topic Re: I just did something really dumb... in Community Chat

I just did something really dumb...

hoosieroriginal — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 19:41:29 GMT

Got a knock on the door. There was an older man at the door who I thought was someone whom I had met in the neighborhood when he was working for one of my neighbors. He was supposed to give me an estimate for a new front deck when he had time. Well, I invited this person in my house thinking it was this man who I had previously met. It wasn't him. This guy was "selling windows", asking me if I needed new windows. What an idiot I am - this is how people get killed! As soon as I realized it wasn't the guy, I immediately asked him to leave my house and I did not give him any information he was asking for (name, husband's name, how many windows I have in house, how old house was). I see stories like this on the news and think I am so much smarter than to do something like that! I could just kick myself! He was walking down the street door to door, but just as easily could be casing the neighborhood.

Re: I just did something really dumb...

Plaid Pants2 — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 19:45:23 GMT

Forgive yourself. We all do things, that in hindsight we say, "What was I thinking?!"

Luckily, nothing bad happened.

Just learn from it and move on.

Re: I just did something really dumb...

MacDUFF — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 19:54:41 GMT

@hoosieroriginal

That would bother me, too, hoosier...something any of us could have done. You might want to keep an eye on things moreso than usual for the next few days. Do you have a dog?

Re: I just did something really dumb...

chickenbutt — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 19:55:24 GMT

Agree with Plaid. You don't want to hang onto this. Just be glad you didn't get hurt or worse and it's over now. Live and learn, eh?

As long as you realize and learn to not do the same thing the next time, you're on the right track. Happy day!

Re: I just did something really dumb...

granny me — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 19:58:57 GMT

Thankfully you were protected from harm. I once gave a ride to a man who standing on the road outside of the church entry, he was on crutches with one leg, I felt sorry for him, I just came from church. I thanked the good Lord I was protected and no harm came to me. But, I will never be that foolish again.

Re: I just did something really dumb...

judEve — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 19:59:51 GMT

Don't beat yourself up too bad, take it as a mistake to be learned from. If you are concerned about this guy don't hesitate to call the non-emergency number for your police department and have them come out even if it was 45 minutes ago. They can stop him, check out his ID, run him for warrants, and find out if he has any history. If the police check his ID there will be a permanent record of the interaction and I'm sure the officer will inform this guy he needs to leave this officer's turf if the guy has a history of wrongdoing and the guy will unfortunately find another neighborhood. You will also find out if the guy is indeed just another pesky salesman that taught you a valuable lesson.

Remember to give yourself the breaks and forgiveness you would extend your best friend or family member, you deserve the same! Don't dwell on your mistake, it happens all the time use it to be more aware should you be in this situation in the future. This may have happened to prevent you, make you more aware, from making the same mistake again but not being as fortunate. Give yourself a hug and be grateful! I know I'm grateful for your story to remind me, and that you are okay! : )

Re: I just did something really dumb...

2blonde — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 20:00:26 GMT

@hoosieroriginal Oh girl, just be glad everything is OK. You goofed, but it's over, you're OK, and you learned a valuable lesson. I'm just glad you're fine!

Re: I just did something really dumb...

bri20 — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 20:01:38 GMT

Sometimes things just happen. Thankfully, nothing happened to you.

Lesson learned - I'm sure you won't do that again.

We've all done things like that, I'm sure.

Re: I just did something really dumb...

beckyb1012 — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 20:03:37 GMT

I am so happy you are safe and well to post this. Instead of being in shock over the mistaken identity you had of him, pat yourself on the back for having the backbone and gumption to boot him out when you realized the mistake. A lot of women would have let him finished his sales pitch and been the "hostess" to a degree fearing being rude to the intruder. You did very well Hoosier.

We have all done something that could have been headline news if not by the Grace of God.

Re: I just did something really dumb...

CANDLEQUEEN — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 20:09:07 GMT

We all do stupid things, and then think back and say oh my gosh what was I doing? I bet you won't do it again! It reminds me of a time where it was winter here in Wisconsin, and it was a blizzard-my husband had gone out to pick up a pizza and it was just me and our two daughters, and they were 9 and 14. We got a knock at the door and I opened it to a young woman about 20, whose car had gone off the side of the road, and she wanted to use our phone to call Triple AAA(Now this was back in the early 90's) and I said well why don't you give me your name and I will call for you, and my oldest daughter said Mom it is a blizzard and it is freezing, let her in, and I did it, and it turns out she used our phone, Thanked us, and went and sat in her car, and about a 1/2 hour later we see a tow truck pull up and help her out. When my husband finally made it home and found out what we had done, he said Are you crazy?? You should have never let her in, people pull things like this all the time......Afterwards I thought oh how stupid was I? I also had to teach my oldest daughter who to this day is very trusting to be aware of things like that......I did learn my lesson from it, and I am sure you have too!!!!!

Re: I just did something really dumb...

Its Me LuLuBelle2 — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 20:09:42 GMT

@hoosieroriginal, live and learn and thankfully all is well. Now I'm going to tell you about really dumb. Ten years ago I found a dog advertised for adoption on a bulletin board at a local grocery store. I called the number and spoke with a young woman who was fostering the dog through our local SPCA. She asked if she could bring the dog to our home so she could see how the dog reacted with DH and I and to see if our home was suitable for the animal. The girl came at 8:00 p.m., in November (pitch dark out) with this loveable dog. The young woman was alone - 25 years old, just married and drop dead gorgeous. We lived out in the middle of nowhere on 3 acres of property and no neighbors. I lectured this kid like she was my own. I asked why her husband wasn't with her, did her mother know she was doing this? I said you happened to come to the home of a lovely couple who will not do you harm, but Lord child, you had no idea what you were walking into. A couple of days later we got a call from the SPCA stating we were cleared to get the dog after we filled out paperwork and made our donation. When we went to pick her up I asked to speak with the director of the facility and told him I was happy they checked out the home to be sure the dog would be well cared for but they had a heck of a lot of nerve asking a young woman to do this by herself. He agreed and said they would change their policy so no one went anywhere alone. BTW, the dog is now 11 1/2, her "brother" is 15 1/2 and the loves of our lives.

Re: I just did something really dumb...

Carmie — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 20:11:51 GMT

It happens. Forgive yourself.

My DH who works with very high security/criminal issues got scammed by two young men in a pick-up truck.

They said they just coated a neighbor's concrete drive way and and had a bunch of finishing material left. They offered to do our double drive way for only $250. My husband agreed.

HAlf way through the project, DH came into our home and went to get cash from our bedroom and I caught him. I was not comfortable and told him so. The guys finished our driveway and my DH asked for ID before he would pay them. Neither fellow could produce ID.

My DH got their license number from the truck. They argued heavily with us because they wanted paid ASAP. We didn't budge.

They left and said they would return with ID. They never did.

My DH spent the next day washing a ton on sand out of our driveway. They spread sand and water with a big brush. It did look good until it dried. LOL

DH reported them to our local PD and they got caught. They had scammed quite a few people out of money.

I spoke to the young men while they were " working" and they seeemd very nice. One of the fellows was telling me about his children. They seemed honest.

My DH was embarassed that he, of all people fell for a scam. It can happen to anyone.

Now we have a rule. We do not let anyone get too far with even talking about home repair or maintance issues, If we need their help, we call them. They can leave materials at the door. I only talk to people through a locked screen/storm door.

We all learn by our mistakes. Thanks for sharing. You gave us all a wake up call.

Re: I just did something really dumb...

Noel7 — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 20:16:04 GMT

You're not alone @hoosieroriginal I think all or at least most of us have make a similar mistake over time.

Looking back, I remember my grandmother letting in the Fuller Brush salesman at the door, he could have been anyone.

We have to keep reminding ourselves we can't be spontaneous with strangers any longer.

Re: I just did something really dumb...

Pearlee — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 20:21:01 GMT

@hoosieroriginal wrote:
Got a knock on the door. There was an older man at the door who I thought was someone whom I had met in the neighborhood when he was working for one of my neighbors. He was supposed to give me an estimate for a new front deck when he had time. Well, I invited this person in my house thinking it was this man who I had previously met. It wasn't him. This guy was "selling windows", asking me if I needed new windows. What an idiot I am - this is how people get killed! As soon as I realized it wasn't the guy, I immediately asked him to leave my house and I did not give him any information he was asking for (name, husband's name, how many windows I have in house, how old house was). I see stories like this on the news and think I am so much smarter than to do something like that! I could just kick myself! He was walking down the street door to door, but just as easily could be casing the neighborhood.

@hoosieroriginal I don't think I would have invited the guy in you were really expecting, either. You really didn't know him. Since work on an outdoor deck was involved, I would have just talked to him outside. Better to be safe than sorry.

You shouldn't let in either of these people!.

Re: I just did something really dumb...

hoosieroriginal — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 20:24:18 GMT

@MacDUFF wrote:
@hoosieroriginal

That would bother me, too, hoosier...something any of us could have done. You might want to keep an eye on things moreso than usual for the next few days. Do you have a dog?

@MacDUFF - yes have 2 - but not sure how helpful they would be. I plan on watching things the next few days. But when you live by yourself it's a little scary.

Re: I just did something really dumb...

sidsmom — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 20:27:29 GMT

I agree with most...be thankful nothing happpened, then release it. 💛

One way to release it is to call your city's non-emergency

number (311) just to log it in case it comes up with someone else.

Re: I just did something really dumb...

QueenDanceALot — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 20:28:49 GMT

You live and you learn.

Re: I just did something really dumb...

cherry — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 20:29:46 GMT

Where I live people that go from door to door must have a license. It might be the same where you are. Remember that the next time someone knocks on your door

Re: I just did something really dumb...

hoosieroriginal — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 20:30:45 GMT

@Carmie wrote:
It happens. Forgive yourself.

My DH who works with very high security/criminal issues got scammed by two young men in a pick-up truck.

They said they just coated a neighbor's concrete drive way and and had a bunch of finishing material left. They offered to do our double drive way for only $250. My husband agreed.

HAlf way through the project, DH came into our home and went to get cash from our bedroom and I caught him. I was not comfortable and told him so. The guys finished our driveway and my DH asked for ID before he would pay them. Neither fellow could produce ID.

My DH got their license number from the truck. They argued heavily with us because they wanted paid ASAP. We didn't budge.

They left and said they would return with ID. They never did.

My DH spent the next day washing a ton on sand out of our driveway. They spread sand and water with a big brush. It did look good until it dried. LOL

DH reported them to our local PD and they got caught. They had scammed quite a few people out of money.

I spoke to the young men while they were " working" and they seeemd very nice. One of the fellows was telling me about his children. They seemed honest.

My DH was embarassed that he, of all people fell for a scam. It can happen to anyone.

Now we have a rule. We do not let anyone get too far with even talking about home repair or maintance issues, If we need their help, we call them. They can leave materials at the door. I only talk to people through a locked screen/storm door.

We all learn by our mistakes. Thanks for sharing. You gave us all a wake up call.

@Carmie - I have heard of this before around Indy. Only when you come outside to talk to them about working on your driveway, someone is sneaking in the back door to take your purse or wallet. They work in groups. I'm so thankful nothing happened.

Re: I just did something really dumb...

hoosieroriginal — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 20:32:25 GMT

@cherry wrote:
Where I live people that go from door to door must have a license. It might be the same where you are. Remember that the next time someone knocks on your door

@cherry - After he left I realized he didn't even mention the name of a company he was working for. Weird.