To think I don't have to answer my door if I don't want to?

[MrsDrRanj]

Work is currently being done on the flat above mine so I've had scaffolding outside my windows for a few weeks and repair men there everyday.

They've been no trouble til today, when for some reason decided to ring my doorbell 100 times a minute. I'm assuming they knew I was in from working outside my window as DS isn't particularly quiet as when they had finally given up I heard someone outside the window say 'I don't know why she's not fuckin answering'

I don't answer my door if I'm not expecting someone. I have a very abusive ex that used to like to turn up out of the blue, and besides it's usually people selling things and it's a hassle for me to go all the way downstairs with DS etc.

Aibu to be pissed off at the constant ringing of my bell when it's clear I wasn't going to answer at that time, and aibu to think I'm perfectly entitled to not answer my door if I don't want to?

Yanbu don't answer it ... It's your property

There could be a problem that you need to know about, so answering the door once seems reasonable. But if it frightens you, then YANBU. They could put a note through the door to inform you instead.

YANBU, I don't answer my door to strangers and it infuriates me when they hammer the door, if someone is clearly not going to answer, go away!

YANBU generally speaking.

YABU in this case tho. I'd say there's a 50/50 chance they're trying to tell you/warn you of something that's in your interests to know.

Maybe they had a valid reason for needing to speak to you. You knew it was them, so why not answer it?

obviously you have the right not to answer the door, however if you knew it was the workmen from upstairs and they repeatedly tried to contact you, why would you not open it, they may have had a safety issue etc.

I usually pop my head out the window and shout 'What do you want?' I have a spy hole in the door and if I don't recognise someone I won't answer the door.

I didn't know it was them until I heard the comment that was made outside, I was getting very worried at the amount of ringing.

If I can see it's another person trying to scrounge work or sell me new window etc I often don't answer to door. Saves them being shot down and me being annoyed.

YANBU

They might be trying to let you know that the water's going to be turned off for an hour, or something similarly helpful for you to be aware of. You know it's not sales people, or an ex. It's builders, who have got better things to do than play knock down ginger in the block of flats they are working on. What on earth is the problem? Poke your head out of said window and ask them what they want!! They haven't been ringing your bell continuously, for the first time ever, for no reason.

But once you did know it was them, you could have gone out to ask what was so urgent.

they could put a note through if they need to say something

But if she's too frightened, then she'll just have to take the risk of not knowing what the problem was.

I open the door to anyone, but I've known women for whom it was a huge issue.

You don't have to answer your door, but if they have been no trouble until today and were then very persistent, I would assume they had something to tell you that they thought you would want or need to know.

I don't answer the door to sales people and I understand your concerns about your ex, but in that situation, knowing who it was and that they were working in lose proximity to my flat, I would have answered the door.

Good job they arent telling you that the house is on fire..

That's why the fire brigade carry axes.

Yes squeakytoy because in instances of a building wide conflagration I'm sure they'd be politely ringing everyone's bell and not yelling "fire, you need to get out".

Yabu and ridiculous! Would it have been a big deal to even ask through the door if there was a problem?
If they haven't bothered you until now, it probably was something important.

I just shout through the door 'I'm not opening the door this evening, can I help you?'- if it's sales, I never open but sometimes it has been the district nurse or someone at the wrong house and I would then open up.

For goodness' sake, they are not ringing your bell because they want to socialise with you, it's obviously something they need to talk to you about, so you should find out what it is.

I had no idea how precious some people are about not answering their doors until I joined MN

It's your door and your life but I don't think you've any room to grumble about the repeated ringing of the doorbell.

For all they knew you might have been deaf.

And good luck if anyone spots that your flat is on fire or any kind of other danger.

I didn't know it was them until I heard the comment that was made outside, I was getting very worried at the amount of ringing.

I suggest you get a spy hole or key chain so you can check who's calling.

Even if they know she's home they don't know that she isn't busy, in the bath, whatever. Why should she drop everything and rush to the door? It's not on to ring the bell over and over and over, ring it two or three times then go away or leave a note/phone number.

YADNBU - I ignore the door most of the time too, if friends are coming, they generally let us know & like you get too many cold callers & I CBA being polite if you aren't welcome here, so not answering is easier than getting into a boring diatribe & then confrontation that invariably ends with my telling them to F off - My home, my time & my prerogative, life's to short to waste on such shite.

IMHO if the builders REALLY need your attention & know you are home, they can stick a note through your door & you can then decide if it needs follow up or not

And if it was an emergency surely they would shout through the letterbox