Answering a knock at the door

Amaretti_2

GobbledyGook wrote: »

Doesn't the Census Act (1920 or 25 I think) have a clause about failing to comply/fill in and return the census?

Not sure, but I haven't heard of a census form collector being able to quote any such law, they, like Capita who harass people for the TV licence rely on blind compliance, not fact.

There was a YouTube video doing the rounds last year showing a man explaining to a policeman why he doesn't have to fill out the census form. The policeman ended up agreeing and went on his way.

The fact that I, and many others refused to comply and not be fined £1000 is telling.

Mrs.W_2

Time_to_get_up_and_go wrote: »

Do you have to let meter readers in your property?

We had a meter reading about 2 weeks ago for gas and electric and then the following week another one came.

When I queried it the man was quite off with me and said he had it on his list so it had to be done.

Could I have refused it? I just don't like people wandering through my house to get to the meter etc

Maybe the meter reader was paid per visit? That might have been why his tone was less than pleased, but that's not very professional!

And you are not obliged to let him in to your house. You could always send in a reading via internet/phone/snail mail.

Mrs.W_2

Amaretti wrote: »

Not sure, but I haven't heard of a census form collector being able to quote any such law, they, like Capita who harass people for the TV licence rely on blind compliance, not fact.

There was a YouTube video doing the rounds last year showing a man explaining to a policeman why he doesn't have to fill out the census form. The policeman ended up agreeing and went on his way.

The fact that I, and many others refused to comply and not be fined £1000 is telling.

But why be so difficult? Are you between hobbies?

jackieb

I usually answer it, but not always. My house is on a bend in the road and it's well back from the pavement and I can get a good look up the street. If my son is in, and I can't see who it is (no car or van out front) then i'll get him to answer it. I get anxious sometimes when I hear someone at the door and I have no idea why that is. I don't have any real reason to be - there's no one chasing me for money or anything! I asked a similar question about answering the house phone as I used to feel guilty if I didn't answer it, but I got really fed up with unsolicited phone calls (and yes, i'm registered with the TPS). So I bought a phone with caller display and I no longer answer any calls that has the number as unavailable. There's also an answering machine so if it's anything important I can pick it up while they're still on the phone leaving the message.

My front door is usually unlocked when i'm in, so if it's any family members they usually just ring the bell and walk in. I don't mind that. I'd lock the door if that bothered me.

I have blinds and tinted glass in my windows so I don't think anyone can see me anyway - as long as i'm not standing right up next to the window looking out.

My OH never answers the door, and rarely answered the phone either. He's got better since we have caller display though.

Amaretti_2

Mrs.W wrote: »

But why be so difficult? Are you between hobbies?

Hobbies? As in learning new recipes and decorating, then yes.

When I get home from work I don't appreciate pests knocking on my door, does this really need to be explained again? Most of the people on this thread have expressed this opinion.

Amaretti_2

Time_to_get_up_and_go wrote: »

Do you have to let meter readers in your property?

We had a meter reading about 2 weeks ago for gas and electric and then the following week another one came.

When I queried it the man was quite off with me and said he had it on his list so it had to be done.

Could I have refused it? I just don't like people wandering through my house to get to the meter etc

No you do not have to give them access.

This happened to me a few months ago. I said, "Did we have an appointment?" He said, "No, we don't do appointments anymore" I replied, "You do with me!" and shut the door.

That's the way to deal with pests. Then phone up company with meter reading.

Mrs.W_2

Amaretti wrote: »

Hobbies? As in learning new recipes and decorating, then yes.

When I get home from work I don't appreciate pests knocking on my door, does this really need to be explained again? Most of the people on this thread have expressed this opinion.

Be it either the cenus or your point within this thread, you seem to be quite set on arguing a silly point to either it's death or yours.

Good luck with your search for a new hobby.

dragonette

I'm pretty sure that meters need to be read every 2 years, not sure if its t&c's or legislation. If its more frequent then I'm sure you can refuse.

I'm in a flat with a buzzer system, and glad to be away from cold callers!

CupOfChai

Why would you ever think you HAVE to answer? It's my door, it's up to me if I answer it or not!

We generally answer the door/phone if we're expecting something, or I might answer if I'm not doing anything and can be bothered. If I am busy doing something then they can get lost, I won't drop anything to rush to answer and I don't care if they can clearly see I'm in either.

Balgair

I almost never answer the door unless I'm expecting a delivery; I find it very difficult to cope with dealing with people even when it's expected, and when unexpected it's extremely stressful for me to try to get rid of cold callers, which is invariably who's at the door. Also, while I don't live in a high crime area, I used to, and having the doorbell ringing at all hours of day or night from people wanting the external door opened to get into the rather dodgy flat above mine (yeah, none of them could read the number, sigh), means I feel uncomfortable to say the least when someone unnannounced turns up.

Is it rude? Well in my opinion it's rude of people to invade my home, trying to sell me things. So I don't see any reason why I should answer the door to them! My family and friends all live several hundred miles away, my OH's family wouldn't come when they know he's out, and the neighbours very rarely knock, so far, only when OH is home (car there = they know someone's in). So other than an unexpected delivery, there's no likely valid reason for anyone to be at the door anyway.

I follow the same logic with the phone - I answer to my parents only, my OH answers to his family only, for everyone else, we have 1571 service, but everyone important has OH's mobile anyway. So far as we know, we've never missed any important calls, we have however missed large numbers of machine dialled calls trying to sell us things we don't want... no loss.