To Feel So Pissed Off About People Knocking on the Door?

[MitziK]

I'm sitting on the settee and flicking aimlessly through TV channels relaxing after work and I hear some tapetty-tapping at next door. I ignored it until I realised it had changed to tapping and then banging on my door. (As an aside, why the fuck do people bang on doors/door glass when there's a perfectly adequate doorbell?)

Expecting it to be next door's husband asking to climb over the back fence again, I opened it, only to find the expected hulking bloke in his 40s wasn't there; it was a smallish, middleaged woman with big glasses on, who then squeaked at me 'Could you give me two or three pounds, please?'.

Instead of my usual RL diplomacy and tact (the internet doesn't count), I gave her my best Angry Teacher 'NO' and slammed the door.

We have a LOT of street beggars and drinkers on the main road, but wandering round to the quiet, dark residential area to knock on doors for money has annoyed me beyond all belief. The OH shot upstairs to check whether there was somebody with her hanging back, but couldn't see anybody as she walked off to try the other houses.

I'm furious. The daily 'Scuse me' brigade is an occupational hazard living near shops, several supported living blocks and a halfway house and I'm used to telling them 'Not got anything' and carrying on my way - but knocking on doors really annoys the hell out of me.

I'm not entirely an arsehole offline. There is a scale of response;

1. Religious groups. I'm sure they think they're helping, so they get told 'No, thank you' politely.

1. Chuggers. You think it's OK to turn up at the door and try to 'charm' people into giving you their bank details? No. And The Look in case they even think about trying to guilt me into keeping the door open and try to speak over me.

1. BNP/UKIP/Assorted demented independent candidates. Never seem to have dared to knock. Just as well, because if I ever catch one at my door, they will have a second arsehole of their own before they escape.

1. Beggars, scam artists and general nefarious scum. There's a special place for you right next to Donald Tusk's list.

I don't feel like this about small children who run up to point and shout at the cat in the window whose parents really should control them more, rather than let them run yards ahead and into people's gardens I welcome Trick or Treaters happily every year and I'm fine with the one man who can knock on my door and gets handed a tenner every time (the windowcleaner) - but I know I'll still be annoyed about this evening's knock for ages yet.

Anybody else here secretly wish for eight foot high security gates so that only people you want to get near you can?

Don't answer the door if you're not expecting anyone. The only people who knock on the door want your money. They're not knocking on the door to give you money.

I think you need a glass of wine and to chill out a bit x

I always check the spyhole before opening the door.

I think you're right to open the door as otherwise they think the house is empty!

The thing is, they must be getting joy somewhere or they wouldn’t go round knocking. We all hate them so who the heck is encouraging them?!

What annoys me is the ones who ring the bell and put a leaflet through. Why?? Is it really so urgent that I know your leaflet is there right this second? Because you’ve just lost my custom by peeing me off.

Get a ring doorbell. You can see who is there and speak to them through the bell if you want!

Only on MN do people give this much thought to someone knocking on their door. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Well done.

Where do you live? Sounds rough as fuck. Move.

Ah, if I were much of a drinker, I would. But I've already had two G&Ts, one pint of Ale and a rose lemonade in the last seven days. yes, my name is Mitzi and I am a Fucking Lightweight

She was too small and, with dark clothing, dark hair, etc, it is actually almost impossible to see out of the spyhole. And, as I said, I thought it would be the bloke from next door.

I'm going to have another cuppa and try and stop bitching about it, though.

I second that. Move. Sounds like the world and his wife pass by your front door

I wouldn't dream of having any glass near my front door. Blinds firmly closed at all times and only open door after looking through spy hole. Not scared, just cba.

I’m with you. I fell foul of a sob story from a so-called ex-con selling tat at the front door recently. He said he had a baby so I bought said tat. Total waste of money. Complete tat. I’m a complete twat.

Agree with gottalove!

It's a big pet hate of mine too! I used to live on a long road which was a magnet for all the door to door salespeople, chuggers and religious nuts. Even with a great big sign up on the door many people ignored it and knocked anyway. Where I live now we rarely have anyone knock the door and the peace is great. I don't know why I hate people knocking the door I just do 🤷🏻‍♀️

I don’t answer my door unless I’m expecting someone, try it.

I have a large dog with a large dog bark keeps a lot of them away but not all.

Why do they knock at 5pm when your just about to serve dinner and round up the feral children?

I don’t answer unless I’m waiting for someone.

If you haven't told me you are visiting, I will not answer the door.

People knock on your door because they selfishly want something from you.

Thing is that it's actually a very quiet road with a lot of Victorian/Georgian houses, very few of which have been converted into flats. The next road along is all massive mansions with original stained glass and statement staircases but they can afford security gates to protect the Range Rovers and suchlike. I've got pretty much the cheapest house in one of the nicest streets.

There is no reason for people to come walking down here unless they live here or their kids attend the primary school. It doesn't lead anywhere, there aren't any attractions. If it were on a main road, I'd still hate it but at least it would be impulse knocking, not planned.

The glass is completely obscured by film, but it would have been obvious that there were lights on.

I've learned my lesson, though. I'll stick to only opening it on Halloween and when I'm expecting a delivery/workman.

I challenged a woman going door to door when I saw her knocking at my neighbour's, as he's elderly with dementia. I asked if she was selling something and she answered no.
She finally said she was notifying everyone on their estate our windows were faulty because the beading wasn't up to standard, or some such rubbish.
Unfortunately - or not as I don't really care - she overheard my muttered comment to the dds about salespeople being pushy, and an unseemly slanging match developed

We had a real plague of door to door salespeople a while back.

Each and every one thought they were oh-so-clever by pretending not to see the very prominent "no cold callers" sign right above the doorbell) like I'd find it endearing and immediately hand over my credit card?

One tried being even more smartarse with me about how he wasn't technically asking for cash; then argued the toss with me about my charitable giving in general! It's just one of many reasons I now flatly refuse to donate to the NSPCC.

When I gave birth to DD1 and gave up full time work I was unpleasantly surprised by the amount of people knocking on my door.
Double glazing salesmen
Charity donation
Blokes with bags full of dusters and cleaning products
People with huge pictures of kids, trying to sell their shoddy photography
Gas/Electric trying to get me to change company
Meter readers
Parcels for 20 doors away
Window cleaners
Religious folk
Pet food
Tea and coffee
Avon/Kleeneeze
Carpets (yes, carpets, out of a van, regularly)
Every bloody day there was someone. It drove me scatty. Fortunately there's not quite as many these days.

I live alone and I just don't answer the door unless it's a friend, family member, delivery man or window cleaner. I don't feel safe opening it to strangers.

I would never open my door to a stranger. That's simply madness.