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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be Furious at this Delivery Driver

230 replies

BoredandConfused · 15/05/2017 13:57

Delivery due today and I'm working from home to receive it. See the driver from my downstairs office and get up to go to the door...literally about eight feet away. He knocks and immediately tries the door to my home. Door's unlocked, starts to open and I'm already there to see him do this. He quickly shuts it when he sees me approach the door and apologises when I open it and roast him but I'm fuming!

This is the second time that this has happened in a week, the first time, the delivery wasn't even for me but for a Neighbour (my annoyance the last time was lost in the fact that they didn't even have the right house) Both times, car on the drive and no attempt from the driver to wait for someone to come to the door. I genuinely don't know if it was the same person both times.
AIBU?

OP posts:
AnnieAnoniMouse · 15/05/2017 14:49

Fruit I have it unlocked for my convenience/preference. An unlocked door is not an invitation to enter the house, I can't believe you think if it's unlocked it's fine for people to open it.

OsmosisJones · 15/05/2017 14:50

People surely dont really think this way. Surely they're just being argumentative for the sake of it

supermoon100 · 15/05/2017 14:50

Can you not just change the locks to yale or something similar so that the door automatically locks as you close it. You can only open our door from the outside with a key?!

Fragglez · 15/05/2017 14:51

Good grief! I have NEVER locked my door when i am home! Not when I'm in the garden, not overnight, not ever!

I feel truly sorry for all you people that live somewhere that you don't feel / isn't safe to the point that you lock yourselves in your homes. How horrible that must be.

MissClarke86 · 15/05/2017 14:52

What the actual fuck?

So if my doors unlocked it's okay for people to let themselves in? What a load of bollocks.

If people let themselves in my house, my house cats would escape and I'd be furious. It might be sensible to lock your door but leaving it unlocked doesn't mean anyone can let themselves in!!

HildaOg · 15/05/2017 14:52

You can keep your door unlocked if you want but if you do then you must expect that some people will waltz in, while they shouldn't, some will and you're very lucky it was only a delivery man whose intention was to put your parcel in the door.

BoomBoomsCousin · 15/05/2017 14:52

YANBU to leave your door unlocked! I don't think delivery drivers are U to try doors and leave packages (for the right house!) if there is no reply, but they do need to give you a minute to get to the door. How long is reasonable is always going to be subjective though.

picklemepopcorn · 15/05/2017 14:54

Ynbu to be shocked that delivery man tried your door. That shocks me.

We keep front and back doors locked while we are in the house.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 15/05/2017 14:54

My front door is never locked if I'm at home & downstairs Confused.

If I go up for a shower or know I'm going to be upstairs for any length of time I'll lock it, but not otherwise. Nobody does around here! Only at night and when we go out.

YANBU OP. IMO you don't let yourself in to somebody else's house unless invited to do so (family member, friend etc. who knows it's OK to do this). No matter how long the driver had been waiting, he surely should have just followed whatever procedure they have for no response. Nobody should be trying to open anybody else's front doors in this situation!

londonrach · 15/05/2017 14:54

Lock your door! My dsis has a lobby door and front door. Lobby door is open during the day so parcels can be left there. Bet the delivery man thought the same as its not uncommon thing for people to do.

Stormtreader · 15/05/2017 14:54

I would think that if I was a delivery driver, tried the front door and found it unlocked, my expectation would be that it had been left unlocked on purpose so that the parcel could be left.

If you arent happy for people to open your door, lock it. The lock is to stop people doing just that.

TheWitTank · 15/05/2017 14:55

I haven't said at any point that the OP is to blame -however I think it's bonkers not to lock your door and just expect everybody to be as honest and trustworthy as you are. We don't sadly. There are opportunists who will snatch anything. For those living in the countryside like we do, it's actually as bad here (farm). We get loads of attempted thefts as it's seen as easy pickings (big, not a lot of people about to witness). No, the driver shouldn't have tried the door but you should lock it for your own safety.

strikhedonia · 15/05/2017 14:55

when you read the amount of people who had their handbags/ car stolen because they left the front - or worst the back door unlocked, I would never risk it. I live in a safe area, but burglary are not local: gangs pop in, try every house in the neighbourhood over a couple of days and disappear.

you shouldn't have to lock it, but in real life you should. I lock mine because if some cretin walks in and gets bitten by the dogs, I'll be the one in trouble.

ThouShallNotPass · 15/05/2017 14:56

Out local delivery driver opened our front door once and I got the shock of my life. The cat had pushed the bathroom door open and the loo faced the front door. And I was on the loo. I don't know who was more embarrassed, me or him.

He still pops parcels through the door but only sides them through the gap without opening the door fully. I would rather get my parcels than miss the delivery and reorganise.

As for the locking door thing? We never have locked ours if we're in. Too many kids coming in or out and such. It's locked when we go out and at night. That's it. I actually don't know anyone who isn't the same. Maybe it's a regional thing?
Most insurances don't cover unlocked houses only if you aren't there. If you're in and awake then you are with your property. If someone took your mobile off a cafe table you'd still be covered as it wasn't left unattended. Same with your home according to all the various insurers I've used..

OsmosisJones · 15/05/2017 14:56

But....why is it even occurring to these delivery people to try peoples doors?! Knock, wait, put a card through. It is not ok for them to be trying to open front doors, that is ludicrous.

Original poster
BoredandConfused · 15/05/2017 14:56

To be frank I don't want to lock my door. That doesn't give stranger's the right to enter at will. It is locked at night, if we are out and the house isn't so huge that me or the four little terrorists that are my dogs, can't hear anyone approaching or entering.

I also don't believe that if someone did enter and steal my stuff that it is what I should have expected and I would only have myself to blame. No, the only person to blame is the thieving little toe rag who has nothing better to do than help themselves to someone else's things.

OP posts:
SwimmingInLemonade · 15/05/2017 14:56

It definitely is bizarre for a postman to let himself in to deliver a parcel, unless he's been given specific instructions to do so! And when it's not even for you, that's madness. They must get sick of getting no answer from people who are out at work, so now they're using you to make their lives easier...

BrieAndChilli · 15/05/2017 14:57

MIL used to leave her back door WIDE open even when she was out for the dog to go in and out. She had an alley along the back (between the terraced houses and the gardens) so anyone could walk along it. SIL and BIL were teens and always going in and out with friends so probs my half the town knew the door was always open.
I'm still amazed she never got burgled!

Original poster
BoredandConfused · 15/05/2017 14:58

In this case, the delivery needed signing for. He couldn't have just left it and got on with his day anyway!

OP posts:
Badbadbunny · 15/05/2017 14:59

Does it look like an office from outside? If so, it's pretty standard for someone to try the door as offices are usually open for visitors. If you don't want random people opening your door, you need to keep it locked.

Original poster
BoredandConfused · 15/05/2017 15:01

No bad, it looks like a house. Two rooms/windows on either side of the door with blinds so unless you have a really good nosey at the window, you wouldn't know that one was being used as an office.

OP posts:
AwaywiththePixies27 · 15/05/2017 15:03

I always have my doors locked routinely, since the first flat I had when some cheeky bastard bailiff tried the door without knocking at 7/8am one morning for the previous tenant! (PT had scarpered after the LA had discovered he was subletting to several tenants in a 1 bed flat. He also owed his bank thousands hence the bailiff).

Also, there's been a number of attempted burglaries where I live so better to be safe than sorry.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 15/05/2017 15:04

OP have you got like a yale chain you can use? Where if one does open the door he'll only get to open it so far?

Original poster
BoredandConfused · 15/05/2017 15:08

Well, better get back to it. As I said, I had a shitty morning and regardless of whether or not I'm BU, this thread has provided a welcome distraction for a bit.

Thank you everyone for your input, particularly those of you that don't think I'm entirely bonkers for not leaving my door unlocked Flowers all!
I myself shall be indulging in a Wine or two later and hoping tomorrow is an altogether better day.

OP posts:
PurpleMinionMummy · 15/05/2017 15:09

I can't believe you're being blamed tor having the door unlocked! How long should someone wait before trying the door.....err forever unless they personally know the house owner and it's ok to go in!!!!

The delivery driver was trespassing. Out of order. They should NEVER be opening people's doors.