Fake Engineers

[arppt01]

Recently I had a very bad experience and it could have been worst. Around noon a person knocked at the door to say they are going to check my kitchen oven. I did my biggest mistake by opening the door. He just came in and went inside the house. He then told me to pay for annual repairing charges. I refused saying I don't have the money with me now. Later I found my composure and maintained few things. I always ensured that I should not be at a striking distance with the person and make enough gestures so that the person does not understand I am nervous. After a tense period of ten minutes he left. He never went to my neighbour. He just left the locality in a hurry. I though I was lucky. It was a basic mistake from my part by opening the door.

[mtatum4496]

What an experience! Did he not offer any credentials when he came to your door? I know the utility companies around here have all their people carry picture id's and they have a toll free number you can call to verify that one of their people is checking on appliances or gas leaks in your neighborhood before you let them in.

I'm over six feet and not a small man by any means. But no one gets into my home unless I know the person or I have some good reason to think they are there on official business.

As an aside, did you call the police and report the incident? If he pulled this stunt once, he most likely tried it somewhere else in town. your decsription of him would definitely help the police.

[Slashmire]

There are sadly too many con-artists in this world...I guess it tells people to double check everything first :\

[mtatum4496]

That is so true, Slashmire. When I was a child, we would sleep with the front door open to catch a breeze. Only the screen door was latched. I would never consider that sort of thing today. it is so sad that we have come to this.

[jemoelle]

I remember when we were kids we left the door open till very late at night and never thought anything about it. We also ran around the neighborhood til all hours of the night playing hide and seek. I would never let my kids do that nowadays. I always lock my door...too bad we can't feel safe even in our own homes these days.

[Slashmire]

Well, then again, it may be a good thing to think about where to live. I still know places that you could do that without any problems

[ohioguy]

You're lucky that everything turned out fine for you. Personally, I never would have let him in. Most people would have called ahead before showing up.

[ss1129]

Holy mother of god. I would of never let that happen, and if my wife did that and the guy didnt kill her, I would. I would of probably opened the door, but theres no way someone is comming in my house without proir authorization.

[tater03]

That is one thing I never do is let anyone in my home. I am home alot by myself during the day and when someone has come to the door I have asked for a number and actually called to make sure that they do have someone in our area.

[vicki2]

I lived in the city for too long to allow anyone in my house who I don't expect. This is also a point where I could launch into the benefits of owning guns but I won't.