Allotment bullying

[Linda Yang]

Reason: Personal details removed

Dear all;

I wonder if you can advice me what to do next?
We have been holding (name of site removed) allotment for 10 years. last Sat ( 21 March 2015) I and my partner went to the allotment and I was told I haven't paid the rent while I should have paid it 4 weeks ago. I went to the allotment secretary to pay the rent straight away. The secretary accepted the rent and made the record of my payment. But later I was told I did not own my plot any more. When I and my partner tried to leave, they blocked gate not allowing us to go, insisting us to return the key which we refused. We were so scared and shocked. We couldn't sleep well from then on. We both feel heart beating fast , unrest at night. We believe we are bullied. We don't know what to do next? Can any body help?

[Bohobumble]

Did you get a receipt of payment and renewed rental agreement? Who owns the allotment site?

They should not have detained your exit from site whether or not they were in the right to ask for the key back.

[Nicos]

Hello, and welcome to the Vine.

I'm sorry to hear you have had such an unpleasant experience.

I think you firstly need to understand what exactly has happened from 'their' point of view before you consider that you are being bullied...it may be that there has been a misunderstanding which just simply needs discussing .
I would suggest you keep your calm, write down some of the points you have mentioned here..and more if you consider them relevant...and contact them- preferably by email so that you have a written record of your conversation.

(Site name removed)

It may all simply be a misunderstanding....but most important of all KEEP CALM during your conversations.

Do let us know how you get on.

[Nicos]

Oh- and just to mention....
do be careful what you say on open forum

[Linda Yang]

allotment bullying

No, they normally do not give a receipt. They keep record in their notebook.
It seems it is the Taunton council owns the allotment.

Thanks.

Chris

[frantic furball]

It may be that "they" were overly zealously trying to help the secretary who hadn't told them that you had paid. However this is not an acceptable way to behave even if you hadn't paid and its not clear if the secretary was involved. Have you been back to the plot since ? You need to speak to the secretary initially and ask if they have recorded your payment. If this happened at our site I would expect to receive a call or email so that the matter could be sorted out without confrontation and certainly wouldn't want any visitor to the site to feel intimidated.

[Linda Yang]

allotment bullying

Hello, Nicos;

Thank you for your information.

I know exactly what happened there that day. Mr B is the person in charge. He doesn't like us from the beginning though we are kind to every body, we never make trouble. However he always does something annoys us. For example, he once said " :your straw berry looks awful, you will never get any." He once stamped on my beetroot because he thought I was growing on the path which is actually behind my green house. The allotment secretary who collected the rent said to me later that day he himself does not want to be involved in the whole thing. He said it is totally Mr B's idea. Mr B tried to use the chance that I was late to pay the rent to throw us out but he didn't expect I made the payment so quickly that day before he had a chance to tell other committee about his idea. Obviously it is a bullying. Can you tell me what I should do next?

Chris

[Linda Yang]

allotment bullying

Hello, frantic furball;

Thank you for your reply.

I saw the secretary made note on his notebook. But later he tried to return me the rent under the pressure from MrB. Of course I did not take the returned rent. They are wrong. I just can prove this.



Chris

[frantic furball]

Maybe its me but the secretary shouldn't say they're just not getting involved surely this is part of their role, of course I can only judge by our site so I could be wrong.
Edited as I just saw your reply. Is there competition for your plot? I would keep a written record of what is said and who is present and contact the allotment manager at the local authority as they may have a local society that can offer advice and possible support if there is no help from your society management.

[Bigmallly]

Hello Chris & welcome to the vine. In your agreement, there should be some wording similar to:
Tenants must not discriminate against, harass, bully or victimise any other person/s on the grounds of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, social origin, language, religion, political or other opinion, belief, gender, marital status, age, sexual orientation, sexuality, medical condition, disability, or disadvantaged by any condition which cannot be shown to be justified. No tenant must cause another tenant harassment, alarm or distress.

I would contact the council & get some advice. It seems a bit strange that this should happen after 10 years.

[veggiechicken]

Hello Chris and welcome. I'm sorry to hear about your problems.

I've found the allotment association rules online

Rules 2 and 24 seem to be relevant to your circumstances

2 ) Payment: Subscriptions are due annually on the last Sunday in February or the first Sunday in March ('Rent Days'). All plots become vacant immediately prior to the first Rent Day. Subscriptions must be paid on one of the Rent Days or membership will be deemed to have terminated.

24) Anti-Social Behaviour: Members must not cause a nuisance, and are expected to be courteous and well-behaved towards other members, and neighbours of the Allotment site, at all times. Anti-social, abusive or aggressive behaviour will not be tolerated.

I would get in touch with the Council's Allotment Officer.

[bearded bloke]

You say you have been there 10 years so presumably you have the rule book, is there anything in there that you could use to your advantage ?

Giving advice on a forum about individual grievances is not really practical, your best course of action is to calmly talk the situation over with your secretary &/or chairman in the first instance, or bring it up at the next committee meeting for general discussion.

[sparrow100]

I definitely agree you should ask for help. If MrB is your Chair that makes it more awkward, but not impossible. I'd go to the committee and the council and ask for an opportunity to meet and resolve the issue. Personally I would set out your request in writing, copying in the allotment officer at the council and send both by registered post. I can understand it's upsetting, but I would do it by the book, take out all the emotion and also be clear about your recent bereavements and any good record of on time payments/passing inspections etc. There are often exceptions for late payments on reasonable grounds, certainly on our site, and bullying is not to be tolerated.

PS Worth pointing out as you have here that you had no notice of unpaid rent and that, although late, your rent payment was both recorded and accepted by the Sec.

[sparrow100]

Oh- and just to mention....
do be careful what you say on open forum

Also very much agree with Nicos.

[veggiechicken]

Chris, I have removed all references to your specific allotment site. We can discuss the principles of what has happened but it would be better not to identify the site.