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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be furious...

93 replies

LittleCandle · 04/07/2017 18:45

The doorbell rang this afternoon. I opened the door to find a wee guy standing there. Parked on the street was a van with tree cutting equipment. He looks at me and says 'I chapped your door the other day. Your bushes are a disgrace and that tree has to go.'

I told him sharply that his opinion was not wanted, the bushes are perfectly fine as they are and he could fuck off.

I'm furious! I get that he was touting for business, but that was hardly the way. The more I think about it, the more annoyed I get! Cheeky fecker! Tell me I wasn't BU to tell him to fuck off?

OP posts:

Bananamanfan · 05/07/2017 06:25

Cold callers need to be told to fuck off. They prey on vulnerable people.

CauliflowerSqueeze · 05/07/2017 06:31

I reply "oh I heard YOU had an accident! How are you? Sounded dreadful I hear you had lots of injuries, and I'd just like to take a few details"
Really flummoxes them before they hang up.

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 05/07/2017 06:42

I don't answer the door if I'm not expecting anyone, and I don't answer any number I don't recognise, but I do have anxiety so that's why.

I never open the door to the postie. If there's a package, I'm happy enough to go to the post office for it.

As for people just "dropping in"... yeah, anyone who knows me knows I can't stand that and think it's very rude so they don't do that.

So I very rarely get knocks or calls I'm not expecting, but when I do, they go ignored.

PinguForPresident · 05/07/2017 06:56

Telling people to fuck off is rude and aggressive. You sound like you have a bit of an anger problem.

And as for never naswering your door to srangers? Blimey, over-anxious much? Don't you ever take in a parcel for your neighbours? or give a ball back to kids/teens who've booted it over your fence? Bunch of miseries!

Gingerandgivingzerofucks · 05/07/2017 06:58

Round our way, all the 'tree surgeons' are of a certain culture. They go round doing similar to what has been mentioned on here (and trying to nick my rads that were left right outside the door on my drive whilst I was painting).

One lot went to my mil and claimed they would clean her block paved drive. It was a mess, don't think it had a plastic sheet put under it originally. They charged her £500. It's not huge, fits two cars. When we arrived one day to see them parked over the drive, they were given an absolute mouthful about fucking off scamming old people. Mil is 84, doddery and was just showing the first signs of dementia.

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 05/07/2017 06:59

I did say it's because I have anxiety, which is nothing to be mocked.

I don't answer the door for my own parcel so am I fuck going to answer it for a neighbours.

And I thankfully do not live next door to kids but if I did I'd ignore the ball and any attempts by them to get it back. Should be more careful.

Decaffstilltastesweird · 05/07/2017 07:07

I tell those "you've had an accident" callers that they are bottom feeding scum and to F off. Why not? It's the truth.

Whatever floats your boat I guess. I wouldn't brag about it personally though.

Oliversmumsarmy · 05/07/2017 07:29

All those saying you have to be polite when answering the phone to those accident calls probably haven't experienced many. I have occassionly had 6 on a trot. My time is precious. I don't know where they get my number from but they can p**s off. I had 3 whilst waiting for the AA to call whilst broken down at the side of a busy road.

Telling someone they have records that show they had an accident when they havent could be construed as both libel (they have it written down in their records) and slander (who else heard them accuse you)

Esspee · 05/07/2017 07:33

I can't imagine living in a world where you didn't open the door to a caller. Mine is often open anyway, both front and back.

Original poster

LittleCandle · 05/07/2017 07:34

It must be nice to be a perfectly calm person all the time and polite to everyone, Decaff.

I don't have anger issues as a general rule, but that cheeky git pressed my buttons in a big way when he offered me his rude, unsolicited advice and the phone call just afterwards was the last straw. I generally am polite to strangers at the door, say no thanks and close the door again.

I am slightly confused as to why you would have a phone and yet never answer it? If I did that, I would have missed out on quite a few things over the last few months that were actually quite important.

OP posts:

Esspee · 05/07/2017 07:37

Unsolicited calls from people telling me they are calling about my accident or my broadband connection are a source of amusement to me when I'm not busy. My favourite response is "Does your mother know this is what you do for a living?"

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 05/07/2017 07:39

I can't imagine living in a world where you didn't open the door to a caller. Mine is often open anyway, both front and back.

Well I'm really glad to hear you've never suffered from anxiety then, and as much as your understanding would be appreciated, I don't actually wish it on you because it is awful.

MiaowTheCat · 05/07/2017 07:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Oliversmumsarmy · 05/07/2017 08:10

I don't suffer from anxiety I don't answer my door. It is my door and I choose when it is opened and to whom.

If you are not expected then you can call me to open it otherwise if you don't have my number why would you be knocking on my door.
Who has answered their door to anyone who is not a friend or the postman that has brought good news

reuset · 05/07/2017 13:09

I don't open my door to everyone. If, for example, I see it's a salesperson then I don't answer the door as it would be a waste of their and my time to do so.

MaxPepsi · 05/07/2017 14:00

The best way to stop the scam/marketing/nuisance callers though is to tell them to fuck off.
You are put down as an abusive number and they don't ring again.

And I always answer my door to strangers, with my dog. On first sight he looks aggressive as he's so desperate to say hello. Callers just see the huge dog that I am holding not the manic wagging of the tail and get totally the wrong impression of him. I obviously don't correct them.
They don't knock again!

PinguForPresident · 05/07/2017 14:38

*I don't answer the door for my own parcel so am I fuck going to answer it for a neighbours.

And I thankfully do not live next door to kids but if I did I'd ignore the ball and any attempts by them to get it back. Should be more careful.*

You sound utterly joyless. Silly kids, playing outside like kids should. Better get them glued to screens where they can't inadvertently annoy someone!

It really isn't normal to be so anti-social that you won't even answer your door to a delivery person.

GdayKitty · 05/07/2017 14:42

I would call trading standards or the police non emergency number? He probably goes around doing this and vulnerable people will be exploited

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