When Your Noisy Housemate Won’t Let You Sleep, But Karma Drives a Tow Truck

There’s a fine line between “petty revenge” and “poetic justice”—and sometimes, it’s the width of a tow truck. If you’ve ever had a housemate who thinks 2 a.m. is a great time for phone calls, frying onions, and door-slamming, you know the unique flavor of sleep-deprived rage. But what happens when you combine late-night noise, gaslighting, and a total disregard for the law? You get one of the most satisfying tales to ever grace Reddit’s r/PettyRevenge: the story of a noisy roommate, a mountain of fines, and the sweetest sleep ever reclaimed.
Let’s set the scene. Our protagonist, Reddit user u/PretentiousCarrot, is living the nightmare many of us fear: a housemate who seems allergic to common courtesy (and, apparently, traffic laws). While most of us would simply invest in earplugs and pray for better times, u/PretentiousCarrot decided enough was enough.
The Recipe for Revenge: Noise, Nerve, and Not-So-Good Neighbors
Imagine being woken up night after night by someone chattering away on the phone, slamming doors, or channeling their inner Gordon Ramsay at ungodly hours. Now add the sweet garnish of gaslighting, property damage, and sanctimonious lectures about religion. It’s enough to make anyone’s eye twitch.
But the final straw wasn’t the noise or the accusations—it was the discovery that this midnight marauder was driving an unregistered, uninsured car, racking up traffic fines like Pokémon cards, and parking it smack across the driveway.
Turning Petty into Payback
Here’s where the story takes a deliciously vindictive turn. Instead of confronting the housemate for the hundredth time (and risking another round of denial and drama), u/PretentiousCarrot went straight to the authorities. First stop: the local council, who promptly slapped a $300 fine for blocking the driveway. But wait! There’s more. The council, upon sniffing something fishy, looped in the police. That led to a cascade of fines—a $400 hit for being uninsured/unregistered, a $600 red light fine, and a $500 speeding fine, totaling $1,800 in just two weeks.
But the pièce de résistance? The police impounded the offending vehicle and tacked on another $800 fine for the repeat offense. That’s $2,600 worth of payback—all triggered by a few well-placed reports.
The Sweet Sound of Silence
There are a few beautiful lessons in this story. First, sometimes the most effective revenge is done quietly, with paperwork and patience rather than shouting matches. Second, living with inconsiderate housemates is a universal experience—but you don’t have to suffer in silence (unless, of course, you finally get your peace and quiet after their car is towed).
And let’s not forget the golden rule of house-sharing: Don’t start wars you can’t win, especially if you’re breaking the law in the process. Actions, as they say, have consequences—and in this case, those consequences come with hefty fines and a long walk to the bus stop.
Why This Petty Revenge Resonates
What makes this Reddit post so satisfying isn’t just the schadenfreude of seeing a jerk get their comeuppance (though, let’s be honest, that’s a big part of it). It’s the resourcefulness and restraint of u/PretentiousCarrot. Rather than stooping to the housemate’s level, they used the system to restore peace—and probably saved others from this road menace in the process.
Plus, the story is a reminder that “petty” can sometimes be another word for “justified.” Sure, reporting a housemate’s car might feel small, but sleep deprivation and constant disrespect can drive anyone to creative solutions. Sometimes, justice really is parked just outside your front door.
Conclusion: Would You Do the Same?
Living with difficult housemates is a rite of passage, but you don’t have to take it lying down (especially if you can’t sleep anyway!). Whether you’re Team Petty or prefer the high road, one thing’s for sure: sometimes, the best revenge is letting karma—and the council—do the heavy lifting.
Have you ever had to get creative with a troublesome housemate? What’s your best (or worst) tale of petty revenge? Share your stories in the comments below and let’s commiserate—or celebrate—together. And remember: always check if your roommate’s car is legal before you cross them. Sleep tight!
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Original Reddit Post: Keep waking me up? I’ll get your car impounded