to be mad that a complete stranger just opened my front door?

[Truffleshuffler]

Was sitting in my living room this evening with DS (22 months) asleep on my lap when I hear a knock at the door. Dogs start quietly barking and I start panicking. Should I open the door holding sleeping child? Should I run upstairs and put him in bed and then go to door? All the while dogs are getting louder impatient. Am worrying that dogs will wake up DS. DH is out.
I take DS upstairs and mystery caller decided to ring doorbell. At this action dogs in their excitement manage to escape from kitchen and stand at front door. Hurry downstairs to see the front door being opened by complete stranger to be met with my 2 barking dogs so he quickly closed it. I get to the front door and see man walking away.
He tells me that he is a friend of PIL and is here on business and called to visit my DH.
AIBU to expect:

1. Visitors to phone first
   
2. Strangers not to open my front door

[Truffleshuffler]

I wish they had Paddington!
Especially as when I spoke to him he wasn't apologetic. I asked him what he was doing (in opening the door) and he said "You didn't answer the doorbell"
I got my DH to ring PIL just now and they don't know anything about it but they think they know who it was.

[TurkeyBurgerThing]

Any stranger opening the door to my house would switfly be met with a punch in the face!

[PaddingtonStare]

I think you've been and are being far too polite! I'd want to know more than just that the PIL think they know who it was. I'd be demanding his phone number and calling him up to rollock him and ask what he wanted. Actually, I'd have gone bananas at him at the time!

Are your PIL shocked and cross too?

[TheFrogs]

YANBU. It's so cheeky. This is why I always keep my doors locked and try to drum it into the kids to lock up behind them. I've had neighbours just walk in (not so bad but CHEEKY), there's always random pissed up men trying to walk in late at night thinking this is the local tart's house...I also had a courier try to open the door once when I didn't answer it quickly enough!

I've got a key to my friends house but wouldn't dream of using it unless specifically asked to or in an emergency.

[foolserrand]

We had a Chinese takeaway delivery man open our door once. Our dogs were not happy and gathered scared the unfortunate idiot. It's just not on. what are some people thinking?!

[Jaspants]

YA so NBU and I can't believe anyone would think it is ok to walk in just because your door is unlocked.

[thumbwitch]

YANBU. I was going to say you were mad not to have a locked front door but you have explained that so I won't.

And it was utter cheek to try the door - if someone doesn't answer the door, it's usually because they're out or don't want to - that doesn't give anyone the right to just walk in, whether you know them or not! I'd be very angry about it indeed - but in future would make your DH take his flippin' keys!

[Thingumy]

I've had a delivery driver open our front door (no porch) and leave our parcel in our hall.

I was in the shower at the time and came down when I heard that the dog was going mad,to find a parcel in Our Fucking House .

DH went batshit at the company who delivered and I now lock the door at ALL times.

It shook me up and made me wake up to how I could of been quite easily attacked at 2pm on a quiet,normal afternoon.

[wellwisher]

The parcel thing is a bit uncomfortable-making, but I'd prefer that to missing my delivery - there have been enough threads on here from people raging about getting a "sorry you were out" card when they've waited in for a parcel!

I am stunned that the guy dared to open the door with two dogs barking inside - I'd have run a mile so I do think this is weird - get your PILs to ring round the Brians they know and find out who it was.

[Truffleshuffler]

Paddington: Yes I think they were and DH told FIL to have a word with the guy.
I know I can't help being polite. I didn't even swear at him. I did say, "what are you doing?" rather than "hello" but then I did talk normally to him and explain that DH was out at cricket so he couldn't see him. At least I didn't invite him in for a cup of tea

[Thingumy]

Really-you prefer a stranger to open your door and come inside your house to deliver a parcel? Open my back gate and leave it by my back door by all means but open try my front door? No.


No-one should try to open my door apart from family or me.

[Thingumy]

or

[Inertia]

YANBU, he shouldn't have opened your door. But it would make me wary of leaving the door unlocked again. It could be someone genuine, or it could be someone on the lookout for houses to burgle who happens to know your ILs names.

I'd be telling DH to take his keys from now on. Or get just one spare front door key cut and he can put that in a pocket.

[Truffleshuffler]

Obviously I had a bit chocolate stain down the front of my jumper at the time. (No wonder I want visitors to phone first).

[AgentZigzag]

You're missing the point though wellwisher.

Complaining about a 'sorry you were out' card when they'd not bothered to knock and you definately were in, doesn't mean you want them to let themselves into your house to leave it.

And the bloke shouldn't have not gone in because there were two dogs telling him to fuck off, he shouldn't have opened the door because it's wrong to do that.

[Truffleshuffler]

meant to say, big chocolate stain. Time for bed.

[xstitch]

YANBU I wouldn't walk into a friends house never mind a strangers. Walking into a house with barking dogs seems even more stupid to me, I too wish he had been bitten.

I am shocked though at the number of people who don't lock their doors. As soon as I come in my door is double locked and the chain is on.

[AgentProvocateur]

I'm amazed at how many of you keep your doors locked during the day. Does it not make your feel a bit, I don't know - trapped? If I went to a friend's house and she had to unlock the door to me, I'd think I'd interrupted an illicit sex session.

I'd be delighted if someone opened my door to leave a parcel, rather than putting a card through the door. The postman has been know to open the door and put my packages by the sink, and I am grateful.

[AuntiePickleBottom]

i would of gone mental, my side door is always open and no one is allowed to walk in, my home is my place that i can kick back relax

my mum learnt that lesson well (me and DH was having sex when she walked in)

[xstitch]

'Does it not make your feel a bit, I don't know - trapped?'

Feels a lot safer than the prospect of XH deciding he is pissed off with me again. Or the bailiffs letting themselves in for the debts of the fucking previous residents who are currently top of my list for having pissed me off.

[Inertia]

We started putting the top latch on when DD1 was able to reach the Yale lock and open the door from the inside. Don't lock the mortice lock from the inside though, just in case of needing to get out in an emergency.

[ChippingIn]

Agent - me too on both counts :)

My front door is not only unlocked right now, it's also wide open.

[Thingumy]

'I'd be delighted if someone opened my door to leave a parcel'

REALLY? while you are in the shower?

I cannot believe people are happy for strangers to try their door to see if it's open and to enter if so.

Utter Madness.

[lechatnoir]

um yup hands up another one who regularly forgets the lock the door at bedtime let alone in the day.