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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Not to answer door at unknown person at 8.45pm

122 replies

anon2334 · 07/07/2022 21:08

Who knocks at this time? It was a lady and looked like she was holding a briefcase but got kids I house asleep and not answering. Do cold callers still knock on doors at this time? Been seeing local posts that people are going around checking who is in but mainly male.

OP posts:
NoseyNellie · 07/07/2022 21:13

If you don’t want to open the door, why not stick your head out the window?

I don’t understand the not answering the door thing - what do you think is going to happen?

Joyfultoes · 07/07/2022 21:15

People on here are insane about not opening the door. What the fuck do you think she was going to do to you? And if you had just opened it you’d have known what she wanted instead of asking lots of random people on here who have no fucking clue

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 07/07/2022 21:15

You should answer the door. You can do a sigh of exasperation, or explain that you think it's unreasonable for cold calling at that time (if it was a cold caller) but yeah, you answer the door.

I don't really understand why having kids sleeping in the house is relevant, they've already knocked, that was the noisy bit, opening the door won't wake the kids up.

Goldencarp · 07/07/2022 21:15

8.45 ! 😱😱😱

DrSophia · 07/07/2022 21:16

So weird. Just open the fecking door or get a ring doorbell. Done.

ChipsRoastOrBoiled · 07/07/2022 21:18

I wouldn't have answered either, OP.

LubaLuca · 07/07/2022 21:18

Well bloody hell, I'm not a brave soul but yes, I would open the door in broad daylight. I don't know why the children in bed is mentioned, she was unlikely to want a tour of your home.

WildFlowerBees · 07/07/2022 21:19

MN is so vocal about those who don't open the door. I don't open my door always, I might be busy etc my house my prerogative. I don't think it's weird to ignore the door in your own space.

Bussty · 07/07/2022 21:20

People on here are so weird about opening their doors.

Maybe she's a new neighbour who works long hours coming to say hello? Maybe she was walking past and noticed your car lights left on? Maybe a parcel was stolen from outside her house or her car hit and she's noticed you have a Ring doorbell that might have useful footage? Maybe she's got an appointment or is a friend of someone but got the wrong house?

Moonchair1 · 07/07/2022 21:20

I don’t usually answer to someone I don’t know or not expecting but no-one could possibly knock at that time as we bold our gate and no-one can get in our garden until we unlock it in the morning

ErrolTheDragon · 07/07/2022 21:21

It's entirely up to you whether you answer your door at any time of day or night. I don't get why people are saying you 'should'. Confused

Moonchair1 · 07/07/2022 21:21

Bolt *

Joyfultoes · 07/07/2022 21:21

Well yes @WildFlowerBees but if you’re desperate to know what they want then clearly answering the door is a simpler solution than asking random people who can’t possibly have a clue….

HannahSternDefoe · 07/07/2022 21:22

ChipsRoastOrBoiled · 07/07/2022 21:18

I wouldn't have answered either, OP.

Nor me.
I only answer if it's a delivery for me.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 07/07/2022 21:23

Has it been 15 minutes already since the last opening the door thread😂

viques · 07/07/2022 21:23

It is OK to open the door but on no account ask them in. It’s how vampires trick their way into your house.

PaddleBoardingMomma · 07/07/2022 21:24

How ridiculous! I do not understand this generational thing of not answering the bloody door! You're an adult, grow up!

PutinIsAWarCriminal · 07/07/2022 21:26

I find it odd that you are curious about who was knocking enough to post about it on here, but not curious enough to actually open the door. It's a none event, either answer or don't, your home your choice, but if you don't answer then don't sit stewing!

NoseyNellie · 07/07/2022 21:26

viques · 07/07/2022 21:23

It is OK to open the door but on no account ask them in. It’s how vampires trick their way into your house.

😂 Winner!!

BrightYellowDaffodil · 07/07/2022 21:27

Is this the MN thing when a door can only be opened to a visitor between 2 and 3pm, but only if they’ve given 28 weeks advance notice?

Bussty · 07/07/2022 21:28

PaddleBoardingMomma · 07/07/2022 21:24

How ridiculous! I do not understand this generational thing of not answering the bloody door! You're an adult, grow up!

Which generation? This comes up regularly and doesn't seem to be any one generation... Based on the info given (kids being asleep at this time), OP could be anywhere between teens and mid-40s.

justfiveminutes · 07/07/2022 21:29

A neighbour who had some of your post or a parcel?

A neighbour who had noticed something about your house - missing roof tile etc

A neighbour coming to tell you something - there's a street bbq or she's having a party on Saturday and it might get noisy

Someone looking for no47 and thought you were it

Her child's ball has just gone into your back garden

She wants to buy a house on your street, are you interested?

itsgettingweird · 07/07/2022 21:29

It's up to you if you open the door or not.

Our for a walk a few weeks ago I knocked the door of someone as I noticed their car door wasn't shut properly on their drive.

They ignored me. They were in as I could see them through the window.

They had their car "broken in to" that night.

Car seats and some tech they'd left in there stolen.

Don't always assume someone has bad intentions and wants to invade your space.

FloralHandbag · 07/07/2022 21:30

I'd have gone upstairs and opened the bedroom window to talk if DH was out.

But I've had an armed robber knock on and try his luck.

Genuinely, he just knocked on and said he needed help. Then tried forcing his way past me and started waving a knife about.

DH was behind me and is a large handy type. Next thing the police turned up as they were out looking for him and he ran off. He'd just stabbed someone further up the road.

Probably not a typical response though 😂

PaddleBoardingMomma · 07/07/2022 21:33

@Bussty always seems to be between 25-35, anecdotal of course but routinely seems to be in that bracket. Bizarre.