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Original poster

Postman opening my front door - who do I complain to?

96 replies

FlameInHell · 27/10/2007 12:16

It has happened a couple of times before - parcels appearing on my mat that can't fit through the letterbox. Today I was sat on the stairs as he opened my front door and threw a parcel in

I'm fuming - had a go at him, asked him not to do it, and he rambled about us not being in a lot and it saving taking it back to the sorting office - even with me explaining that if we are not in the THE DOOR IS LOCKED. He didn't even try knocking

I could have been naked, I could have a small animal that shoots out of any open door, I could accuse him of rape for all he knows.

Who do I complain to? The local sorting office? A helpline of some sort?

I miss my old postman

OP posts:
Oenophile · 27/10/2007 16:51

I feel exactly the opposite to the OP - postie usually leaves opens our (always unlocked) door and puts parcels in for me, I do a lot of online ordering and I'd WAY rather he did than drive 20 miles to the sorting office or rearrange delivery, I think your postie probably thought he was doing you a favour and saving you a trip, and now you've 'had a go at him' he won't do it again.

jezzemx · 27/10/2007 16:52

Cheeky Bugga!!! Where are his manners. I was brought up to ALWAYS knock first and that is very rude to waltz into someones house (even if I know them)without knocking and waiting for an answer.
If he does it again scream at the top of your voice (AAAARRRGGGHHHOOOHHH) bet you he won't do it again!!
Perhaps Royal Mail need to include "intrusion rules" in their training programme

CadaverousCorpulentCarmenere · 27/10/2007 16:55

Hey Tnog, what does you postie look like. When I lived in Avoca we had a lovely old fellow who was like a family friend but then when he retired we got a younger bloke who I found very creepy.

TnOgu · 27/10/2007 16:59

He's youngish.

Very friendly and a really pleasent chap.

I love your Hallowe'en name, C

Tis veeery clever.

lou33 · 27/10/2007 16:59

doesnt matter if her door is locked or not, he should have knocked

my doors are usually unlocked but that doesnt mean people have a right to come in unless invited!

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 27/10/2007 17:02

Flame - my front door isn't locked either (UPVC jobbie - not Yale lock), and like you I wouldn't be too impressed if the postie just opened it (even though he is a mate of dh's).

It's very rude and he should knock. I'd leave it this time now that you've had words but complain if he does it again.

CadaverousCorpulentCarmenere · 27/10/2007 17:02

Thanks! Oh no my fellow wasn't nice at all, must be different and in fairness it was about 8 years ago.

For the record, I think that Flames postie should have knocked but if it was me he would be under no illusion that this was inappropriate and I would have told him I was going to complain even if I didn't.

lou33 · 27/10/2007 17:04

yes my doors dont have a latch, they have chubb locks

lou33 · 27/10/2007 17:05

you could always ensure that next time a parcel is due, you are standing in the hall doing something that would totally embarrass him

PirateoftheScarybeing · 27/10/2007 17:08

My old postie used to do this, our home was in a tiny village, and the house was tucked away. We didn't lock our back door which was also our front door, and the door led into the living room (very old barn conversion).

So you'd be sat there eating, ironing, whatever and 'hello' there was the postman.

He did this a few times then luckily we got another one.

No, the postman does not have the right to open your front door. Hell I have a friend who doesn't lock her door, and I ALways knock when i go round.

cheeky git.

TheUnholyTrinityRhino · 27/10/2007 17:09

I would have thought that now you have told him that he wont do it anymore

My regular postie always does this, our door is never locked so he always just pops them in

I'm very grateful for this

fireflyfairy2 · 27/10/2007 17:11

Are you Flamesparrow?

Our postie is great My backdoor is the one I use. He opens it & sets the post on the ledge in the utility room.

If I see his van I open the door for him. My back door is opened at 7am when dh goes to work. I am always up anyway. If I am out he will either put the post through the letterbox or if it's a parcel he will mostly leave it in dd's play house

It wouldn't annoy me.. well, it might if I was naked...

suedonim · 27/10/2007 17:17

If you leave your door unlocked you also run the risk of being invaded by small children. We once lived in a place where no one locked their doors (or cars - when we came to sell our car, the locks had rusted up!). Ds1 was playing out and was a bit late for lunch. He eventually turned up and declared he'd been in the wrong house. The houses all looked the same and he saw a blue door and assumed it was his. He said it was only when he went into the kitchen and the wallpaper was different that he realised he was in the wrong place!!

He also complained one morning that there was a strange boy playing with his toys. I dismissed it as an imaginary friend but ds insisted I look. Imagine my surprise when I found a little boy happily playing with ds's cars and lego! He was v reluctant to go home because he was having such fun, hehehe!

Anyhoo...if my front door was unlocked I wouldn't be upset a postie putting a parcel inside.

MurderousMaveta · 27/10/2007 17:19

I´m with you, Flame.. I would be fuming if our postie did this. My door locks anyway when it shuts but I´ve lived in houses with front doors like yours and didn´t lock myself in the house. For me it´s a privacy issue, end of story. You don´t just walk into my house, you ring or knock and wait to be invited in. I could be doing anything in there and rightly so, I don´t quite agree with other povs on here that if you are doing something/have small children/ have animals that might escape you should lock yourself in instead of trusting in the fact that you are entitled to do what you wish, when you wish in your own house and other people should knock to enter.

Too right I´d complain.

Pixiefish · 27/10/2007 17:20

My postie knocks as he is opening the door

TBH it doesn't bother me. What does bother me is him doing 40mph down our drive. I've tried hinting and telling him straight but he still does it

VeniVidiVickiQV · 27/10/2007 17:23

I wouldnt mind, actually. Not that he could open my front door.

Was more annoyed with the postie who didnt bother knocking before deciding I should collect the parcel from the sorting office. DP caught him, having already written out the collection note to post through the door.

orangehead · 27/10/2007 17:23

Probably complain to head office. But I really cant believe you dont lock your door. I was once broken in to at 4pm, I was in the shower and ds1 was asleep in cot just a few months old. The door was locked but a yale lock, the police said they can easily be pushed back by slipping a credit card in. Anyway as I was in the shower I heard a noise at the door and went down to investigate with just a towel round me and got there just in time as he opened the door. I dont know where I got my strengh from but I shoved him out of the house, slamming the door he actually looked very surprised I think he thought we were out. I dread to think what would of happened if it had took me 30 secs longer to get to the door he would of already been in the house I would of had no hope in hell to push him. He could of just been a common thief but could of also of raped me and then murdered me and ds1, because they is some psychos out there. So now whenever I am in always have mortis on as well chain.
PLEASE LOCK YOUR DOOR, IF ANY PSYCHO GETS WIND THAT YOU DOOR IS OPEN YOU ARE PUTTING ALL YOUR LIFES IN DANGER. (sorry to shout)

lou33 · 27/10/2007 17:31

blimey are wew really all scared of the hordes of nutters outside our house waiting to do us wrong?

surely we are all sensible enough to know if the area we live in enables us to live with or without our doors locked?

my side door is not only unlocked most of the time but also wide open , but the only people who come and go without knocking are myself my kids and my close friends

the kids in the street have never entered without permission, nor have delivery men

i've lived in places where i have had to keep my doors locked all the time, i like being able not to now

expatinscotland · 27/10/2007 17:31

next thread we'll have is how the rude postie took the parcel to the sorting office.

and how the postie never makes eye contact or chitchats with anyone.

maybe because last time he tried to do someone a favour the person went radge at him and got him in trouble with his supervisors.

orangehead · 27/10/2007 17:37

I actually live in nice area, but still got broken into during the day whilst in. Do psychos and burgulars really think lets leave this area it looks really decent?

Blandmum · 27/10/2007 17:40

have a word with the guy and ask him not to do it again.

To help, lock your door.

The bloke didn't rob you, or wreck your house, he was just dropping off a pacrcel and possibly being a bit daft.

Why get the guy in trouble over that? I think you are wildly over reacting.

If he continues to ignore you then report him.

Whatever happened to raising the issue with the person who pissed you off? Why do yo ufeel the need to report him?

MurderousMaveta · 27/10/2007 17:40

expat - but it sounds more like he was being a lazy git and didn´t want the hassle of lumping the parcel back to the office with him rather than a good ol´boy just trying to do a fellow human being a service I mean, if the latter was the case, you´d think his reaction would be more apologetic and more of the ´so sorry thought you wouldn´t mind and it would do you a favour´ route vs that which flame said she got..

VioletBaudelaire · 27/10/2007 17:52

"but it sounds more like he was being a lazy git and didn´t want the hassle of lumping the parcel back to the office with him rather than a good ol´boy just trying to do a fellow human being a service"

But either way, she got her parcel, and no harm done.

She's had a word with him.

He probably thought he was doing her a favour, and was a little shocked at her reaction.

Hopefully he won't do it again.

And even if he does attempt to, if she locks her door, it can't happen again.

kittywitch · 27/10/2007 17:59

We regularly have parcels put just inside the front door if they don't need to be signed for. We're rural(ish). Saves both me and the postie/courier a lot of hassle, long may it continue

catsmother · 27/10/2007 18:00

It doesn't matter whether the door is locked or not. It doesn't matter whether the postman thought he was doing Flame a favour or not.

It's the sheer lack of respect for someone else's home that has me gobsmacked !

If someone chooses to leave their door unlocked when they're at home that's up to them - and they will then be intrinsicly taking on any risks such as children/pets getting out, or burglars getting in. Their business.

But it's not for the postman, or anyone else who has not been explicitly invited in, to open the door to what should be someone else's private property.