ABU to put a note on my very rural door telling randoms to eff off.

[KnickersandGnomes]

Possibly outing but I'm a bit freaked out. Nearest neighbours are over a mile away, they really are - I live in the middle of nowhere. Couriers wont deliver because they swear they can't find the place blah blah etc etc.

I have some pretty horrid health issues, mostly Lyme Disease based and they leave me so tired and wrung out.

This afternoon I had some unexpected knocking at my door which I ignored followed up by a woman's voice in my garden and banging on my living room, bedroom and porch windows.

There was nothing put though my letter box and my garden gate was left wide open (mahoosive no no as I have five dogs) and it's left me both angry and scared.

I don't like or want to be angry and scared but I am both now so I'm hoping that the Mumsnet wisdom can help?

I have no recent partner that I have parted with on bad terms and because of my illness I live a very quiet life these days so I am utterly lost?

It's most likely been someone from the local authority out checking on people who they think may be vulnerable

Yes, that would be my guess. Or just a concerned local.

Could you be on the list of people who are especially vulnerable or shielding because of C-19?

Our county council are doing welfare checks on vulenrable people. They are being contacted by phone initially, and if they can't be contacted by phone after 3 attempts, they ultimately get a visit just to check they're ok.

Elieza's suggestion above is a good idea.

Why wouldn’t you answer the door though?

And what do you mean not a one off? She often knocks and you hide?

Get yourself a cctv camera. We are rural, DH works away. Having the cameras is a huge reassurance for me. You can talk to people through them too, even if you’re not at home. You don’t need an expensive Ring system. Mine are by Nooie and they work just fine.

I had someone knock on my door very late at night and it scared me so I kept quiet, they then opened the door (it's usually locked) and my big dog went charging towards it banging it shut. There was a lady outside banging on the door and window asking for help and I just locked the door and panicked and was thinking what to do and then heard my neighbour ( 3 large males in the house ) go out and help her. It turns out she was someone with dementia/ mental health issues and I felt terrible afterwards!!

It turns out that there were several cases of women knocking on peoples doors and then when someone answers 2/3 men go barging in. When I saw the CCTV videos it made me feel sick. I don't know if this woman was genuine or not but she had only knocked on my door and I was the only single parent on the road. So part of me feels bad but I also won't take that risk again so I will shout out the window in future and then call the police if they are in need.

Why the hell didn’t you just answer the front door like a normal person?! Then you would actually know what they were knocking for...

Or if your that worried shout out from a upstairs window?!

It’s hard to believe some people are just not normal and can’t even open the door when someone’s knocking on it. You have 5 dogs that would probably scare of anyone if they wanted to break in.

I don't answer my door.

Especially now because public health Wales decided to put how vulnerable I am (I'm supposed to be sheilding) onto a database for volunteers "to help" without my permission which, includes someone who has assaulted me in the past (long story). I'd been clear weeks before that my details weren't to be passed on, due to my history but they were.

I had exactly this happen to me, the ONLY reason I opened the door was because I thought it must be emergency services here for someone else in my building, as they were hammering on the window, door and constantly ringing all bells. It wasn't. Dressings which I was waiting to collect had been collected by a "volunteer" without my permission. He had no ID and was rude about me not opening the door right away and being afraid of him.

I'll never use that pharmacy again now.

I've always been clear, no deliveries.

I already had a sign up stating, bilingual (rural Wales and yes there are idiots who will ignore non bilingual signs) to leave all deliveries and door won't be opened except in emergencies. But they decided it didn't apply to them.

Maybe something similar has happened here.

I don't really understand. You are confident enough to live on your own a mile away from your nearest neighbour, yet you freak out when someone comes to the door. You must have callers sometimes

I agree with this. If you are so easily freaked out why do you live in such a remote place?

This thread is so random

When you say it’s happened before and it was never good what exactly did you mean?

If someone was banging on my door and windows I’d presume it was an emergency. I find it very weird that you ignored it.

Clearly someone who gives a shit is checking on your well-being OP - why let them believe you're not ok?

There are so many reasons someone could have done this. They could have been worried about you, they could have been having an emergency and needed some help.
I've really no idea why you wouldn't ask through the window or letterbox if you really didn't want to answer

I'm not going to be opening my door to random people. Why would I do that?

Well, because most people do. It's kind of what doorbells and knockers are for. If you want to know who is is first, get a chain or a door intercom.

Was it Brad and Janet?

I've had occasion to have to knock on a random door in a very rural place. I'd been riding and had had a fall and my horse (the idiot) had run off. I needed help, I needed a phone (it was in the days pre mobile). Thank goodness the people whose door I knocked on came out to help me and didn't hide indoors pretending not to be in.

I echo those who say that very rural living may not be for you if you are inclined towards paranoia, OP.

Poor woman might've needed help. Her car could've broken down and her phone battery flat.

You could've opened an upstairs window and called down to ask what she wanted.

Fair enough you chose not to but 'angry and scared' and a note telling people to 'fuck off'?

Lets hope you're never stuck in the middle of nowhere and need someone's help.

Did you actually see this person or did you just hear a voice? It sounds like either a neighbour checking that you are okay or a welfare check of some sort.

I would assume someone checking up on you. I assume if you have Lymes you are on a strong course of antibiotics, if you are in a very rural location could it be the local gp checking up on you?

Do it. We live in the middle of nowhere. If I am not expecting a delivery I don't answer the door if I don't feel like it. I pay to live away from people.

Blimey. Just stick a note up.
"I don't answer the door to anybody. If it's an emergency, tough. Please die elsewhere"

I think the most likely thing is someone checking up on you or someone walking nearby and needing assistance.

I don't blame you for not answering the door but it might be best to try and call asking who it is. That might help relieve the stress of wondering afterwards.

You say it wasn't a one off, has this same person called and done similar before? If so, and they were doing it to check on you, they might now ask police to do a welfare check.

OP if you are still on here keep a couple of lights on for your own peace of mind. I am assuming your dogs will bark if someone comes near your house?

Paint a message on a piece of wood or whatever and put it on your gate - '' Strictly Private Property - No Trespassing'' , '' Dangerous Dogs'', ''Chats Lunatiques'' - or some such.

@AJPTaylor