Do you answer the door to strangers while alone?

Susannahmia

If the doorbell rings especially after dark and when I am alone,I tend to just ignore them. It its an emergency, they will bang on the door, not just ring it once and leave

Someone just rang the doorbell there and I just left it, I kind of felt a bit rude and guilty but its 8:30 in the evening and I'm not expecting anyone.

We don't have a peep hole unfortunately so I can't really check who's out there without them seeing me. We have a chain on the door but I don't really trust it.

I'm probably a bit more wary now as a few months ago my elderly granaunt answered the door in the middle of the day to a woman and while she was talking to her at the front door someone went in the back and robbed her.:mad:

So ladies what do you do?

Acoshla

I'd be the same as you, I wouldn't answer it, especially because we don't live in an estate or anything so I would wonder who was wandering around. I have a big black dog who likes to bark at the door, so if someone really persisted in knocking/ringing the bell after they heard her I might answer, but she always sticks her nose out the when they door is barely open, scares everyone, it's great

Susannahmia

I don't think my little mini Jack Russell would scare anyone . Have yet to hear her bark!

Asphyxia

Depends if I can see them I'll usually answer if I know or am expecting people boyfriend does it otherwise.

starlit

No not unless I know the person or at least expecting someone that I don't know well.

Kiera

Nope not a hope. If its someone i know they'll ring my phone knowing i'm in cause the lights and tv are on. Or if i know someone is calling down i'll ask who it is first before opening the door. Otherwise they can go away.

rainbow kirby

Peephole and check first, I'm not very likely to answer the door if I'm not expecting someone though.

dammitjanet

I don't answer it at all- my friends know to knock on my front window cause my bell doesn't work, and anyone else tends to call my phone to say they're outside.
It's not cause I'm nervous though, I just hate door to door sales people

Daisy03

We live in an estate but if I was on my own I would be more cautious and think twice about answering it.

My Gran-aunt lives in the country with very few houses around them. A few nights ago she had a young couple knock at the door around 9pm wondering if there were any houses for rent in the area! I found it really suspect. Thankfully, her husband was there. But I can't help but think that they are seeing what elderly people live alone etc.

Dravokivich

Susannahmia wrote: »

We have a chain on the door but I don't really trust it.

Them chains are fairly useless for the most part.

Alot of shoving can pull out the fittings on the door / door frame.

Shame you don't have a peep hole to check.

Malari

Hell no, it might be a tv license inspector!

I'll either ignore it or look out the window to see if it's anyone I know.

_Whimsical_

Goodness, I would always answer the door unless it was maybe after 11 but even then curiousity would get the better of me and I'd at least shout "who is it?" from inside. In my experience it's always either a lost taxi man or a lost take away delivery guy.

princess-lala

I live in the sticks and rarely answer the door unless I'm expecting someone.

We have three dogs who go wild barking when anyone pulls up, I answered the door last night for the first time in about 3 years!

Spadina

Spadina wrote: »

so if someone really persisted in knocking/ringing the bell after they heard her I might answer

I sometimes get Travelers calling to my house. They can be very urgent and persistent in their knocking.
If anything that kind of commotion makes me think twice about opening the door.

I wouldn't usually worry about it though.
If someone has their sights set on breaking into my place, they will find a way whether I open the door or not.

Stheno

Dravokivich wrote: »

Them chains are fairly useless for the most part.

Alot of shoving can pull out the fittings on the door / door frame.
.

Once the door was open with the chain on I used open the inlaws chain from the outside.

On the whole we get very few calls to the door, they tend to be deliveries or local charities, or salespeople.

I answer the door up to 9pm, after that I ignore it.

I've a pane of glass in the door that I can see who is there through it tho.

Whispered

Yeah I'd open it, it would annoy me thinking about who it could have been. If it's late or I'm not expecting anyone I'll let the dog out into the hall with me. If they only knew how likely he is to lick them to death they wouldn't knock out of fear!

Novella

I live in an apartment block so yeah, I probably would. I feel pretty safe here. Back home in my parents... I dunno, it's kinda isolated so if it was late and dark, I guess I'd be nervous. It makes me sad that I'd automatically think, 'Oh, what if I answer the door and it's someone who's going to break in' or whatever, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Still think it's sad though.

btard

I'm not a lady but thought I'd answer anyway. I never open the door to strangers at any time of day or night whether I'm alone or not. My friends and family know to text me or shout through the lettebox if they're coming around. Anybody else knocking on my door is either trying to sell me something or is out to get me. If someone persists in knocking loudly I'm likely to open the top window and give them a mouthfull of abuse. They can all take a running jump.

Madame Razz

I always allow callers to get acquainted with the dog first; that usually gets rid of the time wasters:D

ElleEm

This thread is gas- I didn't know there were others like me out there.
I don't answer the door at all, unless we're expecting a delivery of something, or friends have called in advance.
There are a lot of travellers knocking door to door recently selling stuff, and I've heard that they tend to nearly come into your house, looking around.
I'm too much of a 'fraidy cat to be talking to strangers!

amber2

Two dobermans and a big gate they can take their chances on ringing my doorbell if they make it that far but dont really know what my doorbell sounds like.

Princess Peach

Not at night. I live on a busy street so could be drunken idiots ringing my bell.

Have answered it in the day alright, funniest time, few travelers wanting to sell me carpet and would not go away!

I'm rarely home alone at night though, and if I was I'd be in pjs and would not answer the door to anyone!

Maple

Yes, I answer the door. Don't really think about it actually.

Mind you, i've been caught rotten by a few Bible bashers and God botherers which was highly annoying.

serenacat

rainbow kirby wrote: »

Peephole and check first, I'm not very likely to answer the door if I'm not expecting someone though.

you should install a peephole really, I turn the light on and check the peephole even if i am expecting someone! I can totally see where you are coming from and we got robbed before which can change how safe you feel in your own house

cdaly_

A glass porch door is very handy. The odd time that I do answer the door, I open the inner door, see if it's anyone I want to talk to and give them a shake of the head otherwise and close the door again. No foot-in-the-door stuff that way...

diarmuid05

Cant think of any situation where I would want to talk to someone who's knocking unannounced on my door.

Malari

There has been one or two occasions when a neighbour has asked for a favour in an emergency, which I don't mind.

I've looked out the window to see a guy in a vodafone jacket in a clipboard, and a woman with bible literature before. Both got a "not interested thanks" out the window before they could open their mouths.

I just think evening time is important to me, I'm usually in the middle of a conversation with my boyfriend, a tv show, making or eating dinner. Or in my PJs or tracky legs and not presentable!

bambera

I stand on the other side very quietly with a kitchen knife in hand until they go away

(yes, I'm paranoid)

Vinta81

Yes.

Kimia

serenacat wrote: »

you should install a peephole really, I turn the light on and check the peephole even if i am expecting someone! I can totally see where you are coming from and we got robbed before which can change how safe you feel in your own house

I never use a peephole, after I saw a film where this serial killer would ring the doorbell and wait until he saw the shadow under the door and at the peephole and then he'd put a drill through it to surprise the woman and break the door in. It's stupid but it's a weird fear that stayed with me.

Never answer the door. if someone wants to talk to me they can call me, if they want to call over they can call me on the phone and give me a time!

Cathmandooo

Kimia wrote: »

I never use a peephole, after I saw a film where this serial killer would ring the doorbell and wait until he saw the shadow under the door and at the peephole and then he'd put a drill through it to surprise the woman and break the door in. It's stupid but it's a weird fear that stayed with me.

Never answer the door. if someone wants to talk to me they can call me, if they want to call over they can call me on the phone and give me a time!

:eek: oh my god!!

Nobody can really knock on my door in the place I'm in now but in my last place yeah I always answered the door whatever time of day, some middle of the night rings from my drunken brother looking for a place to sleep has been known to happen :pac: If it was late I'd be cautious but would still open it.

NoDice

I never answer the door unless someone calls me first so I know who it is. But even if a delivery guy is meant to call I let my OH get it - just in case it's a murderer.. I'm sure he could "take care" of a murderer.... Or at least give me some time to get away!

WesternNight

Generally not unless it's someone I know. Or the Gardaí, which has happened a couple of times...looking for people nextdoor, mind you :cool:

flash1080

Never realised people were so afraid of answering the door. Wow.

WesternNight

flash1080 wrote: »

Never realised people were so afraid of answering the door. Wow.

Some of us are just anti-social

squeakyduck

I would open the door as there is a patio door with a latch in front of the door, it's pretty safe...I think!

Jenneke87

If someone knocks on my door at night and I'm not expecting anyone I just ask:"Who is there", before opening the door and if they refuse to answer or whatever they'll be left standing there. If I know the person then it's fine.

carolinespring

No, I would never answer the door when I am alone in the evening. My husband is away alot. My friends would always ring first or call when they are outside. Same with family.

Better safe than sorry

LightningBolt

I'm a bloke and have no problem answering the door. One thing I know my mother does is always bring the phone to the door with her. If it's knackers, door to door sales, bible worshippers etc. she just says she's on the phone and can't talk. She says they go pretty quickly...

christina_x

no. reguardless of time of day, i dont answer the door unless i am expecting somebody. Otherwise i will ask who it is!

Edgedinblue

I never answer the door unless its friends/family but they'll ring in advance so i know to keep an eye out for them. same with the postman, if i know im expecting a parcel ill just get up early and keep an eye out. apart from all that i dont see the point in opening the door to anyone

PhysiologyRocks

I do.

The Lovely Muffin

No, never.

I only answer the door if I know the person/people, everyone else is left standing there, some people ring the doorbell/knock on the door a few times before leaving, but most leave after ringing once.

We have a glass porch door and glass either side of the front door, so we can see who's at the door. Sometimes, even if we know who's at the door, if they are non-family I might just open the side window of the sitting room and talk to them that way, they can't get at the window though, as there is a big drop from the window down, plus the flower bed is right under the window, and my mother has Roses planted there, which have thorns on them.:D

mikemac

Never
Could the be the TV licence inspector, he's after me

WindSock

I do generally. Most of the time its a wrong address. If its sales people I have no trouble politely telling them I am not interested. Don't usually get Jesus people calling around, I'd invite them in though for a tea and a chat if they did.

Victor

The last people to knock at my door were: the landlord, the landlord's electrician (testing the fire alarm), the neighbour and a family member of my flatmate with medical news - should I have refused all these people? Some severe delusion and paranoia going on here. If you feel insecure, do something about improving your security rather than just ignoring people - how many actual cases of serial killers knocking on doors have you heard of?

Susannahmia wrote: »

We have a chain on the door but I don't really trust it.

Then get a proper chain. Have some way of seeing who's at the door before you open it, be it a peephole, a side or upstairs window, CCTV or even just an intercom. Have an external light fitted. If you want, have your phone with you. If someone isn't going away, they will when they hear you dialling 999 and asking for the Garda.

For those afraid of people sticking their foot in the door, that is something that you can do also - put your foot close behind the door and someone can't easily push their way in.

WesternNight

Victor wrote: »

The last people to knock at my door were: the landlord, the landlord's electrician (testing the fire alarm), the neighbour and a family member of my flatmate with medical news - should I have refused all these people? Some severe delusion and paranoia going on here.

To be fair, most people aren't talking about being afraid to answer the door to people they know. Especially during the day. It's mainly at night, when unexpected strangers call to the door that people (and since this is the Ladies Lounge, women in particular) are more reluctant. No-one's telling you you shouldn't answer the door to anyone :P

Victor

WesternNight wrote: »

To be fair, most people aren't talking about being afraid to answer the door to people they know.

And yo be fair most of those who posted above don't know who is at the door, because they don't check to see.

The Sweeper

I answer the door. I have an advantage in that I have a screen door too, so I can close and lock that in the afternoon and then answer the front in the evening and see who's there if the doorbell goes late, and there's still a security door between them and me. I live on my own these days, and my doorbell sometimes misfires around 11pm (it's a plug-in doorbell). Usually take the dog with me - not sure how much use he'd be, coz he's really just a pup at 7 months old, but he's still topping 25kgs at the moment and appears far more fierce than he is.

doctor evil

Good tip about keeing you foot just behind the opened door.


I live on a residential road with good street lighting as well as glass on the paneling of the door. I have no problems answering the door but if I know it is travellers I tend to ignore it as they can take the piss.

Linguo

It's great having a locked porch so you can open up but still have it between you and just talk through it if necessary! Better to be safe than sorry!