I have a sign on my door that tells people I don't answer my door unless I'm expecting you.

Today Verizon came knocking on my door. I didn't have a service call for them nor was I expecting them for any reason. So I didn't answer.

The repairman went into my backyard and peered at me through my window waving his ID. Isn't that against the law?

I went to the front door and was so shocked at what happened that I let him access my backyard and climb the tree to fix something for my neighbor. But I thought about it later and called Verizon to report what he had done.

I should have sent him packing and told him to have Verizon send someone else out.

Here's my guess...

He needed to fix something in your neighborhood.

He didn't enter the neighborhood to go to your house or your yard - he went to fix something that could only be fixed by entering your yard.

He didn't have your phone number, didn't know who lived in the house, and really his only option was to knock on your front door despite the sign.

When you didn't answer, if the only way to get to the place he needed to get to was through your back yard, he went ahead and went back there. I have no clue if they are 'allowed' to do that or not.

When he happened to catch a glimpse of you through your window as he was walking to the tree, he thought he should alert you to his presence. Not wanting to freak you out, he held up his badge.

I guess I wouldn't be bothered by it myself.

ita, I think the poor guy was just trying to do his job, and in the best way possible.

dl

I agree with the previous two posts. I understand that you don't want solicitors, but this guy was just trying to get the job done for your neighbor. If you needed service from Verizon, wouldn't you hope your neighbor would allow the repair guy in their yard?

Since you asked for opinions, mine is that you overreacted.

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

I agree with everyone else. He needed to access the tree, which happened to be in your yard, to complete a job he was doing for your neighbor and didn't want to scare you so he showed you his badge so you would know who he was and what he was doing. Personally, even if I didn't normally answer my door, I would have answered it this time once I saw it was someone from Verizon. I would have to agree with jujubee2 and say that you overreacted.

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~~~~**Maryann**~~~~

I just got a firm grip on reality....
Now I can strangle it

I agree with the other posters. The guy was trying to do his job. I surely wouldn't have called to report him if I was the one who ignored him when he knocked, considering he was probably just going to let you know what he was doing.

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Mom to Jake, Zach & Meghan
SJCC STREAKS FOOTBALL!!
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Guess I'm in the minority here.

But:

1. He was from Verizon - he could have called Verizon and asked them to call me to let me know he was trying to access my backyard.

2. He could have gone to my neighbor to let her know I won't answer the door. My neighbor has my phone number and could have called me.

3. I don't begrudge him going into my backyard and accessing the tree which is in the corner to fix the problem thinking I might not be home.

4. No way he could have seen me just walking by to the tree. Peeping into my window is an invasion of my privacy and definitely a no. What if I had just emerged from the shower and happened to be nude?

To op I agree with you, and I too would have felt totally uncomfortable having someone look into my window. I do not let anyone into my home without my husband being here. I totally understand your feelings on the subject. Catherine

1) if the equipment/pole (whatever) is Verizon's property--he doesn't have to let anyone know he's accessing your yard. (at least not here)

2) If your neighbor knows you that well, why didn't she call you to begin with? Why should he be inconvenienced because you won't answer your door?

4) You don't want people peeping in, keep the shades down.

Not answering the door is a safety risk! Some thief/criminal knocks on your door to see if your home---You don't answer. Said thief/criminal decides since no one is home, to bust down the door/break a window/gain access to the INSIDE of your home. INSIDE where you are.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I agree with the safety risk part. We had a string of burglaries happen exactly like that in my neighborhood, including the home diagonally across the street. I am 99% sure that the burglars came to my house. However, when they knocked, I answered the door. The guy outside looked like a crack addict. I had my phone in my hand and he could see my dog right behind me. He asked me to take him and his mother (no where to be seen) to the hospital because she had a stroke. I said I couldn't because I work at home and had to stay on the phone, but would happily call 911 for him. He left and hasn't been back. If I hadn't answered the door, I think they would have kicked it in and my story would be entirely different.

AT&T comes to my house and has to get in my backyard, too. They knock, but if I don't answer, they go to the backyard (unless my dog is outside, then they keep knocking lol). I'll admit that I was a bit disconcerted and put off the first time I saw them walking through the backyard, but I didn't say much. It would be easy enough to put a lock on the gate if it really bothered me, but I figure they need to do their job and I expect to get pretty quick results if I have a problem.

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Kim

1. If you aren't a Verizon customer, they wouldn't readily have your number, much less if you don't have a landline

2. Perhaps your neighbor wasn't home, or, told the Verizon rep they were sure you wouldn't mind, you're such a good neighbor

3. He obviously didn't think you weren't home, he knocked to try to find out.

4. Did he REALLY window peep? Shower/nude ...... you should have your curtains closed, that's really stretching it.

I also think he was cautious of disturbing any pets as well in trying to be as courteous as possible. He wasn't trying to come into your home, just do his job !

Yes, you are in the minority.

dl

Since it happened to you, you know how you felt and you have a right to that feeling. I however, agree with most of the others. If he hadn't knocked and you made aware that he was out there, it would have been disconcerting to see someone in the back yard....but you were given the heads up that he was there for a reason.

I am glad that a civil conversation is on-going here even with disagreement. I commend the OP for that since her reaction to the disagreeing posts remained sane and civil. Thank you

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I don't know.... I see both sides here. The OP posted a sign saying she will not answer the door unless she knows you're coming. That explains her side completely. It was up to the Verizon rep to call her home or have someone call her home if he needed access to her. I don't know why he would even had to have talked to her to get to a tree in her backyard. Suppose she hadn't been home? Would he have sit in his truck waiting all day for her? I wouldn't have liked someone looking in my window either! It's my house and I have the right to have my curtains or blinds up. He had no right to look in.

There were other ways the Verizon rep could have handled it. Like I said, had OP been gone, what would he have done?

As far as answering the door, I don't answer the door either. Way too many crazies out there to be answering the door to someone you don't know.

There is a HUGE difference between answering the door ---and opening the door!

You do not have to open the door to answer it.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

Again I stand with the op and totally feel you felt the right to be upset as I would have been. To op glad all worked out in the long run. Catherine

1. Yes, I have Verizon landline - so not an excuse not to call

2. My neighbor WAS home and definitely would have called me.

3. If he didn't think think I was home, he should have just gone about his business without 'WINDOW PEEPING'

4. I shouldn't have to nor will I be a prisoner in my own home by keeping the curtains closed. I like having the sunlight come in and being able to look outside.

So, just out of curiosity... Do you think he realized you were home? Or did he think you were gone? Maybe, because you didn't answer the door, he didn't think you were home and went on to the backyard (not thinking to go back to your neighbors to call because he rang the bell and you didn't answer so he assumed you weren't home). When he saw you through the window, he felt it was prudent to let you know who he was and why he was there... I'm just wondering.... When you said window peeping, do you mean he had his face up against the glass trying to look all around in your home or did he happen to see you as he walked by? I wouldn't like it if someone had their face pressed up against the glass trying to look in, but it wouldn't bother me if someone caught sight of me as he walked by.

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Kim

I'm pretty sure the phone company can find out a phone number whether or not you are one of their customers. I know that there is at least one program that matches addresses and/or names with phone numbers because we used it for Census and it's available to all businesses.

Normally the utility companies contact people before they access the property. I would be upset also if this happened to me.

And there is no reason in the world why someone whose windows don't face the public to have to close their curtains in their own home.

I seem to be in the minority here. I value my privacy and it upsets me when I lose it through no choice of my own.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Isn't there an easment where the utilities are so they have access whenever they want?

I just saw a Time Warner guy in my back yard the other day. It wasn't for us because we've made no changes to our cable. It must have been for one of our neighbors. They didn't call us, he didn't ring our bell or anything. I would have never even known he was there except I happened to notice him.

I guess I don't see the big deal?

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

Just the feeling of seeing someone in your yard can be scary. These days you could have a heart attack thinking it might be a home invasion or something. I just think they need to be more sensitive to the people whose property they are on.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I agree: you didn't have to open the door and let him in, but you surely could have seen what he wanted and saved yourself the aggravation.

To op and annadrose again I totally feel the same way and would be extremely uncomfortable if I caught anyone in my back yard peering into my windows. Which by the way would not happen too often because I do not like the direct sunlight I like my shades or blinds closed. However regardless I totally agree I would have felt extremely uncomfortable, it is my privacy. Catherine

My understanding, from what I was able to google up, is that repairmen can have access whenever, and he didn't even have to knock on your door.

If, as you said, you like to keep your shades open, do you not peek out the window when you hear someone at your door?

Do you ignore EVERYBODY who comes to your door? If a relative happened to be in the neighborhood and needed to drop something by and hadn't called first, would you not have a clue it was them knocking at your door because you refuse to peek out through the curtains?

I always want to know who is at my door. There are times I don't answer (if it's the JW's, etc.), but if the bell is ringing I can't imagine NOT figuring out a way to peek and identify the ringer.

Utility service people do not have to obtain permission to access property--if they have equipment on the property.

I don't see the big deal
*shrug*

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

What he did was all ok except for peeping in the window. That's a big no no in my mind. Once no one opens the door, go and do your business and then leave.

I agree - if he was actually peeping.

My gut tells me that he really wasn't 'peeping'.

I asked in an earlier post if he was REALLY peeping and didn't get an answer. I don't think he was really peeping either, but that sure makes for good reading. I can't imagine a recognizable Verizon employee most likely with a recognizable Verizon vehicle, actually peeping - or the op, if valid, should have called law enforcement. Nope, no peeping.

The op made a statement about not being a prisoner in her own home, yet that's what she's done to herself. I can't believe it's such a production to not have simply responded through the door while it was closed as to what he wanted.

I agree with someone else. Not answering could have caused a real criminal casing the home, to break and enter. The poor Verizon guy, just doing his job.

dl

I missed the part where he knocked I thought he just went on in. Now I don't think it was that bad.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Well... that, and he had his badge in his and and was displaying it for her with what sounds like a lot of gusto.

If he was really being a peeping Tom that's one thing, but it sounds like this guy was doing everything he could to make his presence known to keep any possible inhabitants of the house from freaking out.

Hope he didn't get fired or reprimanded over this.

Yes Deddlast, although I don't feel he was a peeping tom, he put his face right up against my window.

I wouldn't have minded a bit if he had just accessed the backyard and gone and climbed up the tree to do his job. As someone pointed out, utility workers have a right to access their equipment. But putting his face against my window and looking in was completely uncalled for.

And yes, I made sure he was reprimanded for this. I put in a complaint with Verizon and didn't give up until I was assured that he was reprimanded. No one has a right to put his face against my window under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

This was a sub-contractor for Verizon and therefore he was in an unmarked vehicle and parked across the street from my house. Not even right in front of my house.

And the simple answer is--if you had answered the door when he knocked, then all of this could have been avoided.

Did you ask him why he put his face against your window?
And were you there when he was reprimanded?? If not, you have no proof he was reprimanded. Because if his supervisor asked him what happened, and the service guy provided a plausible explanation, he was probably NOT reprimanded. They just assured you he was because they wanted to shut you up.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

[quote=marilynk;3451619]And the simple answer is--if you had answered the door when he knocked, then all of this could have been avoided.

Whether or not I answer the door when someone knocks is nobody's business but mine. I CHOOSE NOT TO!

[quote=mrsnudge;3451643]I agree. I only answer my door when I feel like it. I always peek out to make sure it is no one I need to open for, particularly if I'm alone in the house. And if he was not in uniform, I would be even more reluctant to open the door. Kids coming to find out if my grandson is home, I open the door. UPS or USPS or other delivery, I open the door. Someone I'm expecting, I open the door. Almost everyone else, probably not.

Unfortunately my darling husband, (of 44 years), would invite someone with a bloody ax in their hands in. So when he's home, the door gets opened regardless of who's there. For an old fart, he can move pretty fast at times. I can seldom beat him to the door. If the phone rings, forget it. That he can't manage to do before they hang up, but the door? That he can do. Rapidly. Without a thought of who is there and cheerfully to boot. Afterward I would ask, "Why did you let that stranger holding a bloody ax in his hands in?" He would reply, "What bloody ax?"

And that's your choice--I was just stating the obvious.

Frankly, it's just not safe to not answer the door. I'm not saying OPEN the door. But to answer a knock or ring w/ "who is it?" or "who's there?"
You don't have to open the door to do that. What if it were a neighbor you didn't know who need help? What if it was a criminal checking to see if your home so they can rob you?

But, you're right it's your choice. I don't have to agree with you. And I am trying to be respectful in expressing my opinion. My opinion is that by not answering the door creates more problems than it solves.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

[quote=wildwood;3451651]I only open the door basically to the same people you do. All delivery people including Mailman. My friends will usually yell at me and let me know it's them or call or e-mail before coming over. And I had the same problem with my hubby of 36 yrs. Except he would also run for the phone. He couldn't stand to have the phone ring. Of course, if it was someone trying to sell something, he would hand the phone off to me.

I agree with this completely.

I choose whether or not to answer my phone based on what Caller ID tells me. If it's a local number I answer whether I recognize it or the name. If it's an 800 number or something that's obviously a telemarketer, I don't.

I didn't answer the 'unknown name, unknown number' calls. Then I learned that the Dr's office had been calling repeatedly to tell me my son's appointment had been canceled and I made an unnecessary trip an hour away. For privacy reasons - to protect patient's privacy - they don't have caller ID reveal their identity. It was my choice not to answer, but it cost me... and that wasn't their fault.

I had no idea the simple every day answering of a phone or door had reached analyzation with such indepth lengths. I had no idea it could be made so complicated. I had no idea people are no longer capable of simply speaking through a door (and then not continuing, or opening it) and the same with a phone. So much of it seems contrived with people making their own lives more difficult resultant of their decisions.

dl

Just an observation about life in general. Not directed at anyone in particular.

When I actually had full-blown, OMG!, drama in my life that I could not control--it caused me a great deal of stress.

I choose, yes CHOOSE, to typically live a life w/o that much drama. If it means I answer the door when I really don't want to, or answer the phone, or whatever--then so be it. If it means I tell someone that they need to go away--I do that too!

Yeah, I engage in some "drama filled" interactions on this board---that's just good clean fun! Simply because I leave the drama "here" and don't take it any further....

I like controlling my destiny and the drama factor in my life. It gives me so much more peace and contentment than when I let drama overshadow the important things....

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I read once that when you answer a call from a telemarketer your number is apt to get flagged as somebody likely to respond, and you end up getti g exponentially more telemarketing calls. I am on the Do Not Call list but still get at least 4-5 telemarketing calls each week.

That's why I don't answer every call. Usually 'unknown name - unknown number' is a telemarketer masking their identity...but not always.

I work from home and I just really don't need the disruption of those annoying calls. But like I said... Even if I don't know who is calling, if it is a local number I always pick up.

I am also on the DNC list. I still get calls - not near as many as you - but I turn in every single one of them. You can do it real quick and easy online....

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

Lisa, I always google numbers as the phone is ringing. 99% of the time it comes up in a forum where others have reported it as a telemarketer. Just minutes ago I answered an unknown and as is most often the case, it was a hang-up. Drives me nuts!

I never thought about googling the number. So you're saying they've already been turned in and are still calling people? I thought by turning them in, they got fines. I get a bunch of those hang-ups, too. They really make me mad.

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

Yes, usually when I google a number I end up looking at a thread on some forum where people also got calls from that number and reported them. I, too, thought they got fined out the wazoo, but sometimes I find threads going back a looong time complaining about the same number! Grrrr!

I just went through my caller ID history. Out of the past 15 calls, three were telemarketers. That's 20%!

Here are google results of one of them:

7739661039 - Google Search

I like pipl.com reverse phone search over google....
you can actually see some of the complaints w/o having to click through a link.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

Wow - I never knew that. Interesting. I'm going to start googling them, but I'm still going to turn them in on the DNC list because I feel kind of better after I do it! Just my own little vindication thing, I guess. LOL! (Even though now I guess they don't really do anything with it).

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

I was under the impression that if the same people called you more than once and you reported each call, that there would be a hefty fine for each call after the first one, and the money, or most of it would go to you. I think to get around that they use hundred of numbers so they can call you many times before they have to stop. But if they use the same company name when they call then you can use that as well. What I have found, is they won't give me a company name when they call. If I get pushy about it, they hang up. Unfortunately for me, I don't currently have caller ID so I have to get the company name. I have also found that it's very hard to tell them to take you off their call list. As soon as you get out the "Take me" part they hang up on you.

I'll answer the phone faster than I'll answer the door. But during dinner, the answering machine has to take calls, unless I'm waiting for a particular call. If I've gone to the trouble to cook a meal, (rare, but it does happen ), then everyone better have their butts on a chair and no phone in sight.