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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not answer the door to this man?

82 replies

BupcakesandCunting · 12/08/2011 10:25

Right, just got in the bath and started shaving my legs when the door knocks. I decided to ignore it as I'm not expecting anyone round until one or any parcels etc. Then it knocks again. And again. And again. Loud Gestapo-like knocks. Really didn't want to have to get out of bath wet, get dressed for cold-callers or whatever but obvious they weren't going away, so I wrapped myself in a towel and looked out of my bedroom window. It's the bloody gas meter man again, who I told last week that DH would do the reading as our meter is in the cellar and the cellar is full of decorating stuff, so the reader would probably break his neck in there...

I opened my window (in towel, very attractive Wink) and told him that we would do the reading and in any case, I was in the bath. He said "shall I call back when you're ready?" I said "erm, well, I'm not getting out of the bath just for this" and then he said "I'll come back in five minutes!" Now I'm getting a bit huffy. I've only shaved one leg and haven't even washed my hair yet. I said five minutes wasn't enough, so he went "Ten then!" WTF?

I am probably being U, aren't I? But ffs, he knocked my door like ten or twelve times. Wouldn't you just assume that no-one was at home if you got no answer after the second knock? Take the hint!

I reckon he will come back. I don't want to answer the door to him because a) he got me out of my bath and b) I've already told him that my cellar is not accessible!

OP posts:
MaxSchreck · 12/08/2011 10:46

He wants you.

Clearly.

JarethTheGoblinKing · 12/08/2011 10:47

"this man really really wants to read your meter"

Is this a euphamism? Grin

Tip some bathwater out the window.

Sausagesarenottheonlyfruit · 12/08/2011 10:47

Definitely ignore! Rude bastard. Trouble is he knows you're at home now, so he might keep on and on...

MissyBrookes · 12/08/2011 10:48

I'd just ignore him to be honest, you have already told him to bugger off. I'm sure he will take the hint eventually :)

BupcakesandCunting · 12/08/2011 10:48

He probably does want me after seeing my pasty flesh spilling out of a pink bath towel, with my hair scraped on top of my head in the style of a hairy pineapple. I have never looked hotter.

It is definitely just about reading the meter. He did say that he gets paid for what he reads which probably explains the persistence, actually. Still though, pack it in.

He gave up after eight knocks this time.

OP posts:
itisnearlysummer · 12/08/2011 10:49

We had to complain about a gas meter reader once because she was rude to me in front of the children and used rather inappropriate language.

The gas board apologised and said they'd had loads of complaints about them. Apparently, they weren't employed by the gas board themselves but were employed by a 3rd party.

Some of them are just rude!

ZZZenAgain · 12/08/2011 10:49

he'll be back

BupcakesandCunting · 12/08/2011 10:52

I think it was the way that he was knocking both the knocker AND the glass in the front door that riled me up. I get irrational about annoying door knockers. I like a swift thrice-knock on the door knocker. Two knocks just sounds like you can't be arsed. Four is veering into aggressive. Three is the magic number, IMO. Also don't like knocks with no rhythm, which is what Mr meter was doing. Grrrrrr.

OP posts:
Nancy66 · 12/08/2011 10:52

I never let meter readers in - mostly i just don't open the door but if they catch me out I just tell them that i do my own meter readings and don't give them a chance to say anything back.

sillybillies · 12/08/2011 10:52

why don't you make an appointment with him to come back at a more suitable time. If your on his list, he has to get a reading eventually or pass your address on to someone more senior who will also come knocking. They have to take readings from time to time.

Sausagesarenottheonlyfruit · 12/08/2011 10:54

How do you feel about a single knock? My DM does that, then wonders why nobody answers.

Cheria · 12/08/2011 10:55

Well, since you are now no doubt out of the bath why don't you just let him read your meter?

ZZZenAgain · 12/08/2011 10:55

it is not accessible at the moment, cellar is blocked

Thruaglassdarkly · 12/08/2011 10:57

My most hated knock of all is that

Rat-tat-at-tat-tat..tat-tat

You all got that, right? Wink

I want to scream in complete strangers faces when I hear that - have no idea why.

Obviously, I don't...

LineRunner · 12/08/2011 10:57

God I hate this. I hate it when anyone can't just ring the bell once and fuck off when they don't get an answer.

In fact I might put a sign up. 'Please only ring this bell ONCE. I can hear it just fine from the bath. If I don't answer after one ring ring, please go away.'

Postmen leave delivery cards. People you know might leave a note or pop back. The police would shout Ms Runner, it's the police, can you come to the door please! though the letterbox. Only meter readers and loons stand there bashing away on the bell like fuckwits.

BupcakesandCunting · 12/08/2011 10:58

A single-knocker would be met with a cup of wee from an upstairs window.

OP posts:
GretaGip · 12/08/2011 10:59

Meh.

You're going about this the wrong way.

Show him the cellar.

Lock him in.

Then he's not released until he has killed every spider in Buppydom or agrees to filfull your gimp fantasies.

BupcakesandCunting · 12/08/2011 11:01

"Well, since you are now no doubt out of the bath why don't you just let him read your meter?"

Because I am an indignant bastard.

OP posts:
MonkeysPunk · 12/08/2011 11:03

You are not obliged to answer the door - if you had stayed in the bath he would have gone away...eventually...

skybluepearl · 12/08/2011 11:06

Shouldn't have banswered the door while mid bath! Should have said (yet again) that DH will contact company with the reading when you spoke through window. Then left it at that and not bothered do anything else.

ElbowFan · 12/08/2011 11:06

Answer the door.
Ask for ID.
Make a point of making him wait while you phone to confirm he is who he says he is. Tell them that he has been causing nuisance and you are concerned about his behaviour.
Then decide whether you let him read the meter or not.

BupcakesandCunting · 12/08/2011 11:09

I only got out of the bath because I did think in a tiny bit of my brain "perhaps there is an emergency". Although the rational part of my brain knew it would be a twatty meter reader/cold-caller/jailbird selling tea-towels...

OP posts:
lilmissminx · 12/08/2011 11:11

Get the MSE 'no cold callers' sign and tell him to go away! You do not have to answer the door, it's your house, your decision. I get annoyed by people who keep knocking, can they not take a hint ffs Hmm

*if they get paid for how many they read... may explain why the swalec man was so keen to read my EDF meter! Confused

mollymole · 12/08/2011 11:12

don't they have to do a physical read of the meter at 18 month intervals or something like that

Davida · 12/08/2011 11:13

I think this needs to go in classics. I'm pissing myself here.

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