9 Polite Ways to Say "That's Not My Problem" (2023)

Are you trying to say “that’s not my problem” in a polite way? Well, that can be quite difficult. After all, the phrase isn’t necessarily polite in the first place.

Luckily, you have options. This article will explore another way to say “that’s not my problem.” Then, you’ll have plenty of polite options to replace it with.

• I’m afraid this does not affect me
• You should resolve it amongst yourselves
• You should ask someone else to help you
• I don’t see how this affects me
• Please, talk to each other to fix this
• I don’t want to get involved
• I don’t get paid enough for this
• You should come to an understanding
• Find common ground

You should read on to learn about the best ways to say “that’s not my problem.” We’ve explained each synonym to help you mix things up in your speaking and writing.

1. I’m Afraid This Does Not Affect Me

“I’m afraid this does not affect me” is a great formal alternative. It is polite, as it shows that you are not interested in someone else’s problem without dismissing it.

Why not check out these examples to help you with it:

• I’m afraid this does not affect me. So, I think it’s best if you try to figure it out together.
• Your fight is of no meaning to me. I’m afraid it does not affect me. Have a good day.

2. You Should Resolve It Amongst Yourselves

“You should resolve it amongst yourselves” shows you don’t want to involve yourself in someone’s problem.

It implies that you’d like the people involved to work it out between themselves.

This phrase shows good leadership skills. It’s also very polite, as it shows you will not interfere with other people’s problems.

You may benefit from the following examples:

• You should resolve it amongst yourselves. There’s nothing I can do to help you through this.
• This isn’t something I’m interested in. So, you should resolve it amongst yourselves.

3. You Should Ask Someone Else to Help You

“You should ask someone else to help you” is a professional way to say “that’s not my problem.” It shows you don’t have the time to help someone.

It’s most effective when you are leaving and do not want to associate yourself with petty drama. Generally, it’s best if you can refer them to “someone else” directly (like a mediator).

You can look through these examples to help you:

• You should ask someone else to help you. I’m leaving the office now, so I don’t want to deal with it.
• I’m afraid you should ask someone else to help you. After all, there’s really nothing else I can do.

4. I Don’t See How This Affects Me

“I don’t see how this affects me” is a decent alternative. It shows that you are not interested in someone’s problem.

It’s quite professional and polite, allowing you to appear in a positive way without insulting someone.

Here are some examples to help you:

• I’m sorry, but I don’t see how this affects me. Why don’t you ask my secretary to help you with it?
• I don’t see how this affects me. I appreciate that things are tricky, but you should know how to handle them.

5. Please, Talk To Each Other to Fix This

“Please, talk to each other to fix this” is a great message to use in professional contexts.

It is very polite and shows that you want people to work out their own issues.

Check out the following to see how it works:

• This is not my battle. Please, talk to each other to fix this. I can’t do anything to change your mind.
• Please, talk to each other to fix this. That’s the only way you’ll come out on the other side.

6. I Don’t Want to Get Involved

“I don’t want to get involved” is a simple phrase that shows you are not interested in someone else’s fight.

It shows you have no intention of involving yourself in something because you do not want to take sides.

You can refer to these examples to see how to use it:

• I don’t understand why you are both fighting about this, though. So, I don’t want to get involved any more than I have to.
• I don’t want to get involved. You should discuss this with someone else since I don’t care.

7. I Don’t Get Paid Enough for This

“I don’t get paid enough for this” is a funny way to say “that’s not my problem. You might want to use it when dealing with a difficult customer.

It shows you don’t have the patience to deal with their complaints. However, you should be careful with it as it will insult some customers (and they could complain to your manager!)

The following examples will help you understand it better:

• I don’t get paid enough for this. You can keep discussing it, but I’m going into the other room.
• Oh, I’m so sorry! I certainly won’t be waiting around for you to finish. I don’t get paid enough for this, after all.

8. You Should Come to an Understanding

“You should come to an understanding” is a great way to show initiative when two people disagree. It shows you do not want to deal with someone else’s problem.

Instead, you can ask them to understand each other and see if they can get along. It’s a positive way to avoid conflict when you are not interested in someone’s problem.

You may want to refer to these examples to see how to use it:

• You should come to an understanding before you part ways. Otherwise, you will never resolve this.
• Please, let me help you quickly. I think you should come to an understanding. That’s all I have to offer you, though.

9. Find Common Ground

“Find common ground” is a simple and polite alternative. Again, it works best when multiple people have a problem that they can’t manage.

It shows you don’t want to involve yourself. However, you’re willing to offer a quick insight to encourage them to solve their problem.

Here are some examples to help you with it:

• I need you to find common ground amongst each other. After all, I can’t keep fighting your battles.
• Please, just find common ground since it’s not worth fighting over any longer!

Is It Rude to Say “That’s Not My Problem”?

It is rude to say “that’s not my problem.” It’s a very dismissive statement showing you do not care about someone or their problem.

However, sometimes it’s necessary to use the statement.

For instance, if someone comes to you with a query at work, you might be unable to help them. You might work in a different department and not have an appropriate answer for them.

You can double down if they come back later, asking the same query. So, if they ask again, even though you’ve been clear that you can’t help them, then “that’s not my problem” works. It shows that someone’s problem is irrelevant to you, and you cannot or do not want to help.

We only recommend saying “that’s not my problem” as a last resort. There are plenty of more polite synonyms that you should try first.