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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:
Original poster
BoredandConfused · 15/05/2017 16:41

Sorry to hear that Mrs, it's shit and shouldn't have happened.

I'm pleased that I do have a choice in the matter and would never leave my door unlocked at night or when out. When I'm in however, it's a different story.
I still remain perplexed that people think it's okay for a stranger to attempt to enter your home at all. I use the retailer a fair amount and have a designated "safe-place" and also instructions to leave with a neighbour if I'm not in. The parcels also require signing for. There is no way this man should have tried my door at all, nevertheless without giving me an opportunity to answer it. Even if the door had been locked, I'd still have been fuming that he tried the door at all.

OP posts:
Welshmaenad · 15/05/2017 16:53

Oh, my postman did this once with a parcel and my tiny kitten got out. Luckily he was retrieved. I absolutely roasted the postman over it. I keep the door locked now.

Joinourclub · 15/05/2017 16:54

I never leave my front door locked if I'm at home. But then, I'm happy with delivery men just dropping stuff inside, which they do regularly!

Radishal · 15/05/2017 17:13

Why is your front door unlocked? Unless it is a door into a porch rather than a door into the house.

RuggerHug · 15/05/2017 17:19

How is it 6 pages in and I'm the only one who wants to ask allegretto for more details about the hands and knees crawling burglar?!?!
Oh and another one here who always double locks the door!

PoisonousSmurf · 15/05/2017 17:28

Modern doors lock themselves. Anyone on the outside can't open it. But it does mean that you need a keysafe outside or carry keys on your person, just in case you get locked out.
Even if you are only a few feet away from the door, what's to say a burglar would run off because they saw you?
They may be nastier than that. Not worth taking the chance.

malmi · 15/05/2017 17:28

Whether people leave their doors unlocked whilst in the house is as divisive as whether people stand up to wipe their bottoms!

Half the people do one thing, half the people do another, and everyone is incredulous that another way exists!

Original poster
BoredandConfused · 15/05/2017 17:29

Just spotted that Rugger.

What I do want to say and I think I have to an individual poster but should widen it up... I'm so sorry for those of you that have had crap experiences and things stolen at the hands of scumbags. It is remiss of me not to acknowledge that and in an ideal world we should all be able to leave our door's unlocked without worrying about the consequences and it's shit that we can't Flowers

OP posts:
Original poster
BoredandConfused · 15/05/2017 17:31

I couldn't agree more malmi
I didn't know that people stood up to wipe their bottoms until I met my DP

OP posts:
NavyandWhite · 15/05/2017 17:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PoisonousSmurf · 15/05/2017 17:33

I wonder if any of the people who don't lock their doors have read the terms and conditions of their house insurance?
They may get a shock.

user1493759849 · 15/05/2017 17:35

Why are people saying that your insurance won''t pay out if you leave the door unlocked, when we are all saying we only leave it unlocked when we are IN and awake??? Of COURSE we lock it when we are out or in bed asleep!

But there is no need (in my opinion!) to have it locked when I am sitting in my front room watching telly or on the laptop, because we are not going to get robbed while we are sat at the dining room table, or in the lounge. In addition, I doubt everyone in the country locks their door whilst they are in.

And yes - in response to the patronising comment from Liinnoo of COURSE I am insured. Hmm

As for the poster who said her kitten got out when the postman opened the door; surely you would keep the door locked if you have a small kitten who is not ready to go out yet? What if a someone you know walked in?

You have only yourself to blame for that.

NavyandWhite · 15/05/2017 17:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RuggerHug · 15/05/2017 17:44

User you are being very naive if you think you won't be robbed just because you're in your house. Not saying you definitely will be of course, but I remember being in the house when it was robbed when I was a child and I know other people who have had unwanted intruders when they were at home.

grafittiartist · 15/05/2017 17:44

Does everybody lock the door while in the house? We don't. And I hate the wrong people getting the blame. You're not burgled because you're door was unlocked, you're burgled because some one broke the law.

user1493759849 · 15/05/2017 17:44

Maybe you're right navy, but in nearly 50 years of my life, and in over a dozen homes, that has never happened. I have never been robbed when I was in. In most homes (current one included,) I would see them coming.

I am not sure where you would stand either, as I think it's quite acceptable to leave your door unlocked when you're in.

Guess you'd have to check your policy

Applesandpears23 · 15/05/2017 17:44

My friend has two front doors (like a porch) and leaves the first one unlocked for parcels. When you visit you can open the first one and knock on the second one. Maybe the driver thought your door was like that.

Original poster
BoredandConfused · 15/05/2017 17:45

Poisonous that article relates to leaving the doors unlocked when you're not. Having a door unlocked whilst you are in is a different matter.

OP posts:
NavyandWhite · 15/05/2017 17:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

user1493759849 · 15/05/2017 17:46

Maybe I am naive, but as I said, it's never happened (to me or anyone I know.)

I know it has happened to people though.

I still leave the door unlocked when I am in - rightly or wrongly. As I said, we live in a very low crime area.

user1493759849 · 15/05/2017 17:47

Thanks bored; will do.

NavyandWhite · 15/05/2017 17:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 15/05/2017 17:53

Believe me I wish we could live in a world where we don't have to lock our doors but these are some sobering stats :
www.safewise.com/blog/8-surprising-home-burglary-statistics/
Including most burglaries take place during the day, 34% burglars come straight through the front door and 3 out of 10 people are home when burgled.

I don't think anyone wants to be shut up in fortknox but keeping your front door secured is such a basic protection i don't know why you wouldn't.

user1493759849 · 15/05/2017 17:54

I have read the article and all the points on poisonous smurf's link on the previous page. But it seems to be aimed at people leaving their doors and windows open/unlocked when they are out... Of course your insurance payout is at risk if you leave your doors unlocked whilst you're OUT.

However, I don't see anything about being robbed if you leave your door unlocked when you're IN? (That is what the thread is about after all, nothing to do with leaving them unlocked when you are out...)