Allowing Access to Your Home

I have a locked storm door in addition to my front door. I always leave it closed and locked when I answer the door bell and talk to the person through the glass door with the main door only partially open. I would never even open my door to a stranger, let alone agree to an "inspection". In the past I received phone call from the Kansas Dept of Revenue. She first said, Are you XYZ? I said, who wants to know?" She then asked for my social security number. I declined to give either my name or my number. She apologized, gave me her 800 number and asked that I call. I did and still refused to give my SS number, telling her that she should already have it. Apparently someone with my same name, but a different SS number had failed to pay taxes. I told her that was not me. End of story?....no, they called 2 more times with the same questions and finally a threat. After I asked to speak to the Secretary of Revenue, who happened to be a friend of mine, they left me alone. The point here is that you don't have to give anyone anything......permission for an inspection or information or even your name no matter who they say they are. You must take care of yourself!!!

Jeff White said:

An hour or so ago my doorbell rang. There was a man at the door claiming to have been hired by my homeowners insurance company to do an inspection. He had an ID that anyone with a computer and a printer could have printed up and laminated.

I escorted him off the property. I called my insurance agent who called the company and they had contracted an inspection. The agent gave me the contact number at the insurance company and I called them. They erred in not contacting me first and scheduling an appointment. I told them as much. My comment to the company main office was; "You are in the risk management business and you think it's prudent for the people you insure to allow anyone who shows up at the door access to your property?'

She replied, "The company we contracted with was supposed to contact you."

To which I replied, "With all of the data mining that goes on these days it's pretty easy for a criminal to find out who a property is insured with. If you want me to allow a contractor access to my property YOU better contact me first and schedule an appointment."

I can't believe that in this day an age and insurance company of all people would operate that way. The utility companies all have a way to verify the identity of their employees, you'd think an insurance company would be smarter then that.

Don't give anyone claiming to work for someone you do business with access until you have verified their identity. I'm looking for a new insurance company now.

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Wow, Jeff, that's crazy.

We had a spree of burglaries and home invasion robberies a while back that started just like that. In our case the person/people claimed to be from the utility company, and said they were there to do an inspection on the gas pipes. I honestly thought your story was going in that direction until you mentioned that your insurance company said this was legitimate.

I'd never let someone in my home who just showed up at the door and randomly asked for access.

Yeah, we've had those around here also. Young woman comes to the door, says she's with the DWP and they need to get in my backyard to survey something but they can't go without me because that would be trespassing. She was wearing girly sportswear and sandals. I asked for DWP ID, she said she was "contracted out." Uh huh, riiiiiight. I said no and closed the wood door. Felt guilty pretty much ever since for not figuring out a way to stall her to get the police out to arrest her.

old lady new shooter said:

That idiot was really an employee of the cable company? And they didn't fire him after that? Yikes...

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You'd think they would fire someone like that, but I guess not. Maybe they figure, "If he gets killed, we'll just replace him."

I kid you not, after not hearing of a case like this for a while, we just had one again yesterday (made me think of this thread). These suspects claimed to be from the water department, and claimed they needed access to look at the victim's meter. One suspect stayed with the victim while the other burglarized the home.

Why any legitimate company would try unannounced visits in this day and age is beyond me.

Its your property. You decide if anyone is on it. (ok nowdays there are execptions) but cable, phone,.... are not them.
Back in early 90s I was at folks and the Asessor shows up. He has no ID, just some business cards. So I ask him for one. I then turn to my folks. "HI I am John Doe County assessor, I need to walk thru your house so my buddies know where the good stuff to steal is"

He said he would look into getting a decent ID from Office. I called office (using phone book #) Then took him thru their house.
He said he had done it for decade. Never had anyone ask for ID of any kind. Just let him go in....
Insurance guy calls ahead. actually when I stop in he said "I have not been out for 6 yrs, when would be good time?"

Thanks for this post Jeff!

I will be buying my 1st home in the coming months and this is good info
to file away in my brain.

Jimmy

The exterior photos after applying/obtaining new homeowners insurance is standard. They need the photographs for the underwriting file.

However, the ones I have dealt with called me to verify that it was ok that they walk the property, and let me know approximately when they would be doing so.

If you don't let them take the photos, you likely will have your insurance policy cancelled.


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A local scam was going around not long ago with door to door steam cleaner vacuum sales. Two people would be on the crew. They'd offer to steam clean all of your carpets for free if you let them give you the product pitch.

So while the first guy was giving their pitch in the livingroom going over product literature the noisy machine was running upstairs as the second guy looted all of the jewelry and small stuff they could fit in their kit.

Another one involved a cute young lady who was selling magazine subscriptions. She'd pretty well invite herself in to the house to give her pitch, and once she had the person backed up and the door was open, two other large guys would rush in. One, who was armed, would detain the homeowner and the other one and the girl would go take anything that wasn't nailed down.

I answer the door with a sidearm these days, and keep my concealed carry gun on my hip unless I'm sleeping, then it's on the night stand next to me.

If you aren't invited you don't get a warm reception here. The entire subdivision is marked no solicitors so any strangers knocking on my door better have a damn good reason for doing it.

I vet anyone who might come inside.. Even cops. My son got a visit once because he was doing burnouts in the neighborhood. Answered the door with a big dog and a gun in my hand. Cop was more worried about the dog. I said "I'll be right back, need to make sure you are who you say you are, let me call your office." It was 1 AM and it seemed like a really strange time for a cop to be showing up at my door. Too dark to see his car. Once he was vetted I introduced him to my boy and let those two have their talk out on the front porch.

(Yes, you *should* even vet police, because there are WAY too many instances of people costumed as cops doing home invasions.)

I always ask for ID.
There are reports every year or two in our area of people showing up to restaurants saying they are from the health department and they need to get food samples to test. You guessed it, they aren't from the health department.
I have to go to properties unannounced on occasion to check out a complaint and I don't have contact info. I walk to the door. If no one is home, or they are and they don't want me there, I look at what I can see from off the property, even though I have some (limited) authority to investigate either way.
Not saying that what Jeff did was right or wrong, it is really a personal decision how much to access to give a perfect stranger. I am just saying that people are not always who they claim.

Agree on ID, also be careful about who is calling you for information--with today's Voice over IP and caller id spoofing, you can give out information to what appears to be an official number for banks, government agencies, etc.. I always use the internet or back of the credit card to locate the actual number to call back.

Sniper66, for an upgrade, look at Secure Elegance by Larson--three point locking mechanism, heavy security glass, etc. Home Depot sells one too but cannot recall the name of it. Makes it nearly impossible to go through an exterior door in a hurry. BTW, it is certified to reduce your energy costs so if you have not exhausted the homeowners tax credit for energy improvements, it can save you a bit more as well as the veteran's discount (if eligible). Only downside is that it is a really heavy door.