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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be in shock about what a delivery driver just did??

207 replies

ArghhhWhatToDo · 07/12/2018 10:16

Happy to be told IABU but a delivery driver pulled up outside my house, I was in the kitchen washing up so saw him walking down the path, I waited for the knock to go and answer but instead they just OPENED MY FRONT DOOR and placed the parcel in the hallway.

Usually the door is locked but I have a handyman in fixing our shower so have left it unlocked so he can come and go to his van as he needs.

I am not over reacting, this is shocking right???? I had my 4 year old playing in the front room who screamed when she saw the man.

I ran out and confronted them, telling him it was not acceptable to just open a persons front door and they should have knocked and waited, he responded that it is raining...WTAF?

Just sent a rather ranty email to the delivery company he works for and my DH is equally shocked as is the handyman who heard me shouting and rushed down to see if everything was ok.

I would never dream of opening the front door of people I know well, so why would they think it is ok to enter a house of strangers.

Am 4 weeks from my due date and have been slightly irrational so happy to be told I am OTT here.

OP posts:
Shitlandpony · 07/12/2018 10:47

It wouldn’t bother me at all, he was trying to leave the parcel in a safe place rather than chucking it over a fence. Possibly he saw the workman going in and out.
I feel incredibly sorry for them on zero hour contracts, hope he doesn’t lose his job because of the complaint.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 07/12/2018 10:47

Wouldn't bother me. I have 3 dogs though so he may get a shock. Or at least a good covering of slobber 😂

I can't actually leave me door closed and unlocked though. But when I'm in the bath or shower and miss a delivery, I'd be happy for them to do it if they could.

ittakes2 · 07/12/2018 10:48

Some people have an unlocked porch area which people leave parcels in. He was probably trying to prevent your parcel getting wet. But it sounds like he was also in a hurry and rather than ring the door bell he just went for the easy and quicker option of leaving it inside so in that case I would complain.

Mydogisforlife · 07/12/2018 10:48

Yes he should have knocked but your constant reference to being in shock is an over-reaction. It's not as if he walked right into your house.

Avrannakern · 07/12/2018 10:49

@MargoLovebutter

Where do you live that most front doors don't have a handle? Do you think they all nitbhave Yale locks?

In the UK, most front doors have handles on both sides. I'm looking out onto my street.... all the doors have handles. It's been like that in every town I've ever lived in.

shearwater · 07/12/2018 10:49

I wouldn't mind, as I'd rather just get the item, but I can see how it could be frightening, and is also a risk for the deliver driver.

CaliHummers · 07/12/2018 10:49

he had no intention of knocking so won't accept I am in the wrong here.

OK. So why did you ask then?

I live in a rural area. I know the local posties and delivery drivers. You get used to seeing them around and I know the pressure they work under. I wouldn't really think much of it if they did the thing that was quickest and easiest. He'd presumably seen you when you saw him so he knew you were in and expecting him. I think if it's your job day in, day out to be around other people's houses you probably just develop a more blase attitude than if it's your own front door being opened.

I'd just shrug and move on.

martingoresnipplechain · 07/12/2018 10:49

Strangely this happened to me yesterday. Door went, I didn't answer as I had just stepped out of the shower and didn't have any clothes to hand. I then heard him walk around the house, open the back door and go and put the parcel on the worktop. Very strange. This was Royal Mail though.

ChocolateStash · 07/12/2018 10:50

At least he delivered it to the right house. I had to go ask my neighbour for my parcel last week. They had dropped it off in their porch without a signature because I was out. It is a tremendously busy time of year for deliveries.

Original poster
ArghhhWhatToDo · 07/12/2018 10:51

Thanks everyone, I do appreciate all the responses, even the ones telling me to lock my door. However, I am still under the impression that locked or not it should not have happened.

Hopefully this won't happen to an elderly person who has maybe forgotten to lock their door and gets a freight.

OP posts:
Nursejackie1 · 07/12/2018 10:51

To be honest I think its really nasty to complain about someone just doing their job. Delivery drivers at this time of year are massively overworked, have very tight deadlines and are on crap money trying their best to get you your parcels. Most people would see it as more of an annoyance to have to go to the post office to pick it up than have a delivery driver pop it in an unlocked door. I work in peoples homes and most people purposely leave doors open for these sort of reasons. He was clearly doing it with no bad intentions, caused no harm whatsoever , probably running round like a blue arsed fly working a stressful job then gets back to the office to a complaint from you. I really wish we could all get off each others backs. Life is hard enough without constant complaints especially when he's just making his living. Sorry but you have been really unneccessarily nasty. Lock the door bext time. Save your shock and complaints for those intending you harm or causing you harm. This person was not one of them.

TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge · 07/12/2018 10:51

You were being totally unreasonable to shout enough at the poor guy for the handyman to rush to you to see what was wrong!!

If you were shaken up by watching someone,who you knew was a delivery man and was there, open a door and put a parcel down you have issues.

He was trying to be helpful. You could just have told him you did not like it and not to do it again.

Or you could've gone to the door when you saw him wandering around instead of standing looking at door while drying your hands

allflownthenest · 07/12/2018 10:51

My postman does it and it doesn't bother me but we are lucky in that where we live we don't need to keep our door locked

dorisdog · 07/12/2018 10:52

I don't think YBU. This does happen where I live, but it's a small town, everyone knows the posties etc, so I don't mind it happening. But if you don't have that kind of trust, then it's not ok to just open people's doors.

I guess it depends on what you wrote on your delivery instructions, though...and whether you'd prefer it to be taken away, or left int he rain.

80sMum · 07/12/2018 10:53

I wouldn't mind betting that the delivery company receives an equal number of complaints from people saying "why didn't the driver just pop the parcel in the hall (ie open the unlocked front door) instead of leaving it out in the rain?"

pinkcardi · 07/12/2018 10:53

Wouldn't bother me at all.

If the door is open it's open, I'd rather a dry parcel than a soggy one

peachgreen · 07/12/2018 10:53

I have to say it wouldn't bother me but I know my postman and all the various delivery drivers so I guess it's a bit different. But if I really didn't want anyone opening my front door I'd leave it locked or get one that can't be opened without a key.

Auntiepatricia · 07/12/2018 10:53

Im fine with it, it’s great actually as it’s better than them leaving it out in a shed and having to go search for it.

I think people who leave front doors open are usually the ones who are fine for someone to stick their head in and shout or place a parcel. Just keep your door locked if you’re not someone who is fine with it.

spudlet7 · 07/12/2018 10:54

My postman does this, as does one particular courier but I live in a small village where we've had the same postie since i was a teenager and the courier used to be in the same friends group as me. I find it convenient when they do it, would be pissed off if someone else did it. YANBU.

Purplehairdontcare · 07/12/2018 10:55

Totally agree nursejackie

Nursejackie1 · 07/12/2018 10:55

Further to your last update i can vouch for the fact that elderley people are the most likely to leave their doors open for deliveries etc as they are slow to get to the door and would be much less "frightened" than you were. May not be the safest but thats the reality. You don't need to start making it an issue about elderly people. This is about you and your over reaction.

MoaningSickness · 07/12/2018 10:55

I think you are being a bit ott. He didn't 'enter the house' if he just opened the door and put the parcel in. Lock your door if you don't like it, it's doesn't have to be a big deal.

GobbyMcGobshite · 07/12/2018 10:56

Does your 4yo scream at every stranger she sees?Hmm

And didn't your parcel need a signature?

MargoLovebutter · 07/12/2018 10:56

Avrannakern, I'm at work, but I've just Street Viewed my road and of the 150 odd houses, none of them have handles on the outside of the front doors. Maybe it is unique to my part of SE England. Most of them have a knocker, doorbell, letter box and two key holes one for a yale and one for a chub.

LuckyDiamond · 07/12/2018 10:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.