To say that this is why people don't answer doors

[RachelGreep87]

There a number of scams such as this one where a "damsel in distress" will get into your house and do god knows what.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9244545/Moment-woman-caught-doorbell-cam-trying-way-house-shouting-need-help.html

All of you devil-may-care door openers are potentially welcoming this into your home.

There is no reason to answer the door to unannounced callers.

YABU - I am willing to gamble my life and answer the door at anytime
YANBU - Not answering the door if I'm not expecting anyone

I read my own meter and send them the reading.

I'd be scared to leave my door unlocked. I don't even leave my car boot open while I'm bringing shopping in unless the car is right outside the house (it's on street parking). Not everywhere is nice and middle class. A few years ago there was a knock on the door at the time exH was due home. I assumed it was him knocking because my key was in and opened it. My reward was a terrifying home invader. Luckily ex arrived in the midst of the attempted robbery and managed to manhandle the woman out. She was a seriously aggressive person wanting money. After that you either let me know who it is in advance or I ignore you, especially after dark. The only exception was once the police who called through the door and had ID.

funinthesun19
My Mum is an 'open door at all costs' person. Years ago she opened door to bailiffs who had the wrong details and address, which she told them, but they just barged in. Cue panicked phone call to me & my brothers. We dashed round there and situation nearly got out of hand as Mum was frightened and we weren't best pleased to say the least

Oh my god I hope they fucking apologised! Profusely.
How did they finally realise they had messed up?

They did apologise in the end. Only because we turned up though, I think. & Huge argument ensued. I can't remember how it all ended now but my brother got on to the company and blasted them.

What really annoyed me was they'd pushed past her into the house and I wonder if that was because (a) she's a woman & (b) was alone.

But they could have been anybody. She put a chain on the door after that and looks out of the window if she hears door, but doesn't open to anyone she doesn't know.

I generally look out the window first and see who's there before I open the door. Dh is a completely devil may care door opener. He figures he's big enough and tough enough that he can cope with most people who are trying to get in. I think he's overestimating his prowess now he's rather older and less physically intimidating than he used to be.

I don't even leave my car boot open while I'm bringing shopping in unless the car is right outside the house (it's on street parking). Not everywhere is nice and middle class.
You don't have to be in nice middle class area not to have to be worried about a car or a shopping being nicked👀
However, I agree on the locked door. I always lock them even if at home and I am quite surprised people don't. Even in nice areas (which actually have higher breaking rates than my shit deprived postcode)

I’d call through the glass and ask what they want. I’d offer to phone the police. I’d tell anyone with this sorry that I had then phoned the police for them. If they hadn’t scarpered I might consider chain on and see what the score is. Then phone police if seen genuine.

Massive difference between a knock on the door during the day, and a knock on the door at 5am. Also, I would say, a difference between a knock on the door in our city suburb street with lots of passing traffic, and a knock on the door at my parents tiny village house where you really have to go out of your way to poke around all the little lanes.

Mind you, we've had someone trying to jemmy open our front door with a screwdriver before and only being scared off because DH happened to be in at a time when he'd usually be out, whereas if anyone so much as drives 5mph below the speed limit round my parents' village, the village Facebook group is immediately on fire with posts about 'UNFAMILIAR VAN SEEN DRIVING SLOWLY, OCCUPANTS LOOKING UP DRIVEWAYS. BE ON YOUR GUARD'

Family/friends don't visit me unannounced therefore sometimes I don't answer the door if I'm not expecting anyone.

I can see why some vulnerable people don't answer the door if they don't know who it is - I've told my mum not to. Some of the stories in my city - a woman in a wheelchair heard a knock at the door, thought it was her carer so opened it up. It was an addict who proceeded to push his way in and hack her hand off with a kitchen knife because he saw a gold ring on her finger, left her for dead. Another cretin is well known in the city for chapping on folks doors and if they get an elderly/vulnerable person, barge their way in and steal what they can. I could list a long line of crimes that have happened in my city to people, generally the elderly and disabled, in their own homes at the hands of strangers.

The above examples are unlikely, granted, but I can understand why some folk don't answer their doors.

I'm a devil may care door opener! Try it, it's liberating!

DH, is a postman, well fucks him off when people are clearly in and don't answer the door.

Then he puts a card through and they chase him down the road as they don't want to go to the sorting office to collect their package,

Bonkers!!

Vulnerable people should be given intercoms. It could make so many much safer

I never answer the door unless it's for delivery of a package or if I'm expecting company.

How do you all know ehen it's a delivery? Because quite a lots of deliveries don't do like amazon "we are 8 stops away"

@SchrodingersImmigrant

How do you all know ehen it's a delivery? Because quite a lots of deliveries don't do like amazon "we are 8 stops away"

My door has a window in it. I can see them.

(But they can't see me as I have that one way glass)

@BeanieB2020 which means they can see you? So they try to interact?

Ah xposted

Gambling with your life is extreme. I usually take a peak through the glass before opening if it is dark, there has been aggravated robberies around here where they've gained access by pushing past the home owner.
In the day I just open it, I've no qualms saying "not interested" door shut.

I am very heartened by all this. There's been a bonkers parking thread on AIBU today and now a door opening v not opening thread, so too MN favourites. Is it a sign that things are returning a little bit to normal around here?

*two

Literally every single house I have lived in, the meters were outside or in the porch so did not require access the house.
I have never lived in a house where the meters weren’t in the house.

I grew up with the idea it was bad manners to not ring ahead and announce your expected arrival. I'm surprised with just how high class some people think they are on MN that they would entertain the idea of accepting visitors unannounced or God forbid leaving the door unlocked so any waif or stray could wander in.

I grew up with the exact opposite. My parents forever had random friends dropping in. They lived in the country and were well known and liked. Even now there are random people dropping in all the time. No one ever rang in advance. They lived on the south coast of England and once had a friend drop in from Scotland on the off chance.
When I was young the doors were only locked at night. I remember coming home once to find one of their friends in the bath.
She was living in a caravan while her house was being built and my folks had said to let herself in to have a bath whenever she wanted.

I always look through the nearest window to see who's at the front door before I decide whether or not to answer.
If it's not someone I know or I'm expecting then I don't bother answering.

In the past I've had salesmen be rude to me because I lied & said the house was rented so I couldn't buy their product (eg double glazing), I also had JWs repeatedly pester me when I was unwell & a chugger who wouldnt leave (also when I was ill).

So I decided I'd had enough and I'm very careful about who I open the door to now.
I don't care if some random knows I'm home but not answering!!

Same with my mobile, I never answer marketing calls.

Someone knocked on my door at 9.30 at night once. I was like wtf. I said whose there with the door locked. Def felt like a wimp haha. No way was i opening the door first seen far too many crappy american horrors for that. Turns out it was just my neighbour

Regarding meters, get a smart meter fitted! Most energy companies fit them for free.

I never open my door either, don't see why I would ever need to

I answer the door every time, but I have two Staffies going mental at it at the same time so I have no worries I don't bother locking the doors till bedtime either. I am grateful to live in an area of low crime.