Courier took my picture as I answered the door AIBU to be disturbed?

[RippleEffects]

I have issues of having to previously move area, so my home is now a safe place I really cherish that feeling of being safe.

Today I've just answered the door to a courier who without a word lifted his handheld device and it made the classic photo sound then he grunted at me - sign here and left.

I feel really uncomfortable with this. Surely its not okay to knock on some ones door and take their photo?

I know its probably silly and I'm trying to be rational but I'm sat shaking as I type.

This is the company and it says they take photos of drop off points - not people in their homes

[RippleEffects]

I do feel much calmer for writing it down - love mumsnetters for that.

I feel so silly being upset. I keep saying to myself its just a photo. It was just so unexpected.

[ADastardlyThing]

www.dxdelivery.com/support-area/general-queries/why-has-the-courier-taken-a-photograph-of-my-property/

[Lilyhatesjaz]

Our delivery man took a lovely photo of our parcel inside our shed and sent it to DH as proof of delivery

[DGRossetti]

If this could be properly regulated (bearing in mind it's already covered by GDPR ...) it's probably the best way to minimise theft due to people accepting parcels and then "forgetting" to tell the intended recipient.

A nice picture of the person the courier handed the package too which either get's deleted when the recipient confirms receipt (via internet), or passed to the police if the recipient queries delivery.

It would also stop more organised scams, where people "claim" to have not received the package.

Of course the OP has been caught on countless CCTV cameras this week. Not all of them with their knowledge.

[RippleEffects]

I'm going to send an email to them.

Thank you for saying this isn't normal (yet) and that I may not be the only one to be a bit uncomfortable (even if I've been a bit more dramatic than normal)

I wish I'd said something at the time. Feel even sillier - I'm normally quite good at polite queries.

[RosiePosies]

Eurgh this is so weird! How is it ever ok to randomly take a picture of someone as they open their front door?

Really hope this doesn't become a thing.

[treaclesoda]

This would really piss me off, and I don't personally have any issues regarding security. But I have plenty of friends and neighbours who are police or prison officers etc and if someone came to the house and snapped a photo out of the blue they'd quite possibly end up having to move house. I can see the reasoning behind it, anti fraud measures and all that, but there are too many people for whom this is potentially dangerous.

[Km06]

If i got this right its not the photo more lack of a heads up asking to take a photo is better than just taking 1 i hate my photo being taken and im not photogenic so to snap me without warning can produce quite cringeworthy snaps

[RippleEffects]

I do walk past lots of CCTV cameras every morning and night - I live in a town. I know I'm on camera lots - that actually makes me feel safer.

Its because I'm at home - it felt invasive.

[Undercoverbanana]

Couriers are paid shit money and are treated like shit too. They are often on zero hours contracts.

They have ridiculous targets and schedules and are under extreme pressure.

Then people say they haven’t got their goods, threatening the courier’s job (or job-which-is-not-treated-like-a-job by unscrupulous companies). They are protecting their livelihoods.

[DaysDragonBy]

The last delivery we had, the courier asked me to stand to one side whilst he put the parcel in my letter box, took a photo of it. Then he took it out and gave me the parcel.

I sort of understand why they are taking photos to prove delivery. But all it does is prove that they were there. They could just as easily take the photo and take the parcel and drive off. It's not proof of delivery!

[dingdongdigeridoo]

If it’s Amazon you can sometimes see the photo under tracking information. A courier left a package behind my bins and there was a photo of it uploaded to Amazon as proof. It came in handy, as it rained and the contents got ruined so I got a refund.

Awful to take your photo though. How embarrassing.

[TeeBee]

Complain and next time, take a photo of them...see how they like it!

[MereDintofPandiculation]

I feel so silly being upset. You were photographed in your home, without permission, in your own private space to which he had access only because you opened the door to him (without any expectation that he would photograph you). I'm not surprised you were upset.

Totally different from CCTV in the street, in a public space, where you expect people to see you and be able to photograph you.

It's not necessary - they could take a photo of the open door.

[Bleurgh0]

This is a breach of GDPR. There are, potentially, huge fines if a company doesn't adhere to GDPR

[ADastardlyThing]

Processing of images of individuals is not provided for on their privacy notice so they shouldn't be doing it.

Comparison to CCTV is irrelevant as there is not an expectation of privacy when out in public. There is in your own home.

[PasswordRejection]

A picture of you among a crowd taken by CCTV, that is not directly targeting you, is very different from a photo of you in your own home, which will be stored alongside your name, address and various other personal details. This is totally unnecessary. A signature along with your name would be perfectly sufficient to protect the courier company.

I would be very cross if I were you OP and definitely complain.

[NothingOnTellyAgain]

Their own policy says they do NOT take photos of homeowners -

Link and text is upthread.

Just saying again as not sure some posters have seen that.

OP - yes complain.

[Sethis]

Complain. This is massively unreasonable for several reasons:

1. Safeguarding. Some people can be put in real danger by their photo being taken
   

1. Privacy and consent. Your photo should never be taken without your express consent, unless you're in a public place as part of a crowd.
   

1. People with anxiety/autism/nervous disorders etc etc
   

For people with problems like this, having their picture taken like that could well be a trigger that results in them refusing to answer the door for days, weeks or longer. Not good.

On top of that, it's just fucking rude. How hard is it to say "Can I take a picture as proof of delivery?" Before pressing the button?

Complain.

[DontCallMeCharlotte]

Is it possible he didn't actually take a picture of you OP but your door number or something?

[2BorNot2Bvocal]

Am I the only one to sometimes answer the door in a dressing gown ? And no I've never done the school run / shopped in pyjamas!

[diddl]

"Our delivery man took a lovely photo of our parcel inside our shed and sent it to DH as proof of delivery"

But all that that really shows is that they put it in the shed & took a photo!

They could easily have taken it straight back out again.

[MsLexic]

I do not think that is permitted. Report him.

[sashh]

Complain. They are breaching data protection legislation and hae upset you.

I've had a pic of my front door sent to me, I was out and the driver couldn't find a suitable place to leave the package - that's fine, it proved they had been to my address but I was a bit surprised.

[RippleEffects]

I am trying to rationalise but I can't think it was of anything other than me - head, shoulders, upper body direction, door number I think would have been wrong angle/ other side out of shot.


I do have sympathy with the couriers. I know they have a tough job and most of the local ones know me as I appear to be running a drop off shop for the whole neighbourhood, I don't mind this.

I've sent a message using their web enquiry form. Very cathartic so I'm back to (almost) calm. Might have to resort to a strong cup of tea.