My little neighbor handed me a bill for our fence he put up 17 years ago even though I had just moved in

A thrifty Australian saved 17-year-old receipts so he could one day land a new neighbor with a bill for their side of the fence.

Shannon Spencer had only recently moved into her home in Yanchep, Perth, when she was faced with a nasty $506 bill for a border erected in 2005.

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Instead of neighborly kindness, the man stopped by to hand over the old bill and demand that she pay the money.

Ms Spencer told ABC Radio Perth that her neighbor was “waiting for the perfect time to come and hand it over”.

After asking the man if he was joking, he replied, “All the other neighbors paid him for the fence” and that she was “the last one,” she explained.

Unfortunately, the law is on the billing neighbor’s side, as the shared fencing law in Australia states that Ms Spencer has a legal obligation to share the cost of the fencing.

Outraged, she said: “I know I’m legally required to pay for the fence, but I’m just denying the fact that it’s been 17 years since it was built and I’ve moved 17 years later and it keeps charging still half the cost of the fence.”

The condition of the aging fence is also a matter of debate, with Ms Spencer claiming it is in poor condition, stating it is “rusted” and “not even as tall” as the other fences.

The radio show also featured local attorney Johnson Kitto, who confirmed that “the law is on his side, as much as it pains me to say.”

“The best advice I can give her is to just pay for it. I wouldn’t try to negotiate with him. It’s a relatively small amount. Life is worth more than $500 and that’s why you have to haggle for neighborhood fences,” added Mr. Kitto.