for free. Otherwise, just don't give it at all.

    I'm having trouble trying to comprehend how an opportunity to help someone with such little effort turns into a thing about making money. I mean, put the shoe on the other foot and imagine it was your car that was damaged and someone asked for money for the footage. I'm sure you'd have a few choice words to describe that person.

  • Ghost47 on 09/12/2022 - 22:48
    +1

    Do they always park in front of your friend's house? If they aren't considerate of your friend, don't help them.

    • Euphemistic on 11/12/2022 - 07:16
      +19

      Street parking in front of your house is not yours to determine who can park there.

      Is it annoying that someone else uses it? Probably. Can you make them stop? No. Suck it up.

      • TEER3X on 11/12/2022 - 07:22
        +1

        You can ask them not to park their because of XYZ reason, I've done that before and it worked.

        If they don't have any other place to park, then it might not happen, or if they refuse of course.

        • Euphemistic on 11/12/2022 - 08:12
          +3

          Of course, if there’s legit reasons and a conversation. just assuming they are inconsiderate because they park in front of your house on the street is indicative of the people that love to be outraged online.

        • IM-Cheap on 12/12/2022 - 00:49

          I've had a guy yell at me for parking in front of his street facing townhouse on the street in front of our our shared complex. If he'd had a good reason and wasn't just an AH claiming it belonged to him I might have complied (there were usually 1-2 other spaces) instead of laughing but as it was first to get home gets the street parking space as far as I'm concerned and it was closest to my front door. I smiled directly at him as he glared daggers at me every time he saw me.

      • Ghost47 on 11/12/2022 - 11:10
        +1

        I said “do they always”, as in do they do it frequently.

        Every now and then wouldn’t be bad, but if they are doing it a lot of the time it would be extremely annoying and inconsiderate, for example if you have visitors who have to park further down street 90% of the time they visit you because there’s a car constantly parked outside your house.

        You can’t make them stop sure, but you don’t have to help them when they need it.

        Please try to understand my comment first before replying, thanks.

      • 42 on 11/12/2022 - 14:18
        +4

        I liken this to neighbour playing loud enough music to disturb your peace all day. Although not illegal, it's just annoying and inconsiderate. Thankfully I don't have noise or parking problems where I live but when I lived in and apartment, one of the neighbours used to play the piano for a couple of hours until 8pm.

        • Ghost47 on 11/12/2022 - 14:43

          one of the neighbours used to play the piano for a couple of hours until 8pm.

          One of my neighbours also used to do this except during the day for a couple of hours. I had no issue with it because they were actually pretty good and as a result it was pleasant listening to them play. It also wasn't very loud because the walls were quite thick.

          People here can go on about how "it doesn't belong to you so suck it up"… well, I'm pretty sure if someone set up a tent outside their house on their nature strip 3-5 days a week and stayed there all day they'd be annoyed. Or if a real estate agent put up a sign on their nature strip about an auction without asking. Or if some kid litters junk food containers on their nature strip that they have to clean up.

          Telling others to "suck it up" in itself is what I often hear inconsiderate people say. "I got the last pack of toilet paper, suck it up.", "I was here first bozo, suck it up.", "I can do whatever I want to do, suck it up.", "I'm gonna invade your country, suck it up."

          • 42 on 12/12/2022 - 21:36
            +1

            @Ghost47: When I say play piano, it was more piano practice. Also same neighbour use to run on the treadmill for an hour or so a day and it used to make a loud thumping sound. The downstairs neighbour had anxiety and tried to explain that the loud thumping made her anxiety worse and she was having trouble sleeping because of it. Thumping didn't stop so the downstairs neighbour sold their apartment and moved.

      • furyou on 11/12/2022 - 21:58
        +1

        it's funny how touchy people are re street parking. I lived in a homestay ages ago, parked my car around the corner for 3 days (bus to uni).
        Those guys called the police out. Police said car ain't stolen wtf you wan me to do abouddit?

  • cookie2 on 09/12/2022 - 23:03
    +12

    This page is telling me much about all of our values and morals. I don't mean this to sound judgemental, it's just interesting.

    • Sleeqb7 on 10/12/2022 - 11:55
      +2

      I agree, but only because most of the comments are mocking OP and their immoral ways.

  • Barca123 on 09/12/2022 - 23:56
    +6

    It would make things even more interesting if your friend was the one who actually hit their neighbour's car in the first place…

  • [Deactivated] on 10/12/2022 - 02:07
    +16

    I had a similar, though not identical experience. A tradesman I employed was witnessed by a passerby coming out of my driveway, and hitting a parked car. This witness informed me, but did not leave their name. The car hit belonged to a neighbor that I also didn't particularly like, but I informed them of what happened.

    The police and tradesman showed up to my house some time later and I explained what happened from my perspective. No idea what the outcome was, but it seemed obvious to me that the tradesman's bullbar was the exact height and size of the damage to the neighbor's car.

    So my time was briefly wasted, and I still don't like my neighbor. No idea if they still live there, it's been a while and we haven't had anything to do with each other since.

    Was there a moral to the story? No.

  • Dorge on 10/12/2022 - 03:18
    +15

    So if the neighbour wasn't parked in front of your friends house, then your friends car would've been hit. Your neighbour has accidentally saved your friend a damaged car. Help find the perp to prevent it happening again.

    • kiitos on 10/12/2022 - 10:14
      +1

      You're right, they should be paying the neighbour for taking the hit!

    • [Deactivated] on 10/12/2022 - 22:04
      +2

      But what about if my friend's car is hit somewhere else being forced to park away from his trusty camera? The neighbour won't be much help. And indirectly caused the predicament of no evidence…

      • Dorge on 10/12/2022 - 23:50
        +5

        You can deal in what ifs, but that didnt happen. We can only deal in what happened.

        • Eeples on 11/12/2022 - 01:08
          +1

          The whole opening post is a what-if.

      • furyou on 11/12/2022 - 22:01

        then obviously you send a bill to every house between house and where it was hit, asking for moral and mental health damages.

  • DingoBilly on 10/12/2022 - 06:28
    +2

    Your friend is thinking too small.

    They should open a whole business around this - charge a certain rate for people to come view their footage. Start installing cameras inside their own house and start charging people a premium plan to watch inside and out!

    • monkeyfood on 10/12/2022 - 21:37
      +1

      Then your "friend" can also go around damaging other cars in the street and charging them money for footage or so it doesn't happen again, maybe as the empire expands he can offer you a position too?

  • virgo76 on 10/12/2022 - 07:42
    +4

    Not sure what the big deal is ? You would like to think its the neighbourly thing to do, It's a simple request. Not sure why you feel the need to write a whole spill and poll.

  • brendanm on 10/12/2022 - 09:42

    In this scenario, I wouldn't give it to them at all.

  • JIMB0 on 10/12/2022 - 10:16

    Maybe the "friend" doesn't want to incriminate themselves.

  • 82norm on 10/12/2022 - 10:18
    +1

    Shaming their neighbour for not having their own camera. How many households have CCTV Cameras? I know they’re getting cheaper and there are plenty of plug and play units around, but the ratio would be, what 1 in 50? South western Sydney, being the exception.

  • Some Human on 10/12/2022 - 12:14

    Friend could just be like “sorry, the footage overrides itself after x days, so it’s probably gone. That’s if they don’t want to help.

    They probably wouldn’t get a number plate out of it anyway. Wouldn’t it be a side view?

  • wordplay on 10/12/2022 - 14:40

    just give them the last x number of days footage and they can spend the time watching it.

  • ECE on 10/12/2022 - 17:26

    Money is really tight atm 😷

  • Addamant1 on 10/12/2022 - 20:05
    +4

    Lol this is easy, can the neighbour cook really nice food. If so make them cook really nice food for you and trade the 5 minutes it'll take to find that footage for a meal and don't be a mouth breather.

    • capslock janitor on 11/12/2022 - 11:53
      +1

      so they can spit in my food yeahnahh

  • Willy Beamish on 10/12/2022 - 20:07
    +1

    The only reason not to would be if your friend was the one that hit his car.

  • Tiredman on 10/12/2022 - 20:59

    Depends on how much your friend dislikes them.

  • Sneeze on 10/12/2022 - 21:18
    +1

    Ensure your friend is registered for GST for this business, provides a tax invoice to the neighbor and submits their Business Activity Statement to the ATO.

  • Sheep Whisperer on 10/12/2022 - 21:49
    +1

    dont like your neighbour, then dont do jack sh!t for them, its pretty simple.

  • StingyLizzy on 10/12/2022 - 21:55
    +4

    The neighbour parks in front of your friend’s house because of the CCTV. If your friend helps him out, the neighbour will continue to park there forever because of the CCTV protection and deterrent from car thieves. So tell the neighbour that the CCTV is only aimed at the front lawn and not the road. Neighbour will stop parking there. I know because I work for a business that has external CCTV and there’s always cars from nearby homes parked in front of cctv all night.

    • [Deactivated] on 10/12/2022 - 22:01
      +2

      Thank you! That was the concern. The neighbour cannot reciprocate if my friend's car is hit in front somewhere far away or in front of neighbour's house with no camera..

    • Domingo on 10/12/2022 - 22:23
      +5

      The neighbour parks in front of your friend’s house because of the CCTV.

      That's a big assumption. Perhaps the neighbour parked there because someone parked in front their house, so they had to park somewhere else.

      • StingyLizzy on 11/12/2022 - 00:13

        It’s nice that you don’t think the worst of people. It’s too late for me. I have awful neighbours and my attitude has been hardened over many years. Anyway, if OP’s friend decides to help, it helps to check that the CCTV is actually able to capture passing cars rego number BEFORE watching hours of footage. Otherwise it might be a total waste of time. Police can’t help without rego number. Or hope that footage shows the culprit driving in or out of a neighbouring property. Personally have wasted many hours of my life watching CCTV footage for no results.

      • BobLim on 11/12/2022 - 23:41
        +1

        I park around the corner from my own house in a much wider (15m+) street, primarily because multiple family members outside my place have had mirrors taken off in recent years by the rapidly-growing contingent of people who apparently can't drive for shit, and either don't notice or don't care if they damage other people's property by their own negligence

        • Domingo on 12/12/2022 - 00:03
          +4

          Are you sure it isn't because the place that you park in front of has CCTV?

          /s

    • Willy Beamish on 11/12/2022 - 13:04
      +1

      You have no information about the situation whatsoever to back up that assumption, stop acting like you know every detail that wasn't even posted

      • StingyLizzy on 13/12/2022 - 15:19

        Most replies have assumptions. Like other posts saying the OP can ask a favour in return. Aren’t they also assuming the neighbour will actually return a favour in the future? Someone even called OP’s friend a POS neighbour in another post. That’s a big call based on only 1 forum thread. Perhaps you should have a word with them too. Unless we live near OP’s friend and the neighbour, we will never know the full story. Only OP’s story and even this may be 2nd hand retelling from his friend’s story (if he’s not the friend) and no neighbour’s POV. I guess we should all stop commenting…

  • Morphio25 on 10/12/2022 - 22:12
    +5

    I'd be inclined to give it to them for free. You never when you might need a helping hand from your friend.

    On the other hand if your friend doesn't like that particular neighbour then your friend really needs to consider whether it's worth his time and whether or not the neighbour can help him out down the track.

  • Wiede on 10/12/2022 - 22:17
    +1

    We live in society

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