Neighbour outraged I ignored the door

[Scrumbler]

For context I've lived in my home for 6 years, I have a baby and we get on with our neighbours very well usually.

Yesterday someone banged on the door a few times and I ignored it. I never answer my front door because everyone who I'm expecting use the side door. We get a lot of cold callers and religious people who knock alot so I will never answer it.
Today I see my neighbour and his son has a bandage on and I asked what happened, he'd had an accident yesterday in the street, my neighbour said his wife knocked on my door at the time for me to call an ambulance because she's panicked and left her phone in her house so I said I'd heard the knocking but didn't know what it was.
He looked at me completely gone out and then asked me why I'd ignored her. I explained I obviously didn't know it was an emergency or I would have course answered. But he told me I was selfish and slammed his door as he went in.
I carried on taking my shopping out of the car and then his wife comes out asking if I'd ignored her! I told her I don't answer that door and didn't know it was an emergency but she just went mad shouting how horrible that was and asked what kind of person doesn't answer there door.

I know their probably still shook up but I didn't know what had happened.
To clarify, their child seems fine from what the dad told me before he found out I'd ignored the door and turned out to be a very minor injury. I feel awful it happened but I didn't ignore them on purpose knowing they were needing an ambulance so I think they've been a bit over the top.

My friend would ring me to check I’m in.

I don’t have grown children, but have been the grown child who surprised their parents. However, that was because my sister was in labour and I knew very well they’d be at home waiting for news and would appreciate company. In any case, I had a key. The idea that I’d go to surprise them “Just because“ is one of those things that sounds sweet, but isn’t very practical in reality. What if I travel for miles to find they’re out, or are just going out? It wastes my time and assumes they sit at home all day just waiting for me to appear unannounced.

I had a couple of surprise presents arrive during lockdown to cheer me up, which was very kind. As it happened, I’d seen the delivery van arrive - but if I’d unknowingly ignored the door, the worst thing that would have happened is a card through the door, just as if I’d been out - which is obviously a possibility if someone sends me a delivery as a surprise.

Oh well @WomanStanleyWoman2 I'm obviously an outlier and am lucky in having had my fair share of nice surprises with no weird repercussions

Brilliantly true!

That doesn’t mean I’m not expecting a delivery driver - just that I don’t know the exact time they’ll arrive. I know if I’ve ordered something. That’s before you even consider that most courier companies will give you at least a vague timeslot, or even just tell you what day they’re coming - and at the other end of the scale, Yodel has a live tracker where you can see how many stops away the driver is.

Also, my friends wouldn’t ‘call in’ unexpectedly. They’d send me a WhatsApp or text - because why wouldn’t you?

You realise my post is no more than an exercise in style?

I was only presenting the other side of the argument using your type of language.

It’s up to you if/when you answer your own front door.
Your neighbour sounds as pathetic … they are a grown adult if something happens you deal with it - go grab your phone!! Knocking on your door, it almost feels like she wants someone else to handle the situation, rather than herself. Then blaming you afterwards for not taking on her responsibility as you didn’t answer the door. FFS!

👍

The chances of any of these happening are slim to none.

I'm lucky I have a peep hole to see who's knocking if I don't know them or not expecting them I won't open it no law says I have too if it's a neighbour of course I will

Depends on your friends. My friends and neighbours drop by frequently.

Some couriers give time slots, but tbh I order so much by courier a lot of stuff turns before or after time slots, sometimes the next day.

Ever heard of a flat battery ! 🙃 Anyhow I don’t know about you, but though I get on with my neighbours I don’t have their phone number 🧐

They must have a house phone unless they are too poor to own a phone line.

Depends on your friends. My friends and neighbours drop by frequently.

Well of course it depends on your friends. But presumably I know my friends better than you and vice versa. I’m hardly likely to plan my life based on what your friends do.

@Rollingaroundinmud it's 2023 who has a house phone now.

Of course you'll know. Deliveries have tracking, so you know when they're about to arrive. Friends and family will call or message that they're planning to visit.

Do people still use house phones???

You need a phone line for your internet, and the internet always comes with the phone line. I never use my house phone, but it's still there and I don't pay for line rental. I only pay when I use it, that's the package I am on. I only pay for my internet every month, and it's cheap.

People in my circle are, frankly, too courteous to drop in without calling ahead.

I have experienced lovely surprises but not via a pounding on the door when I was working or otherwise engaged.

Why would you knock on some stranger's door in an emergency? I can't process this scenario in my head.

I'd go back into my house and call someone.

@ZeldaWillTellYourFortune
Pounding at the door 😂
Your 'circle' sounds so polite. Do you leave calling cards like in a Jane Austen novel?

I think the last time I used a phone line was about 15 years ago. I didn't realise people still use them, unless you're a business.

My internet connection doesn't use a landline, it's fibre optic. If I do have a line, I have no idea where it is.

Who was the some stranger in the OP, it was a neighbour who the OP knows?

You need a phone line for your internet, and the internet always comes with the phone line. I never use my house phone, but it's still there and I don't pay for line rental. I only pay when I use it, that's the package I am on. I only pay for my internet every month, and it's cheap.

I have a phone line but no actual phone, as I didn't live in my home at a time when I might have bought a house phone. Most people that have lived in their house for less than 15 years won't have one.

I still don't get it, why didn't they take him back to their own house?

I've only read the first page but according to MN if like the OP, I refuse to answer my front door when someone knocks, then I'm weird, selfish, rude and unreasonable.

Let me put this into perspective for some that have said these things. Some of us that do this do it due to previous or ongoing abuse. Others do it because they may be busy and don't want to be disturbed. It doesn't mean we are all ignorant.

Also, although it is highly unlikely to happen again, there was the case not so long ago where a lady opened her door to see what the commotion was in her street which ended up in her being shot and her daughter killed. It is safer not to open the door unless you know who it is.