Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Original poster
ArghhhWhatToDo · 07/12/2018 10:57

@MargoLovebutter my front door has a handle on the outside and can be opened when not locked, don't know many people in my area that do not also have this.

As previously stated, when I saw him open my gate (about 5 steps from my front door) I stopped washing up, walked towards the door drying my hands and he just entered.

I stated in my complaint that I was not expecting anything untoward to happen to the driver (who in response to someone else I have never seen before) but that I found it unacceptable.

I am not an ogre I just don't like people I do not know opening my front door.

I accept all your opinions and regardless of the situation the door will now always be locked.

OP posts:
Badbadbunny · 07/12/2018 10:57

Are you sure it was properly closed and that your workman hadn't left it slightly open when he's been in and out going to his van? If the door is slightly ajar, then it's no surprise someone opened it a little further to put a parcel in and then closed it after himself. I used to do that all the time as a teenager when I was delivering newspapers. I think it's pretty common for workmen to leave the door open slightly (intentionally or accidentally) when they're in and out a lot during their work.

YepImafraidIchangeditagain · 07/12/2018 10:57

who has maybe forgotten to lock their door and gets a freight

Best mistaken pun

Willow2017 · 07/12/2018 10:57

Your parcel was popped through the door instead of left in the rain and you are "shocked"?

He didnt walk through your house naked he put a parcel through the door!

Thats perfectly normal round here. Postie does it regarly.
Poor guy doing you a favour and you could get him disciplined wow!

Original poster
ArghhhWhatToDo · 07/12/2018 10:58

@GobbyMcGobshite of course she doesn't, what a silly questions, but like me she is not used to strangers walking in to her house.

No signature was required.

OP posts:
fredleighton · 07/12/2018 10:59

I agree with nursejackie.

jaseyraex · 07/12/2018 10:59

I think it is a bit odd if you've not left instructions for them to do it. I have a porch which is always open so I often tell delivery companies to leave it in there (ever since Yodel left a parcel in my green bin which was on the kerb for collection!). You didnt have to go out and tell him off though, a complaint to the company would have been enough.

ReanimatedSGB · 07/12/2018 11:00

I'm a leaflet distributor so I don't open doors but it's quite common for houses to have an unlocked porch with the locked front door behind it. Is it very obvious that your outside door is not a porch door?

I agree he should have at least knocked before trying to open the door, unless it would have been a reasonable mistake to make (eg all your neighbours have porch doors that can be opened; your actual front door is a double door, etc.)

Nursejackie1 · 07/12/2018 11:00

....and maybe retract your complaint OP.

ADastardlyThing · 07/12/2018 11:01

Good if he gets disciplined, he'll know not to do it next time. I agree op if this happened to an elderly person (who may leave doors unlocked for carers etc) it could really frighten them.

mumofmunchkin · 07/12/2018 11:03

I think it's really odd that he didn't try knocking BEFORE trying the door handle.

Plus, he didn't know what was in the house - by opening the door of a house he didn't know he could have let a dog or cat out.

ginghamstarfish · 07/12/2018 11:04

At least he didn't chuck it in your dustbin, or is that just Hermes?

TheDarkPassenger · 07/12/2018 11:04

Your OP says you’re happy to be told YABU. But you are clearly not.

On this basis I’m going to assume that I can’t trust what you say 100%

Also, chill the fuck out

NotUmbongoUnchained · 07/12/2018 11:05

So OTT. Totally normal to do this.

Although reading this thread had made me realise I have never in my life been to a house without a porch!

tccat · 07/12/2018 11:05

My postman does this all the time, I don't mind at all, sometimes I'm in the shower and would miss the delivery, he's lovely, always gives a shout so I know it's him, and I just shout thanks back

Nursejackie1 · 07/12/2018 11:06

Again...elderly people who leave their doors open so it exactly for this purpose and would not be in the slightest bit frightened or shocked to receive a delievery from a delivery driver. I can hand on heart tell you this is true I go to elderly peoples homes as my job and cover a vast area. By complaining and stopping them doin this you will be making it extremely difficult for elderly people who can't get to the door to get their deliveries. Elderly people who do not want people opening their doors lock their doors just as OP should have done.

BlueBertie · 07/12/2018 11:08

It wouldn't bother me. I'd much rather get my package. I'd be more alarmed that my 4 year old was so upset by someone setting a package down. None of mine would have found that a particularly terrifying experience.

Original poster
ArghhhWhatToDo · 07/12/2018 11:09

I am more than happy to be told IABU but doesn't mean I have to agree.

I also have no concerns or issues with delivery drivers opening front doors and leaving packages when instructed to or previously being told that is ok by the resident.

I gave clear instructions on where to leave my parcel if I am not in.

As I said I will put this down to experience.

OP posts:
Pigflewpast · 07/12/2018 11:09

There was a similar post a while back where the OP had gone out and left their 11yr ( I think) dd home and the postman had done this. Anyone who questioned why she hadn’t locked the door was shouted down by the majority who had “never locked a door in their life” and what would have happened in a fire etc etc, and the postman should be sacked. Roll forward to your post and you should have locked the door despite having a workman going in and out and your parcel man was inthe right! Weird place this.
If someone did this in my house they’d have two friendly but barking dogs escaping onto a road and I would be furious. Cue 100 posters saying my dogs should be locked in a cupboard to stop them escaping if a delivery man decides to walk in my house

CurlyWurlyTwirly · 07/12/2018 11:10

You saw him, he probably saw you.
I think YABU. Your door was unlocked, not wet.
Everything else is hypothetical. Unfortunately we live in a world where no one trusts .
Where I live in rural France, most people’s doors are unlocked.
I have a terrace and my parcels are often left there.

Lweji · 07/12/2018 11:11

Before entering any closed door, it's just polite and good practice to knock first. Unless you live there.
Even for elderly people with motility problems, it's just polite to wait for them to tell you to open the door.
And is it a good idea for elderly people to leave their doors unlocked, even during the day, so that anyone could go in?

OhComeOnRon · 07/12/2018 11:11

I'm surprised anyone finds this normal.
I don't have a porch, and would not by any stretch of the imagination expect a delivery driver to just try and open my front door!
Mine doesn't open from the outside anyway - but still, this to me is very strange and definitely not ok!

Nursejackie1 · 07/12/2018 11:14

No its not a particularly good idea for elderly people to leave doors open but they do and do it with full capacity so I just think that trying to turn this into worrying about poor frightened elderly people getting parcels delivered is just not realistic

Original poster
ArghhhWhatToDo · 07/12/2018 11:15

@OhComeOnRon I think your comments hits the nail on the head on why I am struggling to understand why this is OK.

Just never experienced this before.

OP posts:
ADastardlyThing · 07/12/2018 11:15

Wrong Nursejackie, mil leaves her door unlocked for her carers. If her postie/delivery driver did this it could really set her off, possibly resulting in a trip to a and e if she hurt herself.