Postwoman lets herself in

splishsplash

marisco wrote: »

There is no justifiable reason for the postwoman to open someone's door and walk inside their property in order to deliver something. If it were all above board and not open to question then it would be a more common occurrence amongst posties. I have never known one to do this. I wouldn't trust her as far as I could throw her, and if she were my postie she would find the door locked when she tried her luck!

It's custom and practice in many rural areas and considered a very important community service. Posties often are the ones who report problems with elderly or isolated people living alone.

I wonder if you've always lived in the country, OP? I would lock the door if I were you. I don't understand why you keep it open if you don't expect people to walk through it? I think a formal complaint is uncalled for unless you've gone through the informal channels first - after all, you said you laughed with her and didn't object in any way, so she probably thinks you're fine with it (as I would be).

Mind you, an open door makes life interesting sometimes. My son was waiting for his friend to call this morning, so left the door open for him. He then called to tell us how two French people politely asked him if they could cook in our kitchen

troubleinparadise

I'm rural too - so the front door is invariably unlocked virtually the whole day outside "gone to bed" hours!

Our wonderful postman opens the door, saying "Hello" loudly, drops the post in and takes away any stamped letters for posting. And if we're not there, will sign for parcels etc and leave them for us, saving us having to drive an hour's round trip to the main depot to pick them up again.

And the dogs like him, and he them - no barking when he's at the door.

When there was a threat of him being assigned to another round, the village got up a successful petition to keep him here (luckily that was what he wanted too!)

There are others (not posties!) who take our open door policy a little too liberally - I do have to remember to keep a sense of modesty even in my own house!

FBaby

My regular postman manages to knock and wait for me to answer and I never take very long as I'm usually close to the front door anyway.

I'm confused. Why does your regular postman needs to knock on the door to give you your mail if you have a mailbox? Or are you talking about registered mail?

gayleygoo

I've no idea what age you are OP, but could she be leaving the post in through the door so you don't have to bend to pick it up? Some people request it to be left on a table or somewhere like that if they have mobility issues. As others have pointed out it could just be a check-up kinda thing, my OH is a postie and he gets a newsletter each month, and there's nearly always a story about a postie who called the emergency services for someone who had collapsed or fallen etc.

If it bothers you, just try to speak to her next time and say you're not comfortable with people opening your door, you're happy with letters being delivered through the letterbox. If you tend to get parcels when you're not in, suggest somewhere they can be left safely (or arrange a "Safeplace" with RM). I wouldn't complain to RM because she could get in big trouble for doing something that others benefit from, even though it's not company policy.

Billie-S

I haven't read all of the posts yet, but I will soon.

We have a postman in our village who is known by first name by everyone, and we have a side door (that goes into the kitchen,) that we leave open a lot (as it's often warm in our cottage,) and he pops the letters on the worktop in the kitchen, and shouts POST, as we are often in the lounge. (And we shout THANK YOU, and go and get it.) Our front door is an extra 10 seconds walk, and it saves him a few seconds and him fannying around trying to squish stuff through the letterbox.

If the door is closed though, he doesn't open it. If he did do that to pop it in the kitchen, I don't think I would mind. It does seem a bit unusual though.

If you DO mind, then make it stop: keep your door locked.

All you can do OP, is keep your front door locked. She won't be able to open it then.

Kim_kim

I find front doors that open from the outside by the handle bizzare.
You need a key to open my front door from the outside, from the inside you just use the handle like a normal door (no key).
At night you flip the handle up & extra bolts come out from the door into the frame (just a regular upvc door).
I know my postmans name, but unless I was on the drive or the door was physically open - then he uses the letterbox.

lostinrates

Kim_kim wrote: »

I find front doors that open from the outside by the handle bizzare.
You need a key to open my front door from the outside, from the inside you just use the handle like a normal door (no key).
At night you flip the handle up & extra bolts come out from the door into the frame (just a regular upvc door).
I know my postmans name, but unless I was on the drive or the door was physically open - then he uses the letterbox.

I don't think they had up co when my front door was built:rotfl:.. It was done in a Georgian remodel, though the handle regretably is newer, its certainly not upvc. When we lock up at night properly we have big metal bar across the door from the inside

Kim_kim

lostinrates wrote: »

I don't think they had up co when my front door was built:rotfl:.. It was done in a Georgian remodel, though the handle regretably is newer, its certainly not upvc. When we lock up at night properly we have big metal bar across the door from the inside

But even old wood doors with yale locks, they are a key to open from the outside & a handle to turn from the inside.

Gloomendoom

Kim_kim wrote: »

I find front doors that open from the outside by the handle bizzare.

Why, they are more convenient than doors with no handles.

It means that you have the choice to lock the door or leave it latched closed but don't need a key to get in. Ours is like that, useful if we are out the front or when we are expecting visitors.

Gloomendoom

lostinrates wrote: »

When we lock up at night properly we have big metal bar across the door from the inside

What do you do for a living... sell drugs?

Only joking!