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Should I complain/report my DPD driver?

33 replies

pittaboo · 08/02/2024 11:28

I get a lot of parcels delivered to my house due to my job and have this one particular DPD driver that makes me feel so uncomfortable.
He tries his best to be friendly but it comes across so strange and creepy.
I live with my partner who is always at work and I WFH so I’m always there to answer the door. Every time I see his name on my delivery emails I get real dread but because it’s DPD I have to answer the door.
He doesn’t hand over my parcel straight away until he’s done talking which is annoying but some of the comments he makes are strange.
He often says “what’s in here today then?” And things like “If I don’t come to your house I don’t feel like I’m at work and I don’t get my daily dose of you”
He calls me by my full name. He regularly says “I need to get my daily dose of [my name].
The other day I had makeup on and he said “looking nice today where you off to?” And I just politely laugh but he carries on.. “is it your birthday? You going out”
It honestly doesn’t sound as bad when I type it but his whole persona is really odd.
One day my partner opened the door and he said “Oh I thought she lived alone”
He asks me things like “are you always at home because I’ve never delivered and you’re not here” I know it’s a conversation starter but just give me my parcel and go. I then have to explain I WFH. He then said to me “when you're neighbours aren’t in I know who to come to because you’re like the full moon”

I don’t want the guy to lose his job but he makes me uncomfortable what should I do?

OP posts:
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Redglitter · 09/02/2024 02:48

I do have a doorbell and they won’t leave them outside my house

Hes at it. There's no reason for it not to be left at the door. The only time DPD have ever refused to leave something at my door it was because it was a phone from EE

I'd be putting that I'm the complaint too. I bet he has no qualms leaving items at other people's door.

Treehugger22 · 09/02/2024 02:36

Don't bother and I have had the same issue but he uses to follow me along the road in his van making convo about my dog

FlyingWithBabyLongHaul · 08/02/2024 18:55

I think Ring Doorbell is the way forward, so you can speak via the speaker and say "I'm just upstairs on a work call, can you leave it on the doorstep please and I'll grab it in a few minutes? Thanks, got to go now!"

SameBreakfast · 08/02/2024 17:12

pittaboo · 08/02/2024 16:53

Thank you to the responses. I do have a doorbell and they won’t leave them outside my house. None of my other neighbours are ever in.
I wouldn’t mind the politeness but I do need to say that I literally don’t reply anything back to him and he hasn’t stopped for months saying these things.
I can’t take the parcel either as he stands far away from the door and doesn’t give it to me until he’s done speaking.
I forgot to mention that sometimes he will comment on my clothes “that tops looking bright today” and I can understand the small talk but there is also boundaries that should be put in place. You can say how are you and stuff but to be commenting on me as a person I don’t think is fair; especially as he thought I lived alone.

This stuff makes me mad. Of course it’s inAppropriate. How dare he make you feel this way. Look at you, second-guessing his actions, worrying that you are taking it in the wrong way.

What has happened here is that a man has made you feel uncomfortable by overstepping boundaries. He has no right to do this and it is not professional. We should not be looking for excuses or explanations for his behaviour. It is wrong.

pittaboo · 08/02/2024 16:53

Thank you to the responses. I do have a doorbell and they won’t leave them outside my house. None of my other neighbours are ever in.
I wouldn’t mind the politeness but I do need to say that I literally don’t reply anything back to him and he hasn’t stopped for months saying these things.
I can’t take the parcel either as he stands far away from the door and doesn’t give it to me until he’s done speaking.
I forgot to mention that sometimes he will comment on my clothes “that tops looking bright today” and I can understand the small talk but there is also boundaries that should be put in place. You can say how are you and stuff but to be commenting on me as a person I don’t think is fair; especially as he thought I lived alone.

OP posts:
ginasevern · 08/02/2024 15:51

It is inappropriate and unprofessional. Personally I'd find it more of a pain in the arse than creepy but I'm not there to witness it in person. He obviously has the hots for you. Can you arrange to have the parcel left on your doorstep, or a safe place (behind the shed for example) instead of always opening the door to him. My delivery drivers usually drop and run or launch parcels over the back gate.

Redglitter · 08/02/2024 15:19

I think there's a difference to making polite conversation & being an inappropriate creep. One of the Tesco drivers calls me by my first name & so does the parcel force guy. I dont have a problem with either. They're both really nice & it's done in line with normal interactions.

But the 'got to get my daily dose' comments being made to the OP are completely inappropriate. I'd report him quite honestly. He needs to realise he's creepy & inappropriate.

Hes not going to lose his job because of a complaint unless there's been multiple other ones of a similar nature - in which case he deserves it

If you don't want to report him I'd invest in a ring doorbell and not go to the door at all. Or send your partner if he's in

RandomUsernameHere · 08/02/2024 15:06

Can you request for the parcels to be left in a safe place?

Foxblue · 08/02/2024 14:49

Woooah, lovely to see the people on this thread giving him the benefit of the doubt, and it's nice to see good intentions are assumed but unfortunately people can also have bad intentions. Or have literally no idea how their words might come across, because noone's pointed out to them that they are innapropriate:

“what’s in here today then?”
Innapropriate, it could be something personal - no sane person would ask that of a stranger! Surely an absolute basic of parcel delivery - don't comment unless you are offered the information!
“If I don’t come to your house I don’t feel like I’m at work and I don’t get my daily dose of you”
Creepy and over the line
He calls me by my full name. He regularly says “I need to get my daily dose of [my name].
Sone people will say 'its your name, its on the parcels, its not a secret' but its the way its done, when its done repeatedly...
The other day I had makeup on and he said “looking nice today where you off to?” And I just politely laugh but he carries on.. “is it your birthday? You going out”
again, you've not answered, its basic customer service for him to move on, it's being intrusive - he could have, if he had to say anything, which he didn't, say 'have a lovely time!'
“Oh I thought she lived alone”He asks me things like “are you always at home because I’ve never delivered and you’re not here” I know it’s a conversation starter but just give me my parcel and go. I then have to explain I WFH. He then said to me “when you're neighbours aren’t in I know who to come to because you’re like the full moon”
Erm, again, over the line. Maybe he's just making conversation, and he's got terrible social skills, but someone needs to point out to him why saying to a woman that you are aware of her movements and if she lives alone or not, might make people uncomfortable.

It's not the comments in isolation, it's the fact they are all coming from the same person, consistently, in an unprofessional way.

There's so many ways to behave that are professional, but this isn't it.

Frizzyleaf · 08/02/2024 14:47

God I had one exactly like this a couple of years ago. “Steve” I think. Same kind of chat and would sort of push his way in the door to put things down. Late 50s ish.

I had started to be quite short and assertive with him already but once was being a bit of a dick when I asked him not to come earlier than the 1hr slot because I would be busy or out etc and I deliberately used his name back at him as he had used mine and he was visibly taken aback. He was way more reserved after that. Then very shortly after disappeared thank god.

It’s the kind of behaviour that is absolutely over the line when you see and hear it in person but harder to describe in a complaint but comments about personal appearance or ‘daily does’ is definitely something to report. 😡

BobbyBiscuits · 08/02/2024 14:40

Next time just say 'im busy working so can't chat and reach for your parcel. Or just say I'm in a rush, then close the door as soon as you can. No small talk whatsoever. He will get the message. It's clear he's flirting and it's yuck. I wouldn't go so far as to make a complaint though.

YesThatsATurdOnTheRug · 08/02/2024 14:36

You're well within your rights to report him, he is being creepy, he's saying things he wouldn't say to a bloke. If that makes you uncomfortable then you can report that.

As pp have said I would take steps to just not answer the door - safe place/have dp answer etc.

Coconutter24 · 08/02/2024 14:33

Can you select a safe place when you get the email and then not answer the door?

MorningSunshineSparkles · 08/02/2024 14:10

Fair enough to say to him “can you just give me my parcel” (you don’t even have to add please), and walk away but if you report him as creepy for making small talk then you’re just making yourself out to be weird and difficult. And if you’re ordering that many parcels he’s seeing you on a regular basis then perhaps you want to consider that your parcels may not end up at your address anymore.

mumda · 08/02/2024 13:51

GreenLadybug · 08/02/2024 11:48

Could you invest in a parcel box? As although slightly odd I'm not sure there is currently anything complaint worthy if that makes sense? The driver talks to me and it makes me feel weird because he's read my name on the parcels.

I freaked one out the other day because I said "Hello Christopher" when I opened the door.
It said it on the tracking so why not!

Floralsofa · 08/02/2024 13:02

Answer the door on the phone.

Paw2024 · 08/02/2024 12:58

Tessisme · 08/02/2024 12:33

He's not doing anything wrong by being friendly, even if it's very very annoying. I would just find a way of avoiding him, but I'm a bit antisocial and that sort of chit chat would drive me round the bend.

It's completely inappropriate comments though
Would he say that to a man? No
Then it doesn't fall under friendly conversation

wheo · 08/02/2024 12:46

SameBreakfast · 08/02/2024 12:05

“I need to get my daily dose of [my name].

This is inappropriate and creepy. It is not professional. No woman will say this to a man. Report it immediately. And don’t believe anybody who says he’s just being ‘friendly’. This crap needs to stop.

I agree completely.

bravotango · 08/02/2024 12:45

SameBreakfast · 08/02/2024 12:05

“I need to get my daily dose of [my name].

This is inappropriate and creepy. It is not professional. No woman will say this to a man. Report it immediately. And don’t believe anybody who says he’s just being ‘friendly’. This crap needs to stop.

This! Honestly he knows this is gross and keeps doing it because he can. I'd get a ring doorbell/parcel box and if there's anymore crap like this then I'd report.

eurochick · 08/02/2024 12:42

I would mention my partner every time.

"You look nice today"
"I'm meeting my partner later"

"Do you work from home"
"Yes lucky me, my partner has to go into the office much more than I do"

And so on.

Tessisme · 08/02/2024 12:33

He's not doing anything wrong by being friendly, even if it's very very annoying. I would just find a way of avoiding him, but I'm a bit antisocial and that sort of chit chat would drive me round the bend.

Megifer · 08/02/2024 12:16

I have a chatty PITA delivery driver I just take my phone to the door and pretend I'm talking on it, ill say "oh sorry give me a sec I just need to sign something" into the phone and he'll piss off. And mix it up with a "sorry have to be quick I'm on a call with work".

Ponoka7 · 08/02/2024 12:05

You should make it clear that you are married by droppyour DH into the conversation. Then tell him that you don't have time to chat because you are at work. Then report if it doesn't stop.

SameBreakfast · 08/02/2024 12:05

“I need to get my daily dose of [my name].

This is inappropriate and creepy. It is not professional. No woman will say this to a man. Report it immediately. And don’t believe anybody who says he’s just being ‘friendly’. This crap needs to stop.

ProcrastinatingWithVipers · 08/02/2024 12:05

It's a bit over familiar, but I wouldn't report.

I'd just be stopping any polite chitchat. As a women we are conditioned to be 'nice' and respond politely.

Just give brisk one word answers. Or if he asks what's in the parcels, just say 'stuff for my partner'

If you cant bring yourself to be curt, I'd answer the door with my mobile to my ear, looking busy and distracted.