To not open the door to strangers?

[MrsTumbletap]

My DH thinks I'm weird, but I don't open the door to people I don't know.

I'm not bothered that my lights are on and there is clearly someone home, I don't feel obliged to open the door. If it was the police or similar I would of course, but not some random man or woman. Do you open the door?

AIBU?

I never have unwanted callers. And those who are visiting just walk in.

Am currently canvassing for the local council chasing up electoral registration forms that haven't been returned.

I have to door knock without an appointment. A LOT of people don't answer the door when they are in. You get a sense if the house is empty or not standing on the doorstep.

It is a bit weird to be honest.

YANBU.

Its my door, I decide if I want to answer it or not.

Once when DD was a newborn I was feeding her on the sofa and a bloody Jehovah's rang the bell about four times. I knew who it was because I'd seen him walk up the path. He then knocked on the window and stared at me, asking me when I was going to answer the door! I said I wasn't and to go away!!

You’ve just reminded me that my door bell isn’t working

I accidentally locked myself out of my house (door slammed shut in the wind) when I popped to the bin. DD (6 months) and my phone was inside the house. I ran frantically door to door trying to find someone to help me - no one came to the door (most were out but I knew two people were in) - I even called out. In the end I jumped my fence, got a shovel out of the shed and smashed in a back window, crawled in and got to DD.

I needed help and no one came to their door. One phone call to my dad who was home would have solved everything.

I just don’t understand the mentality of not going to the door during the day - the likelihood of someone brazenly knocking then attacking you is very remote.

Your phone and your door are under your control - answer or don't answer, your decision.

I open the door, I'm not vulnerable or rich, I know most of the local burglars (work), we have a Jehovah's witness centre about three minutes away. I'm assertive enough to say no thank you to anyone I don't wish to speak to. Unless you are in the middle of something that can't be interrupted, I do think it's odd for an adult not to open the door.

I chose to open the door depending on who it is. I have the ring doorbell so if it's a chugger or salesman (often) or canvasser then i can tell them to politely jog on from my phone. Added advantage is i never miss an important knock or someone who needs help. I reccomend it for those with loads of annoying knockers. Oh and i have a very obvious no cold calling sign, which i point out

I find this stops too many people knocking.

I think it’s odd that people find it normal to interrupt strangers who are in their own homes. On that basis, nothing unreasonable about not answering the door, or the phone.

Are you my neighbour, OP? If so, I’m going to give you your 2nd and last chance to answer your door, or your parcel is going to be returned to sender.

I tend not too, I'm always concerned a freak wind may dislodge my silver hat..

I check through the spyhole first, and am very wary of opening it after dark. We had a nasty incident a year ago where 2 men knocked on the door, and when I called out to ask who they were (it was 10pm) they tried to kick my door down.

Now I am very wary indeed.

I know my neighbors by sight if not always by name so I'd open the door to them.
Delivery person - yes.
Tabard and clipboard - no, they're usually chuggers.
Well dressed couple I've never seen before - no, probably JWs.
Stranger in obvious distress - probably yes, but I'd have my phone in my hand ready to 999 if anything seemed too off.
It's not a blanket yes or no thing. Not everyone feels comfortable answering the door to someone they don't know. I don't answer my phone to unknown non local numbers unless I'm in the mood to wind up a scammer.

A stranger knocked on my door once and I answered it (because I'm not weird). Turned out it was a location scout looking for a family home for a day's filming/photography for a charity campaign. He took a few photos, we were chosen, and received £700 for a day and a half's disruption.

I live on my own in the country and I have no problem with answering my door. I have glass panels on the front doors as well as windows in the porch so I can see who is coming; in fact, when the porch was being built the stained glass panels accidentally put in the door made me anxious that I couldn't see. I couldn't be doing with a solid door and peephole. I have a sign re cold callers and it puts everyone off except the bloody parish church putting service times into the letter box. Obviously "no religious groups doesn't apply to them. 😒

I'm not paranoid but I had the police home security guy round when I first moved in and there's nothing for me to irrationally worry about in my home security. It's not uncommon for people to end up in a ditch on icy roads here as we're too rural for gritting, there's no mobile signal and I'm the only house close to the road so I get people wanting to use my telephone. Not a problem.

Anyone with nefarious intentions usually gets scared off by the six dogs barking, including my wee disabled bitch who sounds like the Hound of the Baskervilles when she gets going.

I don't not answer my door sometimes because I'm afraid it's an axe murderer. I don't answer my door sometimes because I don't want to talk to / deal with whomever is there.