Home is your castle?

I would feel the same as you Juggernaut - what a bl**dy cheek the woman has!

I think i may have said this on here before (memory is awful) but my Granny always used to wear a hat during the so that if an unwelcome visitor came to the door, she could say she was just going out but to a welcome visitor she had just this minute got in.

When we had our porch built we deliberately chose to have clear glass in the door. That way the front door gets opened, but the porch door is kept locked until we know who the caller is.
There are times when we ignore the doorbell completely, when we've heard delivery men knocking at our next door neighbours house. We must have taken upwards of sixty parcels in for them over a period of less than a year, but not once did they ever thank us for doing so. The straw that finally broke this camel's back was on a glorious day in spring of this year, I was weeding at the bottom of our (very long) garden, our doorbell rang, I dashed to the door only to find it was yet another parcel for the neighbours. I took it in, and before I returned to the garden went upstairs to open the dormer window wider........and saw 'her next door' lying on a lounger in her back garden! I thought perhaps she hadn't heard her doorbell/knocker, but when I took the parcel to her later on my way out shopping, she said "Oh, that's what the knocking at my door must have been, I was sunbathing and couldn't be bothered getting up"!
They're a young couple, he's 33, she's 32, he works, obviously is on a good salary because she spends a huge amount on clothes, which she has delivered!
Since the 'sunbathing' episode, if she doesn't answer her door, she doesn't get her parcel!
Yeah, I'm a grumpy old woman, and proud of it!

I open the door to anyone who makes it that far - I have two big dogs and only the brave or dog lovers get through the gate. I never tell callers that they are really big softies.

I got a no cold caller sticker from Amazon when my H started with his Alzheimer's as he got flustered with callers. Only one has ignored it in a long time. Caller display deals with most calls but the TPS still lets some national calls through. I am polite but firm with them, just once being told I was a very rude woman when I stopped one in mid speil saying I wasn't interested. He did get the phone put down on him.
The sticker was under £2.

I have a look to see who is a the front door. Friends and family are welcome any time but I often ignore others ( unless they are obviously delivering something). My door, my choice.

We have caller identity on the 'phone so it is not answered if I don't know the caller. If it's important they can leave a message which I can instantly reply to.

CarrieTaylor - thank you for your concern, I really do understand and appreciate it.
I'm not naive, I used to be a social worker and I continue to be in regularly contact with strangers (including homeless people) through my current work. I have made a considered choice to live the way I do and opening my home to strangers has been a blessing to me as much as to anyone who has visited. I know the dangers and as I said previously I do take reasonable care, but I think the risks (for me) are worth the taking.

Oh don't fear for me at all Carrietaylor I m not a stupid lady but I won't live in fear and there is no need to be I would never open the door late at night but day or evening is fine for me . i m not stupid and I wouldn't let people in 'to use the toilet,' or look at 'water pipes' I prefer to think most people knocking on my door would have a good reason and nothing bad has come through my door (legitimately) in my long lifetime and I ve lived in some weird places so I won't change now

I m like you Grannyqueenie I talk to everyone in queues at bus stops and on trains I like being friendly and meet some nice people

I have done a lot of election canvassing in my time and was quite astonished at the number of elderly people who opened the door to me. I guess some of them were lonely and were glad to have a natter on the doorstep. When I wrote a party leaflet, I used to add a small paragraph about bogus callers - but they still opened the door to me! Unlike some other canvassers, I never called after 8pm - as much for my own sake as for theirs, I must admit.

I can't imagine ignoring a knock at the door and try to strike a balance between being foolishly naive and wisely cautious. I'd hate to be feeling suspicious of every unknown person I come across, not everyone is out to harm or expoloit others. Thinking about it, maybe that's why random people end up speaking to me on the bus!

I only have one door - as in fact do many of our friends and neighbours here - it is my kitchen door so anyone who calls comes there. I can see who it is as we have a pair of glazed French doors. It is so quiet where we live that we are glad to see anyone! If it is not someone we know it is likely to be someone needing directions. In the summer we normally have door open and we are sitting/eating/ writing etc outside anyway.

BlueBelle and Granactivist
I genuinely fear for you and agree with annodomini
I NEVER open the door unless I'm satisfied with the caller's ID.

I was taught this as a child - I shout "Who is it please?" If it's someone that I know, fine. If not, I ask them to put their ID against the room window at the side of the front door. If it's anything else, I just say that I'm sorry but I'm not interested.

I don't give a fig if anyone thinks that I'm an eccentric bird - once you have freely opened that door - you have no chance.

I am with foxyferret on this one. My Door , I will open it if and when I feel like opening it, and yes I too have looked back at them through the window then carried on doing what I was doing before they knocked. Eventually they sidle off

Although I live in a safe area ( if you know what I mean) in the countryside, it still makes sense to check who is at the door.So, we have a strong chain that I always use at the front door ( nobody would see if the caller just barged in, it's hidden, and quiet.)Also, even if DH is in, we are older now, so some security is called for.Nobody can get into the back garden ( locked high gate.)So, yes, we always answer the door, and the phone too.

A "No cold callers" sign, not yet another plastic bag (but the plastic bags make good bin liners)

You can download and print one from www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/no-more-junk and there are a lot of other ways on that page to stop getting junk mail, junk emails, junk cold callers . . . .

Me too Hooty, with plastic charity bags. If I am near the door when posted through, I go after them and say no thanks.

I'm thinking of getting a sign (or making my own) for my door saying 'No cold callers' or that sort of thing. We are pestered with double glazing/conservatory etc sales, or charities 'sign up for £2 a month', fresh fish/ meat, ready meals, tea/coffee, Jehovah's Witnesses - drives me potty. One after the other some days (yesterday!) And we must get at least one plastic charity bag every day looking to be filled with clothing ("no bric a brac"). I have been known to snatch it out the letterbox, open the door and hand it straight back! Yes I am a grumpy old git.

Don't often answer the 'phone during the day and I'm pretty cautious about answering the door unless I'm expecting a guest or a delivery - we live down a very long, bumpy drive in the middle of the country so casual callers are very unusual.

Oldgoose. The sophisticated technology rings about 20 numbers at the same time. As soon as someone answers, it hangs up on the other 19. So don't rush to the phone!

Cagsy - how nice you sound. I wish you lived next door to me.

Can't imagine not opening the door, what if someone decided to call in and I missed them, or someone needed help in some way? I too work from home and get parcels delivered almost every day so it's important not to miss them - although regular drivers know to put them in the porch. I guess if I was in on my own and someone called at night I might think twice, could always peek through the front room window I guess.
Youngest DS still lives at home - well theoretically, he's at his grilfriend's more often than not, and older DS has a key, although I love the little knock, knock on the inner door when he lets DGC into the porch. DD and family live in rural Spain so no surprise visits from them, more's the pity.
It's quite a bustling household at the moment and I hate thinking about how very different it might be in the future.

I can see who is at the front door and do not answer if they are strangers. Have caller recognition so do not answer the phone if I do not recognise the number or if I am busy cooking etc.

Live in a flat when anybody buzzes the door have an answer phone so I know whose there.

Always answer the door never dream of ignoring it if I'm at home. I have caller ID on phone so only answer proper numbers no 0800 or 0345. Always polite to cold callers and don't let them engage me in drivel.