I (28M) helped my elderly neighbor with her trash bins. Now she's telling the HOA I'm "harassing" her. What do I do?
I (28M) live in a small condo complex. My neighbor "Edith" (80sF) lives alone. About a month ago, I noticed her struggling to wheel her trash bins to the curb on collection day. She uses a walker and it was clearly hard for her. I offered to do it for her. She seemed grateful and said "that would be lovely, dear."
I've done it every week since. Just wheel the bins out Monday night, bring them back Tuesday afternoon. Takes me two minutes. I never asked for anything in return.
Last Tuesday, I was bringing her bins back and she came to the door. She looked upset. She said "I never asked you to touch my bins." I was confused — she absolutely did. I said "I'm sorry, I thought I was helping. You asked me to a few weeks ago." She said "I don't remember that" and told me to stop.
I said okay, no problem, and went home.
Then yesterday, I got an email from the HOA. Edith filed a complaint saying I've been "repeatedly approaching her property" and "touching her belongings without permission." She said she feels "harassed and unsafe."
I was floored. I've never even been inside her house. I've never knocked on her door except that one time. I was just moving her trash bins.
Now I don't know what to do. Do I respond to the HOA and explain? Do I talk to Edith directly? Do I just stop and ignore the whole thing? I don't want this on my record, but I also don't want to make it worse.
What should I do here?