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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:
Nospringflower · 15/05/2017 22:16

I dont lock my front door or back doors unless i am out. Just dont really think about it but dont expect drivers to try my door.

Pardonwhatnow · 15/05/2017 22:17

Oh yeah and the relatives grin

I killed mine, problem solved. There is some crime here, but I haven't been found out yet Smile

PuppyMonkey · 15/05/2017 22:20

Ah, I get it now Pardon.Grin

Fragglez · 15/05/2017 22:36

I've just tried to lock my door from the inside. I can't! Blush

I was experimenting because the lock sticks a bit and I've noticed that as a result the key is a little bent. The key i got cut for DP when we moved in was copied from the bent one, so is the same shape. It works perfectly from outside, but not from inside!

BoomBoomsCousin · 16/05/2017 04:38

I got burgled once when I was in the house with the front door unlocked. But the burglar came in by breaking the catch on the window at the back of the house anyway! And I still don't lock my door when I'm at home during the day.

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 16/05/2017 09:08

By sad coincidence I've just seen this thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2930590-Leaving-doors-open-when-at-home-burglary

ExcuseMeButImHavingACrisis · 16/05/2017 17:46

He shouldnt opened the door.

BUT I hope the day never comes where someone either runs and grabs or worse is also violent. (This happened to my aunts neighbours who forced themselves in - and this was a well to do neighbourhood)

bbismad · 16/05/2017 17:52

I guess they do this as some people leave the outside door to a foyer open (with indoor door locked) so that deliveries can be popped in.

My door is always locked. Leaving it constantly unlocked is irresponsible.

Smudge100 · 16/05/2017 18:29

I would complain to the company he works for straight away in writing and ask them to take disciplinary action against him. It is absolutely unacceptable for a complete stranger to try the door to your house! You could have been walking around naked but in any case, it's your property. However, I do agree with other posters who say that you should always keep the door locked. Next time someone tries the door, it may be someone more sinister than a delivery driver and now one particular individual is aware that you are in the habit of leaving the door unlocked.......Take a lesson from this and keep yourself and your family safe.

NavyandWhite · 16/05/2017 18:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Timpani · 16/05/2017 18:39

I'm really surprised by the responses. I always leave my door unlocked if I am in the house. It has never occurred to me not to. I would presume delivery drivers wouldn't open it. That's absurd! I lock it when I'm in bed/at night/ if in the back garden.

austenozzy · 16/05/2017 18:40

Lots of responses seem a bit victim-blamey, and Slightly baffled at the strength of kicking the op is having, and the number of people aghast at the idea of front doors being unlocked! We don't lock ours, even at night. We'll lock up if we're all going to be out for more than an hour. During the summer the front foot is often wide open as our dog loves sunbathing on the front step and watching the world go by. We do live in a 'naice' village in rural Cornwall with little crime to speak of, so that helps.

Beeziekn33ze · 16/05/2017 18:48

Fragglez. Where do you live where you feel comfortable to have unlocked doors at night? I don't mean your address so that I can burgle you, just the general area!
OP did you tell the delivery company? The driver may need some retraining!

Cordeliana · 16/05/2017 18:54

Suffolk - don't lock my door either, why would I? Nor my car. Not even if I go out for a short while. Have never been burgled, why would I, I trust the people in the area and don't have much anyway. If anyone wants to steal my hairdryer they probably need it more than I do.

We seem to live in such a risk-averse world now, but it seems most people in it live in a state of heightened anxiety. Where will it stop? Would you have bars on the windows? Do you ever feel safe, anywhere?

valeriej43 · 16/05/2017 19:36

I never locked my front door if i was in either, i have until recently often nipped to the shop and not locked it, but i do now only because my son told me off
I live in a low crime area, but i know its silly not to lock it really,

fatimashortbread · 16/05/2017 20:02

I don't lock my front door until it gets dark or we go to bed whichever is sooner.
It never worries me - handbag and car keys never kept near the door though.

TattyCat · 16/05/2017 20:13

Another here who doesn't lock the door. I have been known to go out and not bother. I never, ever lock my car regardless of where it's parked - but that's because it's broken and locking it sets off the alarm!

I do lock the door at night though, once I'm in and not going out again so that could be from 6pm onwards. Key is always left in the door though, in case I need to get out quickly. But I have a dog, so feel pretty safe really - she'd lick anyone to death.

Tapandgo · 16/05/2017 22:34

Interesting this - just served on a jury where the defendant walked into an unlocked house while the homeowner was in and walked out with the laptop and PC. All in minutes - householder had no idea anybody had been in.............until she went to use the computer. She was in kitchen making cup of tea.

leanneth · 17/05/2017 09:23

DH was working from home one day, just after I'd gone back to work after maternity leave, the postman knocked on the door then opened it and put the parcel on the stairs before DH could even get downstairs! DH phoned me to ask why the postman was letting himself into our house! 🤔
It has never happened while I've been at home but a few months later, when DH was at home again, it happened again. This time DH looked out of the curtains and the postman was waving! He'd left the parcel in our hallway!

NavyandWhite · 17/05/2017 09:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChrisPrattsFace · 17/05/2017 09:44

OP, I agree with everything you've said.
I have never locked my door, and I don't unless I am out, or in bed. Guests can enter, its a very country way of living - and I am very rural.

I have also had delivery men, and post men just enter my house to leave packages or letters, and I find it bizarre that they think it is acceptable. On one occasion they have let my dog out, which made me furious.
Anyways - I agree with you.

NavyandWhite · 17/05/2017 09:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tweez · 17/05/2017 12:35

You should have your door locked at all times. I've been burgled three times in my life and it's not nice. If you were ever burgled you would have a very hard time convincing your insurance company how it happened.

AnnabelC · 17/05/2017 13:04

Unfortunately the delivery drivers are desperate to deliver the parcels as quickly as possible to earn a relatively small wage. But shouldn't walk into people's houses.

McSmith · 17/05/2017 22:02

Haven't had time to read the whole thread so I'm assuming someone has said this before, but....
Delivery drivers are, on the whole, on zero hours contracts and have a ridiculous number of deliveries to make within their specified working hours. Many work late into the night on a job that 'should have' finished at 5pm or 6pm.
So... You weren't being unreasonable expecting him/her to ring the bell but YWBU sounding off to the poor bloke who's doing his best in frankly quite ridiculous circumstances.