To think you don't just keep ringing the doorbell if no one answers?

[Sparrowlegs248]

I'm at home, was putting my two small children to bed. Ive been really under the weather all week, so we all had a bath, got in pjs and were going to bed. My doorbell rang. I ignored it (2 yr old not quite asleep and would have got up and fully woken up if I'd gone downstairs). It's cold, dark, and I was in my nightshirt. The doorbell continued to be ring repeatedly. It's really quite loud. I went downstairs and unplugged it in the end.

Surely if the house is in almost total darkness and there's no response, you stop? Everyone along the road (rural, about 7 houses) knows I have young children and it was 7.30pm, bedtime.

Aibu to think give up after a couple of goes??

For whoever said it doesn't happen often (robbery), my sister in law was broken into in broad daylight, and he knew she was home, because he knocked on the door, ran into the back and saw her before smashing his way in. It happens. No way in hell do I answer my door at night when alone with my kids. If it's that important it's someone I know who has my number.

You're not the family who live opposite me, but yes, after having a parcel sat in my house for more than a week, we did try to drop it off several times. The door was never answered, despite evidence suggesting someone was in. So, when I was asked to take parcel 2 in, I did go and stand with my finger on the doorbell til they condescend to open the door and reclaim their goods.
I wont be helping out the delivery guys in the future. Sorry to anyone attempting to deliver to 21. I wont be accepting their parcels again.

You're perfectly entitled to not answer the door.

I never answer my door after dark, my neighbours know this because it’s just myself and my DD who is 5. I’ve always told my neighbour if it’s an emergency to knock and post a note through the door, he said that’s what he would of done anyway.

Could be a neighbour locked out, needing help, deary me.

‘Deary me’?

Couldn’t the neighbour have shouted through the letterbox ‘Notta, are you there? It’s only me; I’m locked out!’?

Everyone on these threads is quick to express their disbelief st someone not answering the door because ‘It could be an emergency!!!’ - but no one seems to put any onus on the person banging on the door to shout for help, try another door, call someone etc.

You don't need to answer just because someone rings the doorbell. Just like everyone says on the wedding threads, a doorbell ring is also an invitation, not a summons.

They should have taken the hint and stopped after the first couple of rings.

The person at the door wasn't to know you had been under the weather or that you were in your nightwear, etc.

I don't think 7 ISH is late even with young children but if I went to someone's house I would ring the bell more than once just incase they hadn't heard it the first time for whatever reason.

It's great when your DC reach the teenage years as they do all the door answering.

My granny had her door kicked in by the fireman who ran upstairs to tell her the house was on fire.

My granny had her door kicked in by the fireman who ran upstairs to tell her the house was on fire.

And?...

I knocked on strangers doors to tell them they left keys in their car. To deliver parcels. Neighbours to say the cat got knocked over, Neighbours to ask for help when in labour. But if you don't answer you will never know.

The house is definitely not on fire. It's not very big so I think I would have noticed. Equally, had it been an unnoticed house fire, I'd expect the fire service to have banged, shouted a bit maybe?

No parcels due. Last time someone rang it was a friend of a neighbour (don't know the friend, only know the neighbour in passing) asking me if I was Facebook friends with the neighbour and could I look her page up for her because "he said she said etc etc and I'm going to have it out with her"

Yanbu.

I wouldn’t have answered either. Nobody needs to descend upon my doorstep at that time. If it’s family/friends, they’d have let me know they were coming or would have shouted through the letterbox/rang my mobile.

Anyone else can sod off.

If the house next door is empty have you looked to see if it is still empty?

@june2007 I did think about the cat but she was on the bed with me. I'm not much help to anyone in need given that I can't leave the DC on their own.

I've just looked out, no parcel or anything (not expecting one) and the doorbell hanging off.

YANBU

My elderly mother had one of these the other day. It was a guy with a clipboard. He went to another elderly neighbour and banged really loudly on her door, alongside ringing the bell.

Hate this behaviour.

Sorry, just to add, neither mum nor neighbour answered. They saw him through the peephole.

I have a sign so never get clipboard type sales people, it works really well.

I usually pop my head out of an upstairs window when I'm not wanting to open the door. I get to know what's going on on my property. I'm usually not dressed for public interaction!

Sparkling, that's good, everyone just seems to ignore signs, I find!

OP sorry to say it but one other thing is they might be checking the place is empty to burgle it.

If they aren’t expecting you then ring twice is fine but more than than is rude. I agree with you OP and it’s maddening when you’re trying to deal with children’s bedtime.

Could have been someone trying to rob you. So many incidents of groups of people trying their luck and just attacking you and entering your home

Surely they're more (or equally) likely to break in if you don't answer the door as they assume the house is empty? (And as my mum says, "locks only keep honest people out".)

I also don't understand MNers' aversion to answering the doorbell. Do you not shop online? I'd miss so much post if I didn't answer the door!

The doorbell is hanging off?? Is it broken now?

YANBU. I don't understand why people feel entitled to get an answer from a door or phone when it's really inconvenient. Pretty much everyone these days has a landline or a mobile, if they had a real emergency problem they could ring 999.
Honestly it would piss me off no end if someone kept pressing and pressing and pressing the doorbell and despite what people are saying about emergencies, parcels etc, I think you're best placed to know if it's likely to be important, OP. Yeesh take a hint people!

“ I think you're best placed to know if it's likely to be important, OP.“

What- with her psychic abilities?