What do you think is a reasonable time to answer doorbell?

I peek through the window or peephole, if I don't know the person or they didn't call first, I just don't open the door. There is no law that says you're obligated to open the door or answer the phone call if you don't want to.
 

Crackerjack, I had a similar experience, a couple of times. A neighbor rang the bell to tell me I had left my keys hanging in the door! I was so glad I answered!
 

I only ask because lately I've been having a problem with some of my meals-on-wheels deliveries when people don't come to the door even after several minutes. It makes it awkward for me because I don't know if they aren't there or there but incapicitated. Believe me, waiting in icy rain or cold wind makes 3 minutes seem like 30.

Yesterday, when I delivered to a woman that hadn't responded the last time I was there, I asked her what happened to her that other day. She said "Huh?" I repeated. Then she said "What day as that?" I said "Monday." She asked "What day is today?" I said "Wednesday". She seemed totally disorientated, then she said "I must have been sleeping".

People getting food deliveries are supposed to expect us between 11 am and 1 pm and not be sleeping and if they have to be away from home between those hours, they are supposed to cancel their order for that day.
 
Sunny said:
Crackerjack, I had a similar experience, a couple of times. A neighbor rang the bell to tell me I had left my keys hanging in the door! I was so glad I answered!
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I did that once, for TWO days after I went grocery shopping and brought the groceries inside the house. Good thing no perps saw them, did I use one of my nine lives those days? And I can't count how many times I left my front door unlocked overnight.
 
debodun said:
I only ask because lately I've been having a problem with some of my meals-on-wheels deliveries when people don't come to the door even after several minutes. It makes it awkward for me because I don't know if they aren't there or there but incapicitated. Believe me, waiting in icy rain or cold wind makes 3 minutes seem like 30.

Yesterday, when I delivered to a woman that hadn't responded the last time I was there, I asked her what happened to her that other day. She said "Huh?" I repeated. Then she said "What day as that?" I said "Monday." She asked "What day is today?" I said "Wednesday". She seemed totally disorientated, then she said "I must have been sleeping".

People getting food deliveries are supposed to expect us between 11 am and 1 pm and not be sleeping and if they have to be away from home between those hours, they are supposed to cancel their order for that day.
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Deb, that would be a quandary, for sure.

Does MOW provide you with the clients' phone numbers? If so, perhaps you could phone when you arrive, but before you get out of the car, letting them know you'll be at their door in 2 minutes???
 
StarSong said:
Does MOW provide you with the clients' phone numbers? If so, perhaps you could phone when you arrive, but before you get out of the car, letting them know you'll be at their door in 2 minutes???
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They do have the clients numbers on the delivery list, but that doesn't do me much good since I don't have a cell phone.
 
debodun said:
I only ask because lately I've been having a problem with some of my meals-on-wheels deliveries when people don't come to the door even after several minutes.
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This seems like a specific situation that isn't just the general topic.

Does the agency have some specific guidance or instructions, for what you they want you to do?

I would think that the agency might have perhaps some other volunteer, who follows up with someone who doesnt come to the door when you have been to their home . Maybe some arrangement that the person getting the meal, set up with them previously? Such as who else to be called or alerted or contacted, or what time of day, to call her later to check on them, if you dont get any response to the door.

I thought those deliveries are sometimes a way to have the person checked on, anyway. It seems like someone else would or should, call the client or their designated other contact, if you left without seeing them. Not necessarily you, but they should have a system for this, IMO.
 
The cheapest and simplest type of hand phone I could find,
is sold at many common stores, and is a tracphone.
It is NOT a smart phone or a computer. Nothing at all complicated about it.

It requires no contract or monthly payments of any kind. You buy the phone, and then you have to purchase a card for it, periodically, when it runs out of time.

The one card would last many months for someone who only uses it for the car.
It's quite inexpensive and could save you from suffering during a medical or other emergency , or could save your life or someone else's life.

It's a safety thing, and I personally wouldn't want anyone who still drives, to be without one.

Everyone can make her or his own decision. I am not telling anyone what to do. I just would not think it is safe for any older or disabled or young person, to be driving alone, and not have one, if any type of problem happenned.
 
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Kaila said:
The cheapest and simplest type of hand phone I could find,
is sold at many common stores, and is a tracphone.
It requires no contract or monthly payments of any kind. You buy the phone, and then you have to purchase a card for it, periodically, when it runs out of time.
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Do you need "plastic" to get it? I looked into Consumer Cellular a few years ago, but they required a credit card.
 
I give someone cash to get it , so I can give it to someone who does errands for me, to have for their safety. I cannot drive or get to a store and do not know for sure.

But I don't think so. I think the person just uses the cash I give them, to buy it.
I don't think they would need or want any card info at all, because I don't think the person that buys it uses any. And there is never anything charged that would be put on a plastic card.

You just buy the phone, call in to get it started maybe, I think (the other person does that)

And then buy the cheap card to go in it, when it runs out, which is very, very rarely!
It isn't anything like the usual cell phones. Doesn't have any of those features, which are great for the people who want and use the other features, but we don't.

And just for safety of having one in a car, this one is very adequate. It even works from here, and I am not near any cell phone tower. Well, I mean that many of other peoples good cell phones, do not work from my location.
 
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It would also be good to have if someone took a walk outdoors. If you slipped and fell, you could call someone. It is only a very basic phone.

I dont know if the brand/company sells any others that work differently, but this cheap one doesnt seem to require anything else that i know of.
 
That is the brand , but I think it is even a simpler one than those in your pictures.

The one I got is not that complex looking and has no "apps" on it, like those appear to. Not those many options.

The one I got is not a smartphone. That one you pictured MIGHT need "plastic" and a sign up, and they might then renew it automatically, charging your account or card.

The one I get does not do any of that. It never charges you. You decide if and when, you want to buy another card, and for how many minutes you want on it.

When I buy the phone, I don't know if it comes with the first card, but I think I usually pay for the card separately, which I give cash for, and then it works till it runs out of time/minutes used. Then I buy another card, which is sold separate.
 
I asked the person... and the info is nearly what I had thought. I have never used it.

They said when i gave them the cash, they went to the store and they first bought the phone AND a separate card for it. The phone comes with a charger to plug in the battery once in a while.

They had to call in to activate the card. Then when the card runs out, (months later)
then they buy a new card, only, (with the cash i give them) and then they call in, and they put more time on the same phone from the card info.

As I said, it is NOT a smartphone. It is less complex than the ones in your picture.

It says ZTE on it. I don't know if that is the model or would help you find it.
 
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The one I got is black and has a flip up lid on it, and has none of those colored squares on the screen.

The screen is much smaller and simpler, and the phone is smaller, and easier to put in a pocket, than the ones in your pictures.
 
It does look more like that one, and it folds over, in the middle , like that one seems to.
The keyboard does look like that one, too, with the easy and familiar numbers.

But I think the screen is even simpler than that one.

The one I have does not say "Alcatel" on it.
 
If I'm the one doing the ringing I ring twice & knock. If no answer after the knock I'm on my way.

If someone rings the bell & they are unexpected & uninvited they might get a peep through blinds before I retreat to the back of the house & wait for them to call.
 

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