Postman took photo of me

[Ringringringringringringringbananaphone]

Posting here for traffic - does anyone know if postmen/women (for regular post office mail) are supposed to take pictures with people in? I find my regular postman super-creepy anyway (he calls me love/darling/sweetheart, all within the few seconds transaction of handing over the post, and he has made comments before about what a “beauty” my five year old is). So in general: super creepy.

But today, I swear he took a surreptitious photo of me as he was handing the post over , and I’m very weirded out. It would only have been of my boobs downward as he didn’t point the device at my face, but I’m sure he took a photo. He has done this once before, and left me questioning things in my mind, but he’s always just immediately on his way out of the gate so I haven’t had a chance to say anything to him. I will, next time!

But in the meantime can any posties or knowledgeable people tell me what’s normal/if it’s acceptable to take photos of people when delivering the post? I was thinking of contacting the sorting office, but then he would know it was me that made a complaint and he knows I’m a single parent with a 5 year old (or at least he probably assumes that, as he has never seen anyone else here). It’s really bothered me.

No, he’d already left some parcels by the door and scanned them, this was a handful of normal post

So he did deliver some parcels then? He was taking a photo of those.

A postman is friendly- uses familiar normal friendly words for you (love/darling is perfectly normal) and calls your child beautiful.... which is lovely
I call children beautiful all the time. It's not creepy.

If the photo thing bothers you just ask him to only take photos that show your feet. I had a parcel delivery last week where she took a photo just as my youngest ran to the door and she said oops think she might have got in that one I'll delete it and take another.

Lol no, but thanks for asking. I was out of sight (emptying my bins!) on my driveway, he came through the separate front gate and put parcels on the doorstep and took a photo of them, I saw him doing this as I came into the garden from the gate at the other end (a completely different direction to the doorway). He had a handful of regular (in envelopes) mail in his hand (which I assume he was going to put into the mailbox) - instead, as I approached him, without saying anything, he pointed his scanner thing at me (again, just to clarify, I was approaching from completely the opposite direction to the doorway where the parcels were) and beeped it, and then handed the post over to me as i reached him.

He wasn’t. He turned and took a photo of ME, as I was approaching from the other end of the garden.

Op, you're not making a lot of sense. Are you saying that he let some parcels outside your front door and as you were walking across the garden he handed you post and then took a photo of you?

Maybe he was checking the picture he'd just taken of the parcels. Mine does this. Takes the picture, has a look at it. Presses another button maybe to save or confirm. Think you're reading too much into this.

If it happens again you can ask him.

No, I’m saying that he left parcels outside my front door, took a photo of them, then turned towards me (as I was coming towards him from the other end of the garden), took a photo of me without saying anything, and THEN handed me the handful of regular post.

Interesting responses on here. But what I draw from them is that it ISN’T normal for a post person to need to take a photo of someone when handing over some regular post in envelopes. And definitely not normal for them to take a photo and then hand over said post. Creepiness aside, I’ll just make sure that if it happens again I call him back and ask to see the photo/why it was taken.

I take a fair few parcels in at work. The majority ask me to either hold it near our floor (it's a very recognisable pattern) or they ask to have a photo with my hand in it. They've never taken a photo of me/my face/whole person.

When they take a photo, I'm guessing the postie is using a work phone? (I don't actually know) In which case, I don't see why you can't ask to see the photo. It does seem a little odd- if it feels odd, I would try your gut.

This sounds more weird. Unless it was an accidental press of a button that made the beep? I don't know if you would be entitled to ask to see the parcel photo (not really proof of delivery for him if door closed) and would see if further picture taken

honestly people need to give their heads a wobble. He's probably just a friendly guy. calling you sweetheart is not creepy!!! honestly this is just horrible poor man.

Well said.

Mine always take photos. Evri and dpd do it too. They all do.

Why didn't you just ask him there and then what he was photographing? Of course, if he wasn't actually taking a photo or was taking one to provide PoD, then you run the risk of looking a bit of a chump. But if it's bothering you that much then just ask.

So 99.9% of people said yup they do this too

si you deduce it’s Not normal?!?

😂😂😂

I would of thought he was stupid if taken photos of you on his PDA (which it would of been) for his manager to see.
Yes annoying getting called love etc but not something I would worry about as inappropriate behaviour.
If your that worried you could contact the local RM office and then they could look to see if he has breached anything.

Could it have been to back up the photo of the parcels on the doorstep - in case they were reported missing he can show that there was a person there.
I know previously the photos used to be showing an open door, maybe this is an alternative. And he deliberately didn't get your face, so not identifying.

I don't get the creepy bit either and I'm quite anti social.

They have to use PDAs so all pics would be on the official system. If you have a tracking no. for any of the parcels track them and you will see the pic that was taken.
If he was taking them on a phone then be concerned if on the pda then I wouldnt worry. Its normal for them to take a pic, if its a tracked parcel. Normal post no as that just goes through your letterbox

Sounds grim, I worked for a man when I was in my early 20's who told me he took photos of women at bus stops and such on his phone to masturbate over later. He said "the quickest way to expunge a woman from my mind is to have an orgasm over her" his exact words. Yes he did photograph me too.

There really are some rancid men out there, I don't think he needs a photo of your whole self or face if it is for a delivery just your hand taking the parcel.

Mine takes a photo of the open door with the number showing. I think the issue here is that as women we do have to be wary of men and can sometimes feel uneasy when there may be no reason to be.

YANBU. Trust your instincts.

Far too many women are sexually harassed or worse because women are programmed from a young age to “be nice” and so they meekly accept all sorts of inappropriate behaviour from men for fear of a backlash if they report it.

Just look at all the supporters of that massive creep, Rubiales and the number of women who also support him and minimise his abusive behaviour. Instead, we should support all women who are brave enough to call out this sort of predatory behaviour.

Oh ffs! this reminds me of years ago when I was out with my then toddler in the park and noticed a man taking photos of me. He then came up to me and asked me what colour knickers I was wearing. This was in front of my little child!