yakimushi

Alright, some background.

I recently (December) moved into this new apartment after graduation (college). My buddy left for a job and my old lease was up.

Anyways, I really love this place except for the people downstairs. They are constantly playing music/tv really loudly. And I'm not talking about hearing the dialogue or words to the songs, all I get is bass vibrations.

The bass is often bad enough on the weekends that its rattling my windows and air vents and etc in my apartment. And it has even gone to 2am or later.

Now, here's my dilemma. I went down once to ask them to turn it down. It was not. If anything, it was turned up.

On another occasion, around 2am, I just got fed up and called the cops. Yes, this was a dick thing to do, but at 2am I'm not a reasonable person.

Now, I want to go down to ask em to keep it down but as soon as I do they're going to know it was me who called the cops. My friends (who live in the same building) and my roommate have already convinced these guys that it wasn't me who called the fuzz. I guess they were super pissed that someone called on them.

So what the hell do I do? Firing back with my 200watt sub doesn't work (which I am very courteous with, I keep it turned all the way down, and keep my music at a respectable level), asking them doesn't work, cops work but I can't do that every night. I'm tired of feeling thier bass in my ass while watching TV on the couch.

Also, I checked the lease and it expressly says that nobody should project any music/vibrations outside of thier apartment.

Oh and Nick, if you read this, keep your mouth shut. I know what you've got to say already

ARGH!!! Now they're playing O.A.R. at FULL BLAST!!! Who gives a shit about crazy games of poker?!?!?! <stabs eardrums with chopstick>

lucidity

I have the same problem with the people above me. Cept it's not music (anymore) that I deal with: now I'm privy to their extremely active sex life.

Anyway. Contact the management company of the complex you're in. They should be able to mediate and in the process keep you anonymous. Most apartment buildings have structured rules about this kind of stuff (3 strikes and you're gone, etc).

Good luck.

__________________
Faith is the daring of the soul to go farther than it can see. -William Newton Clark

Kaos

I had a different problem. In this appartment that me an a girlfriend were living in, the layout was such that the wall separating the two appartments was between the bedrooms.

Well this one guy moves in next door sets all his shit up, then leaves to fly back to his home country to go get his family. Problem is, he didn't set up his alarm clock or something so around 1:00 AM his Alarm goes off and no one is there to shut it off!!

First night, I pull the top mattress into the living room and we sleep in there. Next night, same thing, so I wake up the landlord and tell him something has to be done.

Third night same thing, so at 2:00AM I wake the landlord up again because the guy still isn't back and tell the landlord if he doesn't go in that appartment and pull the plug, I will bust the door down and do it myself. Needless to say, the landlord complied.

Point is, other than me getting to vent about it, is that you have to be firm, and if that doesn't work, you have to get mean and do what you have to do. Are you worried about getting your ass kicked or just worried about being known as the party-pooper if they know it's you? Because a decent nights sleep is more important that what people will think of you.

yakimushi

Well, its a bit of all the above, and one more thing.

I'm not real worried about what they'll think, except that I now realize I'm way past college type antics and have "grown up". Fuckin a.

Ass far as an ass-whooping is concerned, I don't think thats an issue either. Everyone tells me that they're really nice guys. If thats the case, then they're just idiots for being so inconsiderate.

And lastly, my roomie and I both have cats. Cats aren't really allowed, though the building manager has a general "I can't see 'em so I don't care" attitude about them. My roommate is afraid that if I start bitching and causing a commotion with cops and landlords they'll retaliate with ratting us out about the cats.

I don't think its a huge issue, we don't let our cats out so I doubt they know about them (unless the roomie told them about hers), but I don't want her to have to worry about it. So I'm keeping my mouth shut...

Fuck. I just realized I'm screwed. There's nothing I can do. Fuck fuck fuck.

shakran

what's stopping you from calling the cops again? Keep that up and they'll eventually stop.

Harshaw

Yeah, call the damn cops a few more times. If it is bugging you, it is probably bugging a few other people in the building. Do everyone else a favor.

__________________
This too shall pass.

Dano069

These fuck nuts must sleep during the day right? Crank the bass up, put the speaker face down on the floor and let it flow.

__________________
I may look attentive, but I'm taking peeks down your blouse faster than the human eye can follow.

Dano069

Hey lucidity, join in. Just drop in some very appropriate moans and groans and screams.

Some solid advice on contacting the management company.

__________________
I may look attentive, but I'm taking peeks down your blouse faster than the human eye can follow.

lurkette

I had the same problem with a neighbor in my dorm in college who would get drunk and play the same fucking Janis Joplin album and Led Zeppelin album over and over and over so loudly I could hear it across campus coming home. I'd worked as summer staff in that building and I knew where the circuit breakers were and had the key to the box, so (after asking politely didn't work) I'd go turn off their electricity and lock the panel back up. Hah! Don't suppose you have access to their circuit box?

__________________
"If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing."

- Anatole France

yakimushi

That is EXCELLENT! I used to be an RA, wish I could have used those tactics.

Unfortunately, we have access to our own breakers.

I could ninja style it into thier apartment and steal the breakers but that just takes too much effort...

Redlemon

Well, since it is just the bass, I'd think it could be repositioned in such a way that it is still loud enough for them, but won't transmit through the structure. Ask over in the Electronics forum about that.

Of course, you've pissed them off already, so you might have to bring the suggestion attached to a six-pack.

__________________
I can't read your signature. Sorry.

Bill O'Rights

Hah!! I've actually done that, before. Using the most obnoxious CD that I could find...bagpipe music. It worked, btw.


Damn, that's just priceless.

yournamehere

I would wait until it's at its worst, then go downstairs and invite one or all of them to come up to your apartment. Once they're up there and can hear how bad it actually is, they may be more understanding and keep the volume down - after all - you said you've heard they're nice guys.

If not, I would talk to the people on either side of them - I'm sure they're suffering as much as you are. If all of you complain to the management - in writing - as a group - they'll probably get a "final" warning.

You have my sympathy - no one has the right to deprive another of a good night's sleep. I hope you resolve this quickly.

__________________
If you want to avoid 95% of internet spelling errors:
"If your ridiculous pants are too loose, you're definitely going to lose them. Tell your two loser friends over there that they're going to lose theirs, too."
It won't hurt your fashion sense, either.

KellyC

hmmm..you live ABOVE them....do something childish like running around the place stomping your feet really hard on the floor. I used to do this as a kid when I was in an apartment and the people below us got so pissed. They have to come up almost every day telling us (me and brothers) to stop making noises and let them rest for a while. They even got the landlord on our asses but he didn't do shit about it. Soon your neighbors will be annoyed too and they'll have to go up and tell you to stop doing it, then you can tell them how pissed you are at them for being so noisy too.

__________________
Him: Ok, I have to ask, what do you believe?
Me: Shit happens.

raeanna74

Definately talk to the management. I'm on site manager for our complex. We're owned by a corp and there's several sites in different towns that they own. If I can't get the people to listen I got to the next up person, and so on until someone does something. Be persistant and something will happen. The lady over me does nothing unless I call her every hour till it gets done. I've called her and she will ignore my calls until I get irritating. I always speak politely and calmly. Sometimes when I get real pissed I will threaten her with calling her superior and she'll get her ass in gear but it doesn't always come to that. Management want people who won't cause problems and bother others. They'll want to keep you more than the noisemakers so you've got the advantage. Speak up. As often as you need to. "The squeeky wheel get oiled."

__________________
"Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama
My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

doncalypso

Just call the cops and get them busted as many times as possible. I have to deal with deadbeat neighbors who give me the same problem too at my apartment complex.

For some reason, those idiots seem to think that the weekend starts on Thursday nights, so they play their music loud enough to rattle all the furniture in my apartment and won't turn it down even though I've told them time and time again that I have an early class on Friday mornings.

In fact, if they don't keep it down tonight when I get back to my apartment I will call the cops on them.

__________________
Doncalypso... the one and only Haitian Sensation

lucidity

Ya know, Dano069... I'd love to. Alas, I've been an abstinent girl for quite a while. It isn't easy, but that's life.

__________________
Faith is the daring of the soul to go farther than it can see. -William Newton Clark

bparker805

Have you tried going down to them and having a calm conversation with them during the middle of the day? I know its hard to be reasonable at 2 in the morning. Explain to them what the problem is and let them know that you want it resolved or you are going to be forced to find an alternative solution to the problem. Put the ball in their court and see what happens. If they don't want to cooperate or comply with your needs, then any possible consequences are on them. Good luck.

a2k

Why don't you try asking them at some point when they aren't cranking their music? You know, stop them in the parking lot, comment on the weather, and then say (in your most friendly voice) "Hey, I know we all love rock'n roll, but could I ask you a small favor? Any chance you could keep the stereo a little quiter, especially after midnight?"

It might be less confrontational and more cooperative, and they might feel like they are more your peer and thus should respect your needs.

neddy65

I had a guy in my complex with a very loud motorcycle and he loved to rev it up after starting it. Unfortunatly he went to work at 3 am and would wake everyone up. Asking him to quiet things down only resulted in more noise so one night before bed I went down and switched the plug wires on his bike so the firing order was shot to shit. Hearing the CHEE-CHEE-CHEE of his non starting bike was great and after he cabbed it I went down and switched it back, left him a note saying next time it would be worse and went to bed. Every night after that he would start his bike, roll it quietly out of the lot and drive slowly away.

__________________
If you're travelling at the speed of light, and you turn the headlights on, do they do anything?

My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die!

Drink Dickens' Hard Cider because nothing makes a girl smile like a Hard DIckens' Cider!

Force 10

Go knock on the door, introduce yourself, hand them a 6 pack of good beer and ask them to please chill on the volume as it's keeping you up all hours. If that doesn't work, throw a brick through the window with ear plugs tapped to it. If that doesn't work, move Really, just try the first.

MSD

OK, trying to reason with them hasn't worked, calling the cops hasn't worked, you're going to have to get even. The first thing you're going to do is to buy a sound system. Get a reciever with a remote (this remote will be important later,) make sure it's the highest-wattage you can buy. Next, buy some speakers with teh highest RMS rating you can find. Third, Get the biggest Subwoofer you can find. If you need a friend to help lift it, good. If you need a forklift, even better.

Now, the setup. Figure out where their bedroom is. Directly above their bed is the desired location. Put the reciever near a window, where the remote can turn it on from outside. Next, turn all of the speakers so that they face the floor. Once you have it set up, you're off to teh local music store.

Once you arrive at the music store, you'll buy a copy of Dimmu Borgir's "Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia." You can find samples of the music here:

http://ubl.artistdirect.com/store/ar...117763,00.html

The track you want to focus on is number 6, "Puritania." Listen to the drum rolls in the sample on the Artist Direct website and you'll understand why you wanted a sub so big you need a forklift. It's even louder when you have the CD instead of a digital copy.

At this point, it may be a good idea to alert everyone around you except for the assholes. A few beers may be necessary to convince them that this is the only way to settle it.

Wait until the downstairs neighbors have gone to sleep. Insert what will soon be your favorite CD into the reciever, cue it to track 6, pause it, and turn the volume knob all the way up. Next: remove all cats from the vicinity, and evacuate your apartment. Move a safe distance away from the building, put in earplugs, protect the cats, and hit play.

Here's what should happen

A few seconds of static, followed by a soft drum roll and a demonic voice procliaming, "We will do away with your kind" will radiate from your apartment, after another line and a short countdown, a blast of the heaviest guitar riffs and the loudest drumroll your neighbors have ever heard will shake their apartment violently. If the system you've purchased is good enough car alarms will go off, dogs will bark, and your neighbors will think that the apocalypse is occurring.



Now you may not want to be so extreme, but if you just sit back, relax, and imagine how horrible of a person you would be if you actually did, you might feel a little bit better. Maybe you'll find yourself countering their crap with some evil-sounding music, maybe you will get a big subwoofer to drive them crazy ...

or maybe, just maybe, that forklift will crash through the floor and crush their stereo.

Slims

Just go down and ask them to keep it down, and ask for thier phone number...so you can call them if it gets too loud.

If the cops topic comes up, just say that it wasn't you, and that you wouldn't bother getting their phone number if you were just going to call the police.

__________________
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T.E. Lawrence

thespian86

On the right side of my house i have neighboors who stay up to the wee hours of the morning to party and scream "I love getting laid" into the sweet nothings of the night" ONLY IT'S NOT NOTHING! WE CAN HEAR YOU STUPID! On the other side we have a really nice gay couple whom we are good friends with but, they are constantly playing loud classical music... to head bang to i'm sure and have garden partties where they annouce they are gay... again, and again, and again.

__________________
EX: Whats new?
ME: I officially love coffee more then you now.
EX: uh...
ME: So, not much.

ladyadmin

There are rules to follow in every apartment complex I've lived in. Noise levels after a certain time are prohibited in most places. If you already spoke calmly to your neighbors then your next step would be to talk to your landlord/landlady. If he/she doesn't take appropriate action to fix this problem then go to the management company.

Calling the cops repeatedly is only a bother to them. They have more important things like murders/break-ins/domestic violence to deal with. I'm not saying your situation isn't any less important but you have a line of people to communicate with first before getting the police involved.

The worst you can do is to seek revenge on your neighbors by making noise/stomping around. This will only make you look as bad as they do and can get you kicked out as fast as the neighbors can. Just start with open lines of communication with whoever is available and go from there. Good luck!

__________________
The Programmers' Cheer
Shift to the left, shift to the right!
Pop up, push down, byte, byte, byte!

micah67

You've got to make this Management's problem. Repeatedly...


LMFAO!

__________________
~micah

PredeconInferno

To fully get your wishes, and for them to fully get their kamupets, one must be like Ninja.

It is only as Ninja that one can truly know how Ninja one can be.

Ninja style, you must be.

/fin

__________________
Samurai in Training
Knowledge is power. Guard it well.

yakimushi

I am shocked this thread is still alive! Thanks for all the replies!

Things haven't been as bad lately, but I finally gave them a dose of my subwoofer at 8am and I think they got the hint.

I also bitched at them a couple times making it pretty clear that I couldn't hear my TV over their bass.

However, this experience has only heightened my desire to move into a house the next time around.

qtpye4u84

OH my I know how you feel This one person who has like a purple car that is really old and he made it look really funny but since he htinks his car is so cool he thumps his music really loud at all times of the morning, day or night.
But I feel sorry for the ppl that lived next to my boy friend and I and all his friends that would come over and play time spliters 2 and they would scream and make so much noise over this game and they would get drunk some times and make even more noise so when they were over I had to wear ear plugs to sleep and This was during college so our apt. was the place our friends would store there beer just think 10 other ppls beer or
hard A in your fridge or on top of it all over the place and the garbage was piled up with bottles.

__________________
The QTpie

frankx

Been there, done that.

Don't get into a pissing contest with them.

Call the cops. Again, and again, and again. Eventually they'll get tired of being called to this particular apartment and start issuing citations.

Call management. Again, and again, and again. It is important to establish a series of complaints with them. If the noise is truly a problem, then you probably won't be the only one complaining. Whether or not the management thinks so, it's their problem. Especially if they have rules about noise stated in their lease.



Or, you could do what I did, and buy a house.

__________________
Louisiana: We're Not ALL Drunken Cajun Wackos, But That's Our Tourism Campaign