Opening Your Front Door - Your Choice

[DarceyK123]

Just wondered what your thoughts were on opening your front door if the bell goes.
I always go to the door cos i want to know who's there but you shouldn't have to.

My elderly Mum lives with her equally elderly sister. They were worried recently that the bell had gone 4 times the same day (i tell her not to answer as we all have keys and i worry for their safety). But she was getting nervy so i popped over.

At about 8.45pm it went again so i went out to see who it was, it turned out to be a lady from a 'boxed meal' Company, i asked her if she was the one who had kept calling, she said yes, i explained that my Mum does not always answer the door and why didnt she take the hint (this was the 5th time the same day) she just shrugged and said she had been told to keep calling until she got an answer.

I find this incredible that some Companies keep hassling like this, surely its your Choice if you want to open the door and speak to whoevers there.

Sorry, no real queston just annoyed.

[hc4361]

The caller doesn't know that they are being ignored - they assume there is nobody home.
I never answer the door to strangers - I speak to callers through my kitchen window which is conveniently next to the front door.

[pastafreak]

You may be able to get a "no doorstep sales" or "no cold caller" stick on sign from your council. Apparently it can be a criminal offence to ignore such signs. I've got one and no longer have sales people banging on my door.

[marval]

8.45pm is a bit late to be calling, and I would be annoyed if they called five times. I always answer my door, in case it is someone i want to see. It should be the person's choice if they answer the door or not.

[JimF]

I never answer my door unless I'm expecting a caller at that time.

[Old_Geezer]

I assume it's a person's choice whether to answer their door; and whether they call on someone else's door. I'd agree a sign would be useful. Don't know if obedience to it is compulsory though.

[woofgang]

yes its your choice....and your choice to close it again. I can't always see who it is at the door...I can see if I see them approaching but not once they are at the door. If its a selling cold call then I say I am sorry not interested and the dogs are barking goodbye and I shut the door. A couple of times I have heard rude comments from the seller as I have shut the door and I have complained to the company concerned. Lasdt week a political canvasser ignored my (newish) cold caller sign so I drew her attention to it before I shut the door! Yes the council have them and I believe will send them out free of charge.

[hereIam]

I only ever answer the door if I am expecting someone and I wouldn't dream of answering the door when it's dark. Persistent callers can be a bloody nuisance and once when a young bloke had knocked at least five times during the day, I shouted at him through the door to go away (but not that politely) and he walked off muttering! Unwanted callers are a pain in the butt !

[DarceyK123]

Yes i think a sign would be a good idea, i dont mind for myself as i can easily get rid of them but i just worry my Mum could be talked into any sales item given the right patter,

but really i think you should not be forced into answering the door if you dont want to, its your home.

[Eleena]

Hard sell, this is disgusting & 8.45pm is a very unsociable hour. I never answer the door late night, I will ask who it is though through the door. The odd time it's been a pizza delivery at the wrong address. Go with a sign see if that makes a difference Darcey. I can understand how annoyed you are, some are pretty persistent and the elderly shouldn't have to put up with the disturbance.

[Eleena]

Do you ever wonder what type of person takes these jobs! Never ever would I take a job where I had to hassle people in to purchasing something.

[ladybirder]

Can you install a video/phone type thingy like you have in flats? Caller presses your door number, you hear a buzzer so look at the screen to see who it is. If you don't want to interact with them you don't even have to speak to them, just leave it, or pick up the phone to find out whether are and/or tell them to please go away. If it's a friend just buzz them in.

[TonyV]

I dont have issue with answering the front door bell.

[Baldric]

We have CCTV covering our front door and a screen to review it in the kitchen where I spend most of my time. If I don't know who it is and I'm not expecting anything I just don't bother, leave it to the dogs to tell 'em to go away ;o)

[Eleena]

I have a brother with short term memory loss. I worry for him for the same reasons as you do Darcey. Had I the opportunity to meet someone knocking on his door like this I would be quite direct with them, makes my blood boil.

[TonyV]

My neighbour works from home his door bell is all singing and dancing he can see who is at the door while hes in his office.

[tamborine]

use this & your mum or anyone that has access to your cell phone, can answer the door.

[woofgang]

I thought about getting a Ring doorbell....almost did it but a couple of weeks ago I had one of those itinerant pedlar blokes round...you know the kind, fake id...trying to get back on his feet and stay off jobseekers and so on. My dogs were kicking off so I said no thank you I have to go the dogs are being noisy and he carried on with his pitch so I said sorry goodbye and shut the door. He ripped my bellpush off! It was only a cheapo wireless one so I have replaced it...yes I did report it on the police line......but if it had been 100 quidsworth of Ring doorbell, I would have been really upset.

[TonyV]

Kin hell woofgang thats way out of order. Have you contacted or reported it to police to protect you and your neighbours?

[Baldric]

From woofgangs post,

// yes I did report it on the police line //