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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Ring doorbell goes off continuously

59 replies

SuzieJ221 · 01/08/2025 04:44

Neighbourhood kids - 2 families the kids are ringing doorbell from 11ish to 7/8 in evening. I put a note on door yesterday saying “child name can’t play today sorry” but the same kids came several more times to read the note. They didn’t ring bell but the notifications went off. I thought I was a genius putting a note on the door and my problem was solved but why are they checking same note so many times? If it says she can’t play today why will that change an hour or 2 hours later? After 6pm and I think the 8th alert on my phone I let DD play with them, I did speak harshly to the eldest one (10) yesterday and said I’ve told them all before that she’s not always home during the day but is free evening from 6pm onwards to which the child responded back “6pm is day time not evening” my dd chimed in and they all did too that I was wrong 😂 I felt I was in school again!

this is obviously affecting be as I’m up at this hour stewing over this incident and many others since the start of summer. My DD never knocks on anyone’s door as she’s too shy so if I do let her play during the day she just hangs around the gardens to hear if they are playing - the parents never get disturbed.

OP posts:
Kedece · 01/08/2025 05:09

Would it not be easier switching the motion notifications off when they're around.

Jerseygirl2023 · 01/08/2025 05:23

If the children aren’t ringing the bell then this sounds like a Ring Doorbell problem rather than a neighbourhood kids problem. Imo.

Original poster
SuzieJ221 · 01/08/2025 05:45

I put the note over doorbell but if I’ve written she can’t play today why would they keep coming to check? We have a driveway with a gate so they open the gate and come into our driveway. I can’t turn off motion as I will miss parcel deliveries. I can’t lock the gate as I will miss letters and other things. Parcels - They just leave on doorstep and they don’t always ring bell

OP posts:
MyTwoSense · 01/08/2025 05:46

If you give in after 8 notifications you've taught them that's how many times they need to come back, and that you'll eventually give in.
If you're putting a note up you need to stick to your guns and ignore ignore ignore till they get the message. And yes, adjust notifications!

Original poster
SuzieJ221 · 01/08/2025 05:49

Jerseygirl2023 · 01/08/2025 05:23

If the children aren’t ringing the bell then this sounds like a Ring Doorbell problem rather than a neighbourhood kids problem. Imo.

So you’re happy with kids coming into your property numerous times a day when you politely asked them many times in past few weeks not to come during the day as said child is in camp and parents working from home plus you’ve left a note on the door but they still keep coming into your property. Wow you have the patience of a saint.

OP posts:
Original poster
SuzieJ221 · 01/08/2025 05:52

MyTwoSense · 01/08/2025 05:46

If you give in after 8 notifications you've taught them that's how many times they need to come back, and that you'll eventually give in.
If you're putting a note up you need to stick to your guns and ignore ignore ignore till they get the message. And yes, adjust notifications!

Edited

That makes sense. It’s just 2 families that do this. Yesterday for example I saw a little boy come and read the note but didn’t return. But these 3 kids kept returning together. I don’t particularly want DD to be with them all day when she is home.

OP posts:
Original poster
SuzieJ221 · 01/08/2025 05:54

Kedece · 01/08/2025 05:09

Would it not be easier switching the motion notifications off when they're around.

oh never mind I figured out how to do! I rather not to be honest incase I miss something important

OP posts:
Sugarnspicenallthingsnaice · 01/08/2025 05:57

Don't you get an email or text when your parcels are delivered?

Anyway, you could muck around with the Ring settings. Turn parcel detection on and ignore the other notifications.

Or just answer the door to the kids the first time and tell them.

TwinklyNight · 01/08/2025 06:00

I turned off the sound notifications under my phones app notifications. They pop up but are silent.

Original poster
SuzieJ221 · 01/08/2025 06:00

Sugarnspicenallthingsnaice · 01/08/2025 05:57

Don't you get an email or text when your parcels are delivered?

Anyway, you could muck around with the Ring settings. Turn parcel detection on and ignore the other notifications.

Or just answer the door to the kids the first time and tell them.

Thank you. I have had many conversations with the kids explaining we are working and DD can’t play but it’s really weird as the eldest just rolls her eyes and just makes me feel awkward. I know she’s only 10! It’s easier for me to just ignore

OP posts:
tripleginandtonic · 01/08/2025 06:02

It's part and parcel of having dc on school holidays. Yabu

Kiwi09 · 01/08/2025 06:03

I can totally appreciate how annoying the alerts from the doorbell are. The problem here is the 3 kids that keep coming back. If it were me and they came back that many times I’d open the door and tell them they must stop what they’re doing and explain why. If they keep coming back I’d tell them off. And if they continue I’d talk to their parents and hope they weren’t like our neighbour who said their child way entitled to lurk about on my property if they felt like it.

TwinklyNight · 01/08/2025 06:03

Ps. My normal doorbell will still ring if somebody pushes the button.

Zanatdy · 01/08/2025 06:05

Speak to the children and tell them if they see a note, please don’t come back and read it multiple times. Problem is, you gave in, so now they know that it’s worth keep trying. I turned off my motion, it just goes off when someone rings the bell. Speak to their parent if they continue.

Original poster
SuzieJ221 · 01/08/2025 06:07

I do not want to message the parents as things like this don’t go well then I will get anxiety in case she takes it personally and I also worry I don’t want DD to miss out being part of the neighbourhood group. There’s about 5 families plus my child so 9 kids that play together but mostly it’s just the 3 kids (2 families) that annoy me, the rest are very respectful and don’t argue back with me. I don’t have any anxiety dealing with them. It’s just the one girl who just really winds me up. The day the temperature was really high in the 30’s, I explained DD can’t come out as it’s too warm and she just kept convincing me how it’s okay and she will be fine! Writing this down I think it’s that behaviour which winds me up. The other kids are not like this.

OP posts:
Blackbookofsmiles1 · 01/08/2025 06:09

Surly it’s part and parcel of your child having neighbour hood friends. You could tell your child they’re no longer allowed to play with them and that would stop the problem.
However I think this is more of a ring problem than a child problem. Mute the notifications, it’s not hard. If parcels are left on your door step, surly seeing the alert without having to hear it go off every five minutes is the answer.

Original poster
SuzieJ221 · 01/08/2025 06:10

Zanatdy · 01/08/2025 06:05

Speak to the children and tell them if they see a note, please don’t come back and read it multiple times. Problem is, you gave in, so now they know that it’s worth keep trying. I turned off my motion, it just goes off when someone rings the bell. Speak to their parent if they continue.

Thank you. I told them yesterday she’s in her grandparents home today so if they still come around I’ll be blunt. My fear is if I’m too blunt they will complain about me to their parents. I hate confrontations

OP posts:
Original poster
SuzieJ221 · 01/08/2025 06:13

Kiwi09 · 01/08/2025 06:03

I can totally appreciate how annoying the alerts from the doorbell are. The problem here is the 3 kids that keep coming back. If it were me and they came back that many times I’d open the door and tell them they must stop what they’re doing and explain why. If they keep coming back I’d tell them off. And if they continue I’d talk to their parents and hope they weren’t like our neighbour who said their child way entitled to lurk about on my property if they felt like it.

Thank you! Yes these kids are very entitled! It’s actually just the eldest one who’s 10. The cheeky thing says it’s fine my dd not home and they will play on trampoline! I explained no I’m on a call and garden door is open so they will disturb me. Issue is I’m very reserved so having this conversation was really difficult for me. I know she’s 10 and I’m a monster saying this but I really dislike this girl, she reminds me of certain bullies I dealt with as a child. My dd doesn’t feel bullied by her btw - just I do 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
SuzieJ221 · 01/08/2025 06:17

Can someone give me a few sentences word to word to say for the following please: I want nice but firm, nothing they can go home and complain to their parents about:

  1. when I’ve told them dd us in camp and they still keep coming over. I saw one if them in ring listening really close to the door. I was on a call at the time and DH was watching tv so there was noise a d she was listening!
  2. when I’ve left a note saying she can’t okay today but they come over multiple times to read
  3. when because no in s weekend but they try to talk me into letting her play
OP posts:
StrongTea · 01/08/2025 06:22

Can you try a note on the gate so they don’t come into the garden?

Original poster
SuzieJ221 · 01/08/2025 06:28

StrongTea · 01/08/2025 06:22

Can you try a note on the gate so they don’t come into the garden?

I have tried in the past too but no effect. I’ve even locked the gate but they jump over - it’s not very high.

thats why I need motion alerts as very often Amazon just chuck parcel on my doorstep from gate

OP posts:
Kiwi09 · 01/08/2025 06:30

Yes, I’d like to second that suggestion to put a big note on the gate. And to really drive the message home put the kids names on it so it’s big enough for everyone to see as they go past 😂I bet you’re not the only parent being annoyed by this behaviour.

CynicalSunni · 01/08/2025 06:30

Don't try and keep reasoning with the wee girl who keeps answering back. Or give any reasons why your daughter cannot play. That just gives her an opportunity to annoy you and answer back.

Just say 'daughter is not in and dont come back today/ until certain time' then close the door in their faces.

If they come back again repeat. If they do it again say you are going to speak to their parents about their behaviour and actually do that. Otherwise this wee girl is going to walk all over you.

She seems particularly rude if she is rolling her eyes at you.
Or she has no respect for you as you give in to her and actually argue back with her.

pzzzzls · 01/08/2025 06:38

Why are you opening the door? If anything I'd speak using the ring app and tell them please not to come back this week.

Otherwise, "thank you for stopping by, dd is not here this week, so no need to come back until Monday. She is not here. Have fun!" slam door.

if they want the trampoline, just say, "oh no, that's not allowed, when dd is not here."

It's not hard.

I would wind me up too, little shits 😄

Original poster
SuzieJ221 · 01/08/2025 06:42

pzzzzls · 01/08/2025 06:38

Why are you opening the door? If anything I'd speak using the ring app and tell them please not to come back this week.

Otherwise, "thank you for stopping by, dd is not here this week, so no need to come back until Monday. She is not here. Have fun!" slam door.

if they want the trampoline, just say, "oh no, that's not allowed, when dd is not here."

It's not hard.

I would wind me up too, little shits 😄

thank you! I will try this today. Yes they really are winding me up. DH thinks it’s hilarious. I think the sound of the scooters riding up to my door is the worst sound in the world!

OP posts:
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