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Coffee House => Coffee House Boards => CH / General => Topic started by: mr_a500 on July 17, 2006, 07:20:55 PM
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I need help urgently. I'm living in an apartment and the neighbour above plays super-loud deep bass music and makes lots of other annoying loud hammering noises. It is driving me insane. Earplugs don't work. Loud fans don't work. Nothing blocks the noise. It has been going on for months.
I went upstairs and politely asked him to turn down the bass (not even the volume, just the bass) and told him it was shaking my apartment. He instantly became a total ass and I had to use all my effort to avoid pounding him and getting charged with assault. When I left, he even turned it up.
I called the police and they said my best option was for me to move out! They said they'd send an officer around to ask him to turn it down. I waited 6 hours and nobody came. He finally turned off the music at 3:00AM. Even if the police did come, he'd probably turn it back up when they left.
I need to find a way to stop the jerk. Unfortunately in Canada we have laws against murder, so that's out. I can't think of a way to stop him without me ending up in jail or fined in court. I have no mafia connections that could help. What can I do? What can I do???
HELP!
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You need to get a written complaint signed by all your other neighbours and take that down to the police. From there on out, every time he plays that bass so loud, just call the police. Each time a call is made, make sure it comes from a different person on the list. That way you don't become a nuisance to the police. The common factor/nuisance then becomes the dude with the bass. They will sort him out.
If that doesn't work you have to move I'm afraid.
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Or failing that, work out when he sleeps, which is probably during the day, by the sound of it and be sure to make plenty of noise and encourage any other disenfranchised neighbours to do the same. He'll soon get the hint...
Or you could mail him a 'free music CD' that contains a sequence of maximum intensity spikes in an attempt to blow his speakers...
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Turn his power off.
Cut that little wimpy wire lock and just yank his meter out and set it on the ground. (Or hide it :lol: )
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@X-ray
The problem is that the other neigbours don't want to complain. They are all recent immigrants (GTA area is now filled with foreigners) and don't want to get involved.
Or you could mail him a 'free music CD' that contains a sequence of maximum intensity spikes in an attempt to blow his speakers...
Oooh...very creative. I doubt it would work though. I was considering other plans like squirting a foul-smelling liquid through his mail slot or thowing eggs through his open window, but the problem is that now he would instantly suspect me and retaliate somehow. I now wish I didn't complain so I could do things without being suspected, but I foolishly thought it would be better to reason with him. "Never attempt to reason with a fool."
I also considered getting into a "sound war" by buying a super sub-woofer setup, but I would end up disturbing other neighbours. I wish there was a way to have directional sound. I'd like to pump maximum volume directly at his head and make it explode!
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Turn his power off.
That was my first plan. Unfortunately this is an apartment and there are no individual meters. The only way to shut off his power would be to open the power panel for the entire floor. It's locked and right out in the open. Even if I could get it open, that's the first place they'd check to turn it back on. (...and I'd be suspected and charged)
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Blow up the powerhouse next to your apartment :lol:
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:bump:
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Can you complain to the Landlord or Rental Office?
You could always file a private nuisance lawsuit against this guy, which seeks to gain reimbursement for the rent you paid for a property you have been prevented by him from using and enjoying.
You could get a copy of the lease and/or the local noise ordinance, and attach either/both to your written complaint, in prep for the above, and attach it to his door. (send a copy to the landlord)
Private nuisance lawsuits can be filed in small claims court, no lawyer required.
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Can you complain to the Landlord or Rental Office?
We recently got a new superintendent and he plays super-loud deep bass too! I doubt he'd be sympathetic. I bet if I complain to the Landlord and threaten to move, he'd be only too happy. There's a rental shortage and they'd be able to increase the rent for the next tenant.
It looks like moving IS my only option. There should be more laws to protect people from extreme noise made by inconsiderate morons. Why should I have to move because somebody wants to blast a stereo?
What has happened to society? In the old days, the loudest noise somebody could make was their own drunken singing and you could block out the noise or threaten to fight them to stop it. Now in modern society, they can make noises louder than a jet engine and there's no way to stop them. A simple punch will send you to jail and give you a criminal record, ruining your life. Modern life sucks.
Blow up the powerhouse next to your apartment
I'd knock out the power to the whole city with an electromagnetic pulse if I could.
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You could always file a private nuisance lawsuit against this guy, which seeks to gain reimbursement for the rent you paid for a property you have been prevented by him from using and enjoying.
I'll look into that. You're probably thinking of US laws and in Canada it'll be different. Here, it's expensive and painfully tedious to file lawsuits. The legal system seems set up to make money, not enforce justice. In the end, it'll probably turn out to be an extreme waste of time, effort and money. And how could I prove anything? I'd need some kind of decibel meter, witnesses and recorded audio with timestamps.
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Make him hit you first, then beat the wheels off of him! :-P
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I know I would get aggressive and become a danger to that person :/.
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Are both appartments managed by the same landlord/real estate agent?
I complained about the noise etc of my neighbors, and the realestate agent investigated what was going on, and eventually (some of) the neighbors were kicked out. There is still the person living above me now (not to mention the poofters who are a couple of doors away...) however I've spoken to a person from the real estate, and they're going to be kicked out on the 31st!! :-D
If there is some common ownership or management between the appartments, then that's what I'd do.
Unfortunately in Canada we have laws against murder, so that's out.
Damn. Same in Australia. That's the very reason I don't kill my brother.
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If he's directly above you...
Hmmm...
I wonder if you could rent a jackhammer, take off a ceiling fan or light fixture, or somehow temporarily expose one of his floor joists, hang the jackhammer from the joist and run it for a minute or so, just enough to shake all his dishes from his cupboards, the crap off his tables, and the pictures from his walls. Maybe do this while his bass is booming.
Unreasonable people are just begging for a Mel Gibson style response. ;-)
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I had the same problem with the people across the road, a pounding "doof doof" right through my house, I didn't really have a problem with it until they decided it would be a good idea to crank it up at 2am one morning. Anyway, one phone call to the police later and I've not heard a single "doof" since. Don't know why the Canadian authorities don't want to act, as it is their job to keep the peace.
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There is still the person living above me now (not to mention the poofters who are a couple of doors away...) however I've spoken to a person from the real estate, and they're going to be kicked out on the 31st!!
Nice work! I'm happy for you. I hope I'll have such luck. Unfortunately, from experience I doubt it.
I wonder if you could rent a jackhammer, take off a ceiling fan or light fixture, or somehow temporarily expose one of his floor joists, hang the jackhammer from the joist and run it for a minute or so, just enough to shake all his dishes from his cupboards, the crap off his tables, and the pictures from his walls. Maybe do this while his bass is booming.
Surprisingly enough, I have already thought of this exact thing. I decided against it because of the severe damage it would cause to my own apartment. I did take some 20lb weights and slam them against the ceiling about 30 times, but the only effect was a bunch of dents in the ceiling. The neighbour's noise continued.
Unreasonable people are just begging for a Mel Gibson style response.
I was dreaming of a Matrix-style response. Oh, I would be soooo happy if I could get a helicopter with a gattling gun. I can imagine the helicopter slowly lowering to the apartment, then "pfffffffffffft...chink..chink..pfffffffffft!" (..and so on)
Don't know why the Canadian authorities don't want to act, as it is their job to keep the peace.
Canadian authorities don't care about keeping the peace. They only care about arresting everybody after the peace has gone to hell. Besides, their #1 function is to hand out speeding tickets. That's where the real money is.
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mr_a500 wrote:
Canadian authorities don't care about keeping the peace. They only care about arresting everybody after the peace has gone to hell. Besides, their #1 function is to hand out speeding tickets. That's where the real money is.
How about the EPA?
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How about the EPA?
EPA? What's that? "Environmental Protection Agency"? That's an American agency, not Canadian. And what does that have to do with sound disturbances?
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mr_a500 wrote:
How about the EPA?
EPA? What's that? "Environmental Protection Agency"? That's an American agency, not Canadian. And what does that have to do with sound disturbances?
Ummm, I am *trying* to help you. EPA is a fairly generic term used here in Australia as well, have you ever heard of a term called "noise pollution"? As the EPA here deals with that as well, they will even provide the equipment required to measure said noise. I'm sure there is an equivalent government department in Canada.
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I wasn't being sarcastic - just asking questions. I appreciate your help. :-)
As far as I know, there is no equivalent in Canada (for noise). The EPA equivalent would probably be the Ministry of the Environment. They deal mostly with pollution.
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mr_a500 wrote:
I need help urgently. I'm living in an apartment and the neighbour above plays super-loud deep bass music and makes lots of other annoying loud hammering noises.
HELP!
Watch this movie
Noise (http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0362538/)
:lol:
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mr_a500 wrote:
I wasn't being sarcastic - just asking questions. I appreciate your help. :-)
As far as I know, there is no equivalent in Canada (for noise). The EPA equivalent would probably be the Ministry of the Environment. They deal mostly with pollution.
It wouldn't hurt to call them anyway, there must be someone who can help, perhaps a free legal service?
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I would just go round to their property and threaten them with physical violence if they continue to piss me off. ;-)
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I would just go round to their property and threaten them with physical violence if they continue to piss me off.
I already did that. The jerk knows that if I even sneeze in his direction, I can be charged with assault. That's what makes it so insanely frustrating.
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The jerk knows that if I even sneeze in his direction, I can be charged with assault.
We have a saying in this country:
No evidence, no crime
;-)
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I think a black eye and missing teeth do count as evidence ;-).
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Just tell Atheist that Bill Buck is hiding out at ....
The guy will be in the morgue by morning...
*ducks*
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white noise (http://sleepdisorders.about.com/cs/relaxation/a/whitenoise_3.htm)?
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odin wrote:
I think a black eye and missing teeth do count as evidence ;-).
Only as circumstancial evidence in the absence of eye-witnesses and DNA evidence. :-D
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Just tell Atheist that Bill Buck is hiding out at ....
I considered calling police and telling them that the guy was a big-time drug dealer or that I saw a huge weapons cache. It would be a nice little inconvenience for him to have police rip his stuff apart searching. Sadly, because I already called police, they might suspect me when they found nothing in the searches.
white noise?
No, white noise does absolutely nothing for deep bass. Deep bass goes through concrete without even losing volume (higher sounds get blocked). I have an industrial sized fan and I had it on maximum. Along with this, I had the most powerful earplugs on the market and at the same time, large headphones playing my own music loudly. I can still hear his deep bass as if I was in his living room. Each beat is like a punch to the stomach. (I wouldn't mind if each beat I was punching HIM in the stomach)
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soundproof your room? (http://www.drumdojo.com/tech/soundpro.htm)you probably don't have to go to this extreme but this might help reduce the sound.
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Let the local kids know how powerful his sound system is and he`ll soon be burgled.
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How about a dirty-power generator?
Neighbor had one once, think it was just a wire connected to a coarse spinning metal disk. Anything with speakers would play static.
(heh, I had a vacuum once that did the same thing)
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As far as I know, there is no equivalent in Canada (for noise). The EPA equivalent would probably be the Ministry of the Environment. They deal mostly with pollution.
I live in a similar situation, and I can sympathise... I have a similar problem of noisy (not to mention rude) neighbours.
Although the level of noise here is not so bad (earplugs work in my case), I am sort of lucky in that the Quebec laws allow you not to pay your rent to the landlord (but instead deposit it with the Régie du logement, who keeps it until the landlord solves the problem) in cases such as this, whenever I threaten them that I am not going to pay the rent, they actually do something.
I suggest you read carefully through the Ontario rental laws, I am pretty sure that there has to be some clause that protects the tenants, and there should be something that you can use to your advantage. Also sending a registered letter of complaint directly to whoever owns the building might help you there.
I only hope that years of Tory government in Ontario haven't destroyed every trace of civil rights...
In any case good luck and keep us posted.
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How about a dirty-power generator?
Interesting. I was thinking of something like that. I'd have to have something pretty powerful and it would affect the whole apartment.
I wish I could invent a portable device that would screw up speakers within a 1km radius. The problem is to do that I would need to create some kind of magnetic disturbance... or create a rupture in the fabric of space/time. I don't care if I might cause the end of the universe as we know it... as long as I get some quiet. ;-)
I only hope that years of Tory government in Ontario haven't destroyed every trace of civil rights...
Too late. Ontario after Mike Harris (Tory leader) is like Iraq after the invasion (well..almost). I have been personally screwed by Tory government changes. And yes, they even changed the Tenant Rights Agreement... for the worse.
I was actually thinking of moving to Quebec. Maybe I will when my French is better. I know they don't look too kindly on people with poor French over there.
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legal bylaws for ontario (http://www.quiet.org/noiselaw/ca/on/cities.htm)
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How about:
Arrange to go away for a few days - maybe a week.
Before you go away connect some very big cones up to your ceiling.
Power them with a low frequency constant noise (between 5 and 150 HZ) - not too loud to be obvious, or disturb the other neighbours.
The effects of low frequency noise over an extended period include nausia, depression, hypertension, etc.
When you get back, ask him how he is - maybe hint at what you've done and the effects noisy neighbours can have.
Alternatively - put Paul Simon on loop at high volume singing "One man's ceiling is another man's floor."
***************
It was a situation like that which convinced me that I had to move into a house rahter than a flat. I;ve never gone back to flat living after that.
You have my sympathies.
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T_Bone wrote:
How about a dirty-power generator?
Neighbor had one once, think it was just a wire connected to a coarse spinning metal disk. Anything with speakers would play static.
(heh, I had a vacuum once that did the same thing)
I like that :-D
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Boot_WB wrote:
T_Bone wrote:
How about a dirty-power generator?
Neighbor had one once, think it was just a wire connected to a coarse spinning metal disk. Anything with speakers would play static.
(heh, I had a vacuum once that did the same thing)
I like that :-D
Google sucks.
"dirty power ~generator" returns 4 hits...
and this thread is the first hit. (sigh)
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T_Bone wrote:
Boot_WB wrote:
T_Bone wrote:
How about a dirty-power generator?
Neighbor had one once, think it was just a wire connected to a coarse spinning metal disk. Anything with speakers would play static.
(heh, I had a vacuum once that did the same thing)
I like that :-D
Google sucks.
"dirty power ~generator" returns 4 hits...
and this thread is the first hit. (sigh)
18 for "Voltage Spike generator" :-D
Power Science SPG-110:
Voltage Spike generator to test power supply immunity to voltage spike on power lines. DC to 60Hz, up to 300Vrms. PW 3.5uS, Rise times: 500nS, 250- 1200V amplitude. . Phase control 0-360 deg Number of spikes per cycle: 1-10 (continuous control ) Spike repetition rate: Manual , 1, 2, 5,10 sec
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you need to be a nuisiance right back.
get a paper and cut out all the "recieve now, and pay later" ads and fill them all in with his details and low and behold he will have a big problem on is hands, lots of crap that he has to deal with.
Some people like this particularly selfish {bleep} cannot be talked to, you simply need to talk their own language e.g. be a dick right back. And even if it doesnt solve the problem it will make you feel a little better
report him to the TV lisencing, council tax , benefit fraud? IRS? people, the list is endless.
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Update:
I just talked to the superintendent and found out that the jerk above me has filed a complaint about ME! He wrote a completely false story about what happened. I couldn't believe it. I must say some people just don't deserve to live.
report him to the TV lisencing, council tax , benefit fraud? IRS? people, the list is endless.
I'm in Canada so there's no TV lisencing, council tax or IRS (the IRS equivalent is Revenue Canada... just typing it makes me shudder and break out in a cold sweat). I've already considered lots of similar stuff. I know his name and phone number (and address obviously). I just don't know what I can do that would result in him moving out.
The only thing I can think of at the moment is some kind of horrible smear campaign like printing off a thousand pages and putting them all around the city saying there is a known child molester at that address (with picture and name). People would protest, then he'd be forced to move to avoid the harrassment. I think this is a little too drastic though. ;-) Even my "noise induced insanity" can't push me that far.
See, a simple "gentlemanly duel" would solve the problem quickly and easily, but we live in a "civilized" society now. (it would be even more quick and easy if people weren't such inconsiderate assholes)
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I just talked to the superintendent and found out that the jerk above me has filed a complaint about ME! He wrote a completely false story about what happened. I couldn't believe it. I must say some people just don't deserve to live.
That's the way it is. It's your word versus his.
Just hope that your 'superintendent' has the sense to actually investigate what's going on, rather than just take anybodies word for it.
As for revenge, that's a good idea. However, with the superintendent aware of the other parties complain now, you don't want to do anything too major. Just subtle things! Just gradually degrade the other persons propety/lifestyle, and it wont immediately look like you've gotten revenge.
Just be careful you don't get caught, too!
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Just hope that your 'superintendent' has the sense to actually investigate what's going on, rather than just take anybodies word for it.
Unfortunately, he has no sense whatsoever. He's just a lazy moron trying to get by with as little work as possible. You can pinpoint when this building started to go downhill at the exact moment he took over. I think it's time to move. (I dread moving... I've got VERY heavy furniture)
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Sounds like that guy is a grade a scrote, i reckon a few pedo flyers is what he deserves! It seems you have a choice neither one is very good, either move out or make his life a living hell.
Good luck, you have my sympathies
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nadoom wrote:
Sounds like that guy is a grade a scrote, i reckon a few pedo flyers is what he deserves!
Whoah there guys! No matter how much of an ignorant c*nt the guy is being, labelling someone a sex offender sticks like the worst kind of goo, whether he really is one or not.
Please do not sink so low.
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That's why I said this:
I think this is a little too drastic though. Even my "noise induced insanity" can't push me that far.