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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:
StealthPolarBear · 12/08/2011 11:16

can't you just show him the spider ibiza and let him decide whether to read the meter or not? Surely it'd be easier if he saw for himself that it wasn't possible?

Georgimama · 12/08/2011 11:18

Have you got any old copies of the Watch Tower lying around? You could let him in but then talk to him about salvation.

BupcakesandCunting · 12/08/2011 11:19

OHMYGOD he is BACK. AGAIN.

Am so tempted to answer the door in nipple tassles and stockings. With a riding crop.

OP posts:
SnapesMistress · 12/08/2011 11:20

Ignore ignore ignore, how long can it last?

BupcakesandCunting · 12/08/2011 11:22

Well, with any sane person it lasts two knocks.

We are not dealing with sane person here. We are dealing with a person with NOOOOOO BOUNDARIES. Angry

OP posts:
AmberLeaf · 12/08/2011 11:24

I dare you to get your riding crop!

AmberLeaf · 12/08/2011 11:24

...Then lock him in the dungeon cellar!

MonkeysPunk · 12/08/2011 11:24

Do you actually have nipple tassles, stockings and a riding crop to hand?

Don't you think this kind of attention will only encourage more persistent door-knocking behaviour in the future?

BupcakesandCunting · 12/08/2011 11:25

Ha ha you are probably imagining that I look like Dita von Teese in nipple tassels/riding crop.

The reality is more like Blunder Woman going to a fetish fancy dress.

Definitely will not encourage more persistent knocking.

OP posts:
GretaGip · 12/08/2011 11:27

Are the nipple tassles instead of suspenders?

MonkeysPunk · 12/08/2011 11:27

Can't you lean out the window (or shout through the letterbox) that you have something v contagious and for this reason you cannot open the door to him?
Make something up - "Bubonic Plague" or "A new mutation of swine flu" (that he won't have been vaccinated against)..... Hmm

MonkeysPunk · 12/08/2011 11:28

Do you have a window above the front door?

I would suggest you throw him a bucket of the bath water!!!

MonkeysPunk · 12/08/2011 11:29

Tell him the cellar is riddled with maggots/flies from the last 3 meter readers who would not stop knocking that you shut down there! Grin

Lizcat · 12/08/2011 11:33

Get Smart meters that send the readings off by themselves - no need for any meter reading at all.

solidgoldbrass · 12/08/2011 11:36

Just tell him to go away, you are not going to open the door to him and you are going to put in a complaint about him. And that if he doesn't go away you are going to call the police.
You have offered to read the meter and send in the reading, you are under no obligation to let him in and he is in the wrong by continuing to knock.

nickelbabe · 12/08/2011 11:41

Buppy - you're being too lenient.

have you emptied the bath?
if not, get a bowl full and throw it out of the window at him.

or, if you have, tell him that you will not answer the door to him because you are notdressed and now he has pissed you off.
tell him to come back tomorrow.
and to bring a hard hat to get through your cellar Grin

FantasticVoyage · 12/08/2011 11:43

This is very bizarre. Why doesn't this meter reader behave like all other meter readers, i.e. put a "Sorry We Missed You" card through the door, ring the bell and then run away?

I suspect he's a murderer.

flimflammery · 12/08/2011 12:14

Actually you should count yourself lucky you have a persistent meter reader. I once suddenly got a quarterly gas bill for over 300 quid for a one-bed flat after they had been under-estimating my bills as the meter reading company (not the gas company, it's a third party, not our fault, we can't help it) didn't bother reading my meter for 18 months.

MadamDeathstare · 12/08/2011 12:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MadamDeathstare · 12/08/2011 12:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Jackstini · 12/08/2011 12:31

If you haven't had an 'actual' reading in over a year, (i.e only customer or estimated) they are obliged to read it. (from my call centre knowledge of a many moons ago...)

However - this bloke is annoying twunt of the highest order and I would complain about him and ask for an appointment for a polite person to come and read it!

loopylou6 · 12/08/2011 12:48

Omg how have you kept your cool for this long? I'd of screamed obscenities at the top of my voice and chased him down the path with the garden brush by now.

< Classy bird me >

DogsBestFriend · 12/08/2011 12:56

Me too loopy!

Bupcakes, open the window and tip a bucket of cold water over the fucker, PLEASE. Do it on the behalf of all of us who have suffered the same persistant knocking on the door, refusal to accept that we'll read our own meters and complete and utter ignorance.

Just do it.

You know you want to.

PLEASE!

BupcakesandCunting · 12/08/2011 13:14

I do want to, I doooooooooooooo.

However, the extent of my outrage usually only stretches to whining about things in AIBU. :(

OP posts:
nickelbabe · 12/08/2011 13:53

wimp.

you need to change your name to "BupcakesandWimping"
Grin

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