She has asked me to do a binding spell so that her ex-lover would leave her alone, leave town, maybe start having bad luck, possibly break a leg You get the idea. I am very reluctant to get involved in a situation that contains so much negative energy, but I can't help feeling sorry for this woman, and I do want to help. This is a difficult situation. But the long-term effectiveness of such a working has about as much effect on the problem as does a restraining order from the Court. The problem remains and will persist until dealt with constructively.
Relationships are very difficult for some people, and seem to have a life of their own at times.
If she is ambivalent she may be sending the wrong messages. There is always another side to the story, and you need to take it into account. Chances are that if your neighbor knows a Witch, her ex-lover can find one too. Lacking that, books are readily available with helpful advice on how to protect one's self from baleful magick. The technology of spellcraft is too readily available nowadays for anyone to cast spells against another person with impunity.