Postman trying to open front door?

[Bumblebee2302]

Postman just tried my (locked) front door handle when an item wouldn't fit in the letterbox. He hadn't even knocked. I could see this happening from the inside and opened the door - I asked him if he was trying to open my door and he said he was only going to leave the item in the inside of the door. I said that I didn't think he should be attempting to open people's doors and he got a bit shirty.

Is this a thing?! I don't know him and he is not a regular postie - in fact, the postmen in this area change frequently. Just made me feel uncomfortable - does your postman/woman do this?

I am only glad when the postie does this

I wouldn't be happy with this. Just knock, it's not hard! So what if it's a postman. Are they immune from committing crimes?! Nobody has a right to open your door. That's for you to decide.

Unless it's clearly a porch door, it's not acceptable to try to open it. Particularly without even knocking. Legally, people do not have the right to enter a private home uninvited (unless they are the emergency services, or have a court order or something).

Of course it's different if you have a regular postman and they KNOW you don't mind, like a lot of people here.

What? Just trying to open the door without knocking is not on, whether it's the postman or your MIL! Can't believe some of these responses.

My postman and lady, depending on the day, always do this. It's hard to hear the door in this house.

I am so grateful, it's saves me a 12 miles round trip to pick up a parcel. It always annoying then they are on holiday, as far I've only got 1/3 replacements who do this. But I'm working on the other 2/3.

If we've parcels and are out for whatever reason, so the door isn't open, they will put a note through the door and hide the parcel somewhere safe and dry.

But seriously, around here it's a done thing with the postman. I'd be gutted if mine stopped doing it!!

Door to a porch fine door into house not fine. But only after rung and knocked loudly

Which reminds me I have to pick up a yodel parcel. 3 times they tried to deliver and despite 3 of us in, non of us heard the door. 70 mile round trip for that one...... much prefer my postie.

My postman does this Im glad he does too as I dont want to have to go to the depot to get it if he cannot leave it but usually he will leave it to my mums if he cant leave it her (I know our postman if its a large parcel he will ring me if im not there to see if he can put it in the shed or at the backdoor if im not far away)

bit weird that he didn't knock.
However I prefer that the parcel is left.
unfortunately people are so suspicious nowadays. Its a bit sad

@ThisLittleKitty
"I think people try to act too relaxed on here like you wouldn't mind a stranger walking in your house"

Oh please! MN pisses their pants at the thought of anyone dropping round unannounced or if DHL knocks the door for the crap they've ordered while the toddler has just got to sleep.

Porch ok, otherwise no way. I'm grateful if they leave it behind the gate though.

Oh yes couriers are the devil on MN. Order something online and surprise surprise someone may deliver it.

Where I come from it's not unusual for the postie to open the door and put a parcel round it. It's an area where people have their doors unlocked most of the time though.

My postman always opens door and puts parcel inside on doormat. I am very pleased he does. We are very rural and as others have said, saves a journey for us.

He should have knocked first really.

our hermes driver opens our door and chucks it in but he knows we are ok with that. If it needs signing for he opens the door and shouts for us as we never hear them knocking on the back door.

Would expect him to knock.

Our door locks automatically (from the outside - not the inside) whenever it is shut.

But the postman has left parcels on our porch. Which is fine imo.

I have a toy box in the back garden and have asked posties to put any mail/parcels in there if it won't fit through the letter box. Can you do the same? No, wouldn't be happy with them opening my door - especially without ringing the bell first.

If he tried open a porch door - fine. If he tried to open your main front door - not fine. He should have knocked first though.

@ThisLittleKitty Sat 13-Jan-18 10:59:42
My door is always locked. I think people try to act too relaxed on here like you wouldn't mind a stranger walking in your house (or attempting to!) without knocking.

I commented that this is a thing. I've read often on here.
Heck I don't even get mail delivered here. We have to go to the PO to collect ours. every single weekday

My postie does this and I'm with the OP. Just opening other people's front doors without knocking first is rude imo. That's how I was brought up and I can't get past that! I also have a small fast terrier and live by a busy road and it makes me feel a bit panicky.

It is not normal at all. He shouldn't be doing it.

It's not about suspicion for me it's about privacy if I was walking round with just a towel on or bf dd on the sofa and some random stranger walked in I wouldn't be happy about it. Luckily my door is always locked but it's the fact he attempted to without even knocking that would annoy me on that basis.

The postmen here do it, but we have a porch so I don’t mind as the inside door is always locked. If it was straight into the house I wouldn’t be comfortable with it.