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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

42 replies

MrsDrRanj · 13/11/2013 11:41

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?

OP posts:

LaGuardia · 13/11/2013 12:02

Remove the doorbell and go back to your tv. Enjoy.

Screamqueen · 13/11/2013 12:04

Well its your right but yes they kept ringing because as you said they knew you were in and obviously wanted to contact you for a reason, of course they will wonder why you haven't answered.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 13/11/2013 12:05

I agree with Revenge. Ringing repeated (unless it is an emergency such as building on fire) is rude. Ring a few times and then leave a note if no response.

I do tend to answer the door but won't, for instance, jump out of the shower / stop changing the baby to do so.

squeakytoy · 13/11/2013 12:07

The builders knew someone was home hence the reason they kept ringing I would imagine.

The builders probably had very good reason to be trying to contact the op.

They could have been turning off the gas perhaps.. or the water.. or the electric. All things which could cause a problem if the OP didnt see a note put through the door.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 13/11/2013 12:13

Squeaky - You're right but if the OP is willing to take that risk that's her decision. It's not for the builder to carry on ringing and ringing. I can think of loads of reasons why the OP might not want to answer the door.

Original poster

MrsDrRanj · 13/11/2013 12:14

Turns out they were ringing because they wanted to use one of my sockets to plug something in - upstairs landlord just came by to let them in upstairs.

OP posts:

Rockinhippy · 13/11/2013 12:18

Unlikely squeaky it shouldn't affect the OPs property, unless its major works covering the street - they could just be cheeky F"ers though

I had builders working next door the other week, they were a bloody nightmare & cheeky as hell - I ignored the door to them several times - turned out there was electricity problems though.

They had none & had presumed I would be happy making them tea instead - there's a cafe down the road now feck Orf

fluffyraggies · 13/11/2013 12:23

I agree one or two rings and then a note if it's something important.

In this case they wanted to use OP's electricity!

I don't always answer my door. I know when it's the postman as his van will be outside. If it's not him it's usually somebody trying to bloody sell me something

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 13/11/2013 12:28

That's a bloody cheek actually OP

pianodoodle · 13/11/2013 12:52

Just because you're obviously in doesn't mean there can't be a whole host of reasons why you don't open the door.

My last neighbour would come to the door loads and if I'm up to my arms in dirty nappy I can't get to it very fast! She'd still stand there looking through the letter box wondering where on earth I could be

pianodoodle · 13/11/2013 12:57

I wouldn't mind but it was always something daft like to ask if some new top made her look a funny shape.

The best was when she came back every minute for about fifteen minutes and when I eventually got to the door she wanted to borrow an egg.

Fair enough but she was making a point of saying she'd already put the frying pan on ten minutes ago and had the nerve to look impatient with me

DontGiveAwayTheHomeworld · 13/11/2013 13:03

I don't often open the door if I'm not expecting someone, and I have the gall to sit in my living room with the windows open and the telly on when I'm doing it! Had some hilarious comments about how rude I am.

I do answer when it's the neighbours though, we live in quite a rural place, so we'll happily lend milk/sugar/tea/eggs to each other rather than make them hike to the shops.

fluffyraggies · 13/11/2013 13:04

piano how bloody annoying!

When i was still a teen living at home, the elderly neighbours decided it was their job to 'keep an eye on Fluffy' if my parents went away (few days to the coast occasionally). It was a bit of a joke, as my parents never asked them to do this - the neighbours were notorious busy bodies - so found great joy in pouncing on me every time i opened the front door, to ask me where i was going and knock at random times and try to peer round me to see what was going on. (Nothing was ever going on by the way - i wasn't daft enough to get up to any teenage mischief in my parents house. I would go out for that )

On one occasion when i was about 17/18 i think, i decided i needn't answer the bloody door for them to nose at my business. So i didn't. They rang and rang the bell, and banged and banged on the door. Then the husband went round the back, leaned over the fence and started banging a stick hard on the back window!

Then the window smashed!

Well - I burst out through that back door like a banshee! First time in my life i had ever shouted at anyone other than school mates.

They didn't snoop after that.

SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed · 13/11/2013 13:05

Just before Christmas last year, I had someone knocking repeatedly on my door, about seven or eight times. When I didn't answer - I was in the bath - she started banging on the window. So, I got out of the bath, put my dressing gown on, opened the door, only to find a drunk woman swaying on the doorstep and demanding to speak to 'Sue'. I am not Sue, there is no Sue here. I told her this, she told me to fuck off, and then staggered away.

So no, someone banging on your door over and over again does not mean it's something important.

And I still have no idea who she or Sue are. But if you happen to be that drunk woman, FUCK OFF YOURSELF!

fluffyraggies · 13/11/2013 13:07

Oh, and the excuse for knocking? ... They wondered ''if i realised i hadn't put my car in the garage when i came in'' ...

yeah.

JackNoneReacher · 13/11/2013 13:08

YANBU.

And what a surprise, there was no 'emergency' they just wanted to use your electricity (cheeky bastards) and were indignant when you didn't accommodate them!

HerlockSholmes · 13/11/2013 13:25

I have a peephole in the door so i can see who is there. anyone who comes to my door is under no illusions if i am in- DS jumps up and down shouting "Someone's at the door" so they can hear us.

if im not sure who it is ill open the landing window and speak from there, pretending ds has hidden the keys or something. usually its my neighbour wanting to see DS (she brings him a treat whenever she goes shopping bless her) or jahovas witnesses.

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