Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not answer door to neighbour

362 replies

Koalababy · 17/02/2021 08:17

It’s 8 am and neighbour has rung my doorbell twice already. Have no idea what they want but I don’t feel like answering the door. They probably know I’m in which is why they keep ringing the bell but AIBU to ignore until I feel like it?

OP posts:
mootymoo · 17/02/2021 08:48

I would answer but if it was to complain, afterwards I would write a firm but very polite letter explaining that (a) their complaint was unreasonable and (b) calling before 8am unless it was an emergency is harassment, that you will be keeping records of unwarranted complaints from now on. Very polite as I say, but to the point

Signalbox · 17/02/2021 08:48

well I’m having a morning cuppa and browsing through mumsnet. And wondering if IABU not to answer the door

How do you know it’s your neighbour at the door? Have you got one of those digital spy holes?

mootymoo · 17/02/2021 08:48

Also state you are working so will not be answering the door

Hyppogriff · 17/02/2021 08:50

YABU - what if they need help or something ? I would open it and then tell them politely that you usually won’t open before a certain time so can they only knock in the mornings if it’s urgent

Original poster
Koalababy · 17/02/2021 08:50

How do you know it’s your neighbour at the door? Have you got one of those digital spy holes?

No, just a normal window which I can see out of

OP posts:
Unanananana · 17/02/2021 08:50

I would answer it because I am nosy and see what they wanted. If is something as moronic as them telling me off for parking outside their house they'd get told to piss off and stop harassing me.

Signalbox · 17/02/2021 08:50

For example I’m WFH and am on calls a lot of the day. I don’t want to answer the door whilst I’m working

I often don’t answer the door when I’m wfh. This is not unreasonable.

FlameHairedRachel · 17/02/2021 08:50

Answer the door, we need to know! Grin

I’m betting it’s car related!

Signalbox · 17/02/2021 08:51

No, just a normal window which I can see out of

So they probably have seen that you are in then.

ohfourfoxache · 17/02/2021 08:52

Not unreasonable.....you could be in the bath or something!

DartmoorDoughnut · 17/02/2021 08:52

Sorry but digital spy holes has cracked me up Grin

TheLaughingGenome · 17/02/2021 08:53

My neighbours are nice but we've had some PITAs in the past. Once it was 'about the fucking parking situation round here'. Charming.

I did not own a car. I cared not about neighbours' parking disputes. I was not a woman in need of the drawing of diagrams.

dancemom · 17/02/2021 08:53

Not unreasonable however please answer next time because we are nosey 👍🏼

abstractzebra · 17/02/2021 08:54

It would be easy to answer, establish that it's not an emergency and then if they complain about a trivial matter, just say 'it's far too early to be disturbing neighbours. Please don't do it again!'
Shut the door and carry on!

Babymamamama · 17/02/2021 08:54

They could be ringing the bell to inform you of something important.....Is that not a possibility?

TakeTheCuntOutOfScunthorpe · 17/02/2021 08:55

YANBU, just ignore the fucker. I learnt a long time ago that when the doorbell rings when you are not expecting someone to call it is never worth your while.

If they urgently need to get hold of you, they can put a note through your door detailing their concern and providing their contact details.

Lalliella · 17/02/2021 08:56

That would drive me mad. If they’re a pita I would never answer the door to them. I’d put a sign on my door saying Please put any complaints in writing. YABVVVVVNU!

MonochromeMinnie · 17/02/2021 08:56

Could you just open the bedroom window and find out what they want? If they're complaining about something you'd be in a perfect position to throw a bucket of water over them like in a 70s sitcom.

CallmeAngelina · 17/02/2021 08:58

If the OP is sitting in bed with a cup of tea and Mumsnet, why would she want to go downstairs and answer the door in her PJs? Especially if, as she suspects, it's the annoying neighbour with another complaint.

TheLaughingGenome · 17/02/2021 08:58

Actually there is merit in answering the door this time, because it's so unreasonably early, and really getting on your high horse about it and putting PITA neighbour in their place, so to speak.

Mr Fucking Parking ended up apologising to me once I'd pearl-clutchingly finished with him for swearing in front of my child.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 17/02/2021 08:59

Yanbu in Mumsnet world.
Real world answer the door. If they are being arses,slam it in their face.

PresentingPercy · 17/02/2021 09:04

I don’t open the door to one of my neighbours. I would if it wasn’t them.

HmmSureJan · 17/02/2021 09:04

YANBU. I don't answer the door to my neighbours at all anymore. Every interaction was negative and complaining from them and it was really beginning to stress me out. They're noisy and selfish and I cannot stand them so I bought a pair of ear defenders that I pop on and shut them out entirely when the noise starts and I never answer my door to them, ever.

ScienceSensibility · 17/02/2021 09:06

8 am is far too early to be knocking on people’s doors, unless there is an emergency. I would be in the shower at that time and would not appreciate it.

However, your opportunity to tell them this, and put them off once and for all, has now gone!

If they knock again, I would answer it, and be fully prepared to tell them off if it’s another trivial complaint.

So many people don’t understand working from home, and think it means you are available to them, but that’s another thread.

MissBaskinIfYoureNasty · 17/02/2021 09:06

Yabu because I now want to know what they're knocking for.

Swipe left for the next trending thread