To think I shouldn't have to keep complaining about this?

[YourNewspaperIsShit]

This is the 4th time I've rang Royal Mail for the exact same complaint and it's been two different houses although not sure how many different postmen.

They keep opening windows and doors to put my parcels inside if I don't answer The most recent one I nipped out and left my windows on the latch but the door locked, I was due a Glossybox so it was obvious to the postman what it was (not important) and I always collect them from the delivery office after a missed delivery. When I came home it was on my sofa (under the latched window).

I have a big dog and 4 house cats who fortunately did not attack him or escape.

Every time I complain they agree it's out of order and say they will pass the complaint on but clearly no-one is listening

Just write a formal complaint OP. Telephone call to depot = "Oy Fred, pls dont pop no x's parcels throught the window". Written complain = head office investigates then tells depot it must not happen again and potential steps in place to help postie remember.

Just put a sign on the door and lock your windows and door. No big deal.

I don't think you should get a flaming for leaving your home unsecured - if it's normal practice where you live and you're happy to take the risks associated with it, it's not really anyone else's business.

YANBU to be annoyed that you've asked four times and it hasn't been communicated, that's poor business practice. But since you can see it's not working then why not just go directly to the source of the problem and put a card in your window saying 'please don't deliver through the window, I have a large dog that may bite you and several cats that might escape'. YABU to expect the postman to discern which mail is/isn't important to you, and I'd suggest that just as leaving your home unsecured is not unusual where you live, maybe the postie doing this is entirely normal/expected where you live too.

Lol at the postman making a decision on whether the parcel is not important enough to leave and to cart it back to the sorting office
I'm surprised parcels aren't just left on the doorstep if the community is so trustworthy.
I'd just leave a note on the door detailing what you want done if there's no reply. If people use their initiative there's always someone who complains.

For my insurance to be valid, my downstairs windows have to be locked as well as closed.

It is your responsibility to ensure no-one can enter your home so you need to keep your windows and doors locked, especially if you're not at home. Most windows can be locked open to allow a bit of fresh air in when you're in the house.

I'm very careful about this as I've been burgled before - windows were locked but they broke the wooden frames to gain entry - and I now have an alarm I set even if I'm in the house but upstairs having a shower or something.

Lumpy I've said over and over, I don't want to flash the postie and my dog might take a big chunk out of him. It's astounding me that I'm expected to lock up while I'm inside my house incase a stranger opens the door or windows. What if I want fresh air in the room

Thanks turnaround That's a good point

DailyFaily Yeah that's totally reasonable I think I will stick a card in the window just in case. My 'beware of the dog's sticker is on the back gate so they maybe don't think he'd be in the house

This thread has made me realise I don't think I have insurance So there's one positive from the flaming lol, I'll get that sorted

Thanks everyone for the replies anyway, it's almost like a totally different culture out here you'd think you were in another country if you're from a city or surrounding areas i tend to forget we're a bit 'behind on the times'

I just don't get the 'logic' behind being happy to leave doors and windows invitingly vulnerable to anyone who might want/need to open them, then getting cross that someone trying to be helpful does exactly that?

I do think YANBU to be cross at having to ring four times, but only because in most circumstances I'd be cross at having to ring a company four times about the same thing, but in this case it just seems a non-issue. You clearly live in a place where people feel safe enough to leave doors and windows open and where postmen can do nice helpful things for you. It's like the 1950's, in a good way.
I live in city and I feel I should shut and lock my back door when I'm going to be upstairs for a while, never mind when I'm going out. The postmen here sometimes leave parcels IN MY WHEELIE BIN, which, given the fact they have no idea which day of the week my bin gets emptied, is pretty stupid. But, I've not lost a parcel yet (and I get several a week) and I realise they are trying to help, so I don't freak out about it.

Be grateful he doesn't leave things with neighbours who hate you.

Oops, sorry OP, was writing that last message as you posted so didn't see your updates.
I want to live where you live

I found the best way is to leave a sign on the door telling the postman to leave parcel at xx place.
I'm surprised that the even tries to open the door seen the advert going on atm re postmen being bit by dogs when people open their doors (I think about 20 a day or something like this?).

I've had our postman doing that when the dcs were little but then he also asked ME if that was OK one of the times when he saw me.
I suspect that the message just isn't getting through all the different postmen.

Btw, where I live, you don't lock the door when you are in either (and sometimes when you go and forget too).
Never have. I even had to remind DH that we really need to lock the door at night too so yes I get you...

It must be lovely to live in a quiet rural area where many people don't feel the need to lock doors but ... if you need to go out I think I'd always lock up to be on the safe side. You need to be lucky all the time not to get burgled but the burglar only has to be lucky once.

Thank god mammouth i was starting to think I'd lost the plot There's posters all over the delivery office about controlling your dog and keeping them away from the letterbox (I put a cage on the back of mine) and saying about how many unfortunate posties get bitten, so I'm shocked that they're willing to endanger themselves without knowing what's inside. Hell for all I know I might have a postie hating cat in amongst them somewhere

Most people as PPs up the thread would be grateful that the postie has done something that means they don't have to scurry off to the sorting office to pick up a parcel. and I'm reasonably sure that posties don't really want to lug all the undelivered packages back either. (Which here leads to them not bringing them at all and just putting one of those "something for you" cards through the door instead.)

A little card on your door saying "Large inquisitive dog inside, please don't put packages in the house if there is no answer. Thanks"

Simples.

Surprised that someone who has always lived in a rural area doesn't realise this is the norm. Our postie always drops stuff through a door or window if it's open. I can't quite understand how you can pull a window shut, but not bother clicking the latch, especially if you have cats who you don't want to escape.

I would be pretty pissy if I had to trail to the sorting office for every parcel, because people like you have complained, but you can't be arsed to lock up your house, which is the obvious solution.

A load of moms at a toddler group (rural area where I am) were boasting about how they always leave their houses-cars etc unlocked. I suppose we do usually lock the oil tanks.

I'm a bit that OP doesn't lock up, which would sort this; it's an issue with the postie so that's enough reason. Our town Sorting office has limited hours that are often inconvenient, + most people would have to pay for parking to go there, so I'm also that OP thinks the postie is being outrageous to try to save her a journey.

I'm amazed at the reactions you're getting here op.

It doesn't matter weather you're in, out, breast feeding or shagging on the sofa, the postie should not be undoing then leaning through your window into your front room.

I think a clear with on the door with instructions what to do is the way to go.

I don't think the OP thinks the postman is outrageous. She is annoyed that the message hasn't come thourght to him so the issue she has highlighted to the Post Office twice is still happening.

And maybe their communication system isn't great. Maybe there are too many people with 'special requests' so they can't remember. Maybe there are too many postmen delivering at that address so they don't all know. Maybe they just think it's a weird request and have decided to do as they please .

That's why I found that a note on the door is a better bet.

I'm happy that my postman will see if my door is open to to put parcels in. I get pissed off having to go up the sorting office, it is not close.

Although I think the postie thinks they are being helpful and kind I can completely understand your point. I always add the instruction to hide parcels behind the bins if I'm not in but I have one postman who takes that to mean walk past the bins, open the back gate and come in to my garden. In the summer we have our stable door half open and it was very disconcerting to see a man looming inside as I came out of the bathroom to put a parcel on the counter top! I think leaving a note if you're popping out or adding a safe place request is your best bet to tackling it for yourself as the 'official' route doesn't seem to be working.

MN is completely perverse sometimes

OP: I would rather the postman, who has been asked 4 times now, not un-do and lean through my windows as my pets might escape or he might see me naked.

57 responses: WHY don't you want him to lean through your windows? He's doing you a favour!

Er...........

OP as you've already worked out just leave a discreet printed card taped to inside of front window and front door saying 'dangerous dog loose in house - please do not enter house or lean through window as you may be bitten'.

And if you do catch him, just tell him yourself!

Op, do you know the custom is to leave doors unlocked?
I would have thought its so that anyone can enter your home because you know and trust them all