Buzz off - or not?

November 8, 2013 12:27 PM

I am a first time city apartment dweller, and don't have a clue on how/when to use my door buzzer. What is okay, what isn't, and yes, I am over thinking this, but it is bugging the hell out of me because I am already overstressed.

The other night I was disturbed middle of the night by a young woman buzzing my apt. In my semi-consciousness and sleep deprived state (under extreme life stress these days) I just buzzed her in. She sounded desperate, it was well below freezing outside, and I was stupid. She asked me to call a cab, I was too groggy to figure out how (seriously, wow). Anyway, she yelled and knocked at several doors for half an hour then apparently left. However, this was the third time in three weeks someone has been let in to the building middle of the night and the other two people were drunk and raging (I didn't let those in).

I am on the street level, and so in the first few buttons to press. I get buzzed every few days by someone generic, usually official sounding, during working hours. But .. it could be anyone. So .. the question is: what is general protocol? Do I ignore it unless I've ordered pizza or have an expected appt. or guest? Do I answer, but not let in if I don't know who it is?

(Oh, and I live just outside one of the sketchiest parts of the (small .. 220,000) city)
Thanks so much for enlightening me.

posted by batikrose to Society & Culture (35 answers total)

If you are not expecting someone, you don't have to answer. You can, but you don't have to.
You should never let anyone in that you don't know unless you can confirm they need access. If you answer and refuse to let them in, they may keep buzzing you. Call the police if they won't stop or if someone is yelling in your hallway, especially at night.
posted by soelo at 12:31 PM on November 8, 2013 [8 favorites]

When I lived place with buzzer, I only let in people I was expecting and police officers who showed badges; I think this is pretty normal. If a delivery person needs to get in they should have the apartment number for the person they're delivering to, and buzz that one. Someone buzzing me who doesn't have business with me would have been ignored.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 12:31 PM on November 8, 2013 [4 favorites]

I never let anyone into my building unless I know who they are. Period. I'd be PISSED if someone was letting randoms into my home.
posted by mollymayhem at 12:32 PM on November 8, 2013 [27 favorites]

I ignore it and if they keep buzzing I yell WHAT? out my window in my fiercest voice. My neighbors know that I'll do that, so they know the protocol if they lock themselves out.
posted by janey47 at 12:33 PM on November 8, 2013 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: Thank you very much! This is the conclusion I had come to, but I really didn't know. and molly, this was my thought the next morning, shit, I just let a strange person gain potential access to every unit! Won't happen ever again. I appreciate so much all of you taking the time to answer a dumb question and the confirmation that "just don't" is the right answer.
posted by batikrose at 12:38 PM on November 8, 2013 [2 favorites]

A closed door is a happy door.

Seriously. Under no circumstances will I let anyone into the building whom I do not know or who is not a cop or firefighter.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 12:38 PM on November 8, 2013

Best answer: This is sort of like asking "Do I have to let people come inside my house if they knock?" Yes, other people also live in your building, but it's private property and you don't HAVE to let anybody in unless they have a warrant. And as mollymayhem says, you really SHOULDN'T let randos in. It's dangerous.
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:38 PM on November 8, 2013 [1 favorite]

I live in a house by myself and I don't even open my own front door if I don't know who it is and why they're there. You are not under any obligation to let anyone into your building.
posted by something something at 12:41 PM on November 8, 2013

Best answer: She sounded desperate, it was well below freezing outside,

Feel free to call the cops in such a situation. It's their job to deal with "random person needs help in the middle of the night."
posted by Jahaza at 12:48 PM on November 8, 2013 [3 favorites]

FWIW I always get up to see who it is (because I live in paranoia that one day it will be someone who genuinely does need help), but I would not let anyone I wasn't expecting in unless it was actually an emergency or a badged officer.
posted by DarlingBri at 12:49 PM on November 8, 2013 [1 favorite]

Best answer: You don't buzz in anyone who is not an expected guest who you personally know.

Period.

The whole point of buzzers is so that people can't just wander into your apartment building for whatever reason.

I might let in someone who buzzed during normal waking hours with a good explanation of why they needed to be let into the building. Maybe. If It felt really safe and reasonable and OK. Like, I let in a delivery person or a meter reader on a few occasions, but only if they had a really good reason AND it seemed like they were who they said they were (UPS guy coming at the time the UPS guy usually comes, meter reader who knows my landlord's name, etc). And even then I felt weird about it afterwards. And that was a small row-house style building where I could stick my head out the window and get a visual read on who I was letting in.

In the middle of the night? Nope. Not even getting out of bed to answer the buzzer. If they are freezing to death, they can go into a place that isn't an apartment building.
posted by Sara C. at 1:01 PM on November 8, 2013 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Since I am opposite end of the building from the front door (where buttons are), and have mobility issues, (and escape-a-kitty issues) going to actually see who it is isn't an option. The outside security door opens into the stairwell, with fire doors to each floor that have tiny windows, so you cant see through them unless you are at the door.

It's taking awhile for this rural living, RV traveling old gal to get city bearings, but I hear you loud and clear - and totally agree.
posted by batikrose at 1:06 PM on November 8, 2013 [1 favorite]

I'm in the "ignore" camp.

It's hard, because we're wired to answer the door, the phone, email. But just don't answer.

Is there a way you can mute when you go to bed? Cause, that would be the BEST!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:09 PM on November 8, 2013

Best answer: Yeah, if you don't have a convenient way to physically go see who it is and have an extended conversation and get a really good feel for what the situation is, leave it.

Let them ring buzzer 1A (i.e. someone who likely lives on the first floor very close to the building's entrance) if they need to plead their case.

And even so, seriously, if the buzzer is waking you up out of a deep sleep in the middle of the night, don't worry about even answering it.
posted by Sara C. at 1:09 PM on November 8, 2013

Do not buzz unknowns into your building. It is not unheard of for people to get buzzed in and then wait in the stairwell or basement to push themselves into an apartment behind the tenant and rob or sexually assault them. Do. not. do. it.
posted by melissasaurus at 1:11 PM on November 8, 2013

I don't answer my buzzer or buzz anyone in unless I am expecting someone, I know the person, or there is a good damn reason they need to access the building/apt.

In my old building, someone used that trick to steal all of our mail. Many sadfaces.
posted by sm1tten at 1:19 PM on November 8, 2013

I wouldn't let anyone in who buzzed unexpectedly at night, except the cops.
posted by dave99 at 1:35 PM on November 8, 2013

At least half the time my doorbell rings it's UPS wanting to be buzzed in so they can leave a package in the entryway. Usually I just pop over to the window to check that there is indeed a UPS truck parked outside and then I buzz them in. I always check that the delivery person has left afterwards.
posted by Cygnet at 1:44 PM on November 8, 2013

Best answer: If you're not in a position to verify who they are, I would err on the side of caution and not let them in. That's the whole point of a security door - that not just anyone can get in. I've lived in similar situations where sketchy drunken people would buzz us repeatedly at 3am from the street, and my husband would talk to them via intercom to say, "Stay right there. The police are on their way." That usually does the trick.
posted by Ouisch at 1:47 PM on November 8, 2013 [5 favorites]

No experience here, but I'd probably tell anyone visiting to call me and otherwise completely ignore or disconnect the buzzer. But I have a good (probably too good) city face, so there's that.
posted by cnc at 1:55 PM on November 8, 2013 [1 favorite]

If you're not in a position to verify who they are, I would err on the side of caution and not let them in. That's the whole point of a security door - that not just anyone can get in. I've lived in similar situations where sketchy drunken people would buzz us repeatedly at 3am from the street, and my husband would talk to them via intercom to say, "Stay right there. The police are on their way." That usually does the trick.

Yep. Random buzzers are looking for the path of least resistance. Let someone else in the building be that path.

You could also prevail upon your landlord to install a video doorbell thing, but that's a longshot.
posted by gjc at 1:56 PM on November 8, 2013

Just a random non-city person asking here: How do you know the person buzzing is a police officer?
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:15 PM on November 8, 2013

Just a random non-city person asking here: How do you know the person buzzing is a police officer?

Well, if they claimed to be, I guess I'd go down to the front door and ask to see their warrant. (Even if they really were cops, I still wouldn't let them into my home without one.) I have an intercom that allows me to talk to people who are asking to be buzzed in, but I sure wouldn't let someone into my home just because they claimed verbally to be a cop!
posted by showbiz_liz at 2:20 PM on November 8, 2013

Usually there's an intercom. This means that anyone buzzing should have the ability to explain themselves.
posted by Sara C. at 2:22 PM on November 8, 2013

Well yeah, I get that part.

The whole thread above just kind of read "ignore the buzzer and don't talk to them or they'll keep buzzing. Unless they're cops, and in that case don't ignore the buzzer".
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:25 PM on November 8, 2013 [1 favorite]

Oh, heh, I'd ignore it if it were the cops, too. Out of laziness, mostly. They'll find someone to buzz them in who's already awake. Or they won't. Not my problem.
posted by Sara C. at 2:28 PM on November 8, 2013 [1 favorite]

Yeah, I've not answered apartment door to what turned out to have actually been cops. If they're really the police they'll find a way in. (And in my 15-ish years of living in apartment buildings there's been only one time the cops needed to get in to my building. It's not something that happens frequently.)
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:39 PM on November 8, 2013

Best answer: I do not answer the intercom buzzer unless I am expecting someone. I would never randomly buzz someone in to my building in the middle of the night.

If you have mobility issues, then do not even bother getting out of bed if the buzzer rings at night.
posted by elizardbits at 2:53 PM on November 8, 2013 [1 favorite]

Best answer: There's usually a super; the cops, delivery guy, repair people and meter readers will buzz them.

Usually midnight buzzers are looking for a friend's place and will wander around pounding on random doors; homeless people will sleep in the staircases; guys will check for unlocked doors; canvassers will try to sell crap, and then there are other, worse reasons for people to want in. Don't let them in.

Also, just in case you're not clear on this: keep your door locked, even when you're at home, and never open it if you can't see who's on the other side. Use the peephole: if someone covers the peephole, feel free to ignore them.
posted by jrochest at 3:46 PM on November 8, 2013 [1 favorite]

I disconnected my buzzer when I moved into my flat. It was on the main road where there were a load of drunks and weirdos at night and too many of my downstairs neighbours' friends were confusing their button for mine after hours. It was easy enough to connect the buzzer back when I moved out so the landlord was none-the-wiser. Instant stress relief.
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 4:51 PM on November 8, 2013 [1 favorite]

Let them ring buzzer 1A (i.e. someone who likely lives on the first floor very close to the building's entrance) if they need to plead their case.

No, no no. Unless 1a is the super or owner.
posted by sweetkid at 6:44 PM on November 8, 2013

You've got a good consensus here, and yeah, I'd just ignore the buzzer too. I never answer mine unless I'm expecting someone: why would I? I never answer my phone either, unless I know the caller. My basic thinking is I'm doing [whatever/something/nothing]: why would I interrupt myself for somebody else's random thing?

Plus I'm socially conditioned such that once I'm interacting with someone who needs or wants something from me it can be hard for me to extricate myself, so I just try to avoid putting myself in that situation.
posted by Susan PG at 2:12 AM on November 9, 2013

However, this was the third time in three weeks someone has been let in to the building middle of the night and the other two people were drunk and raging (I didn't let those in).

After I moved out, a large building I lived in in NY had two rapes in the basement because of tenants letting strangers in - and this was a beautiful building in a really nice neighborhood, so don't assume it can't happen where you are either. I would be freaking out if my neighbors were letting drunk raging randos into my building once a week. Can you let your super or landlord know that this is going on, and ask them to remind all tenants that this is a terrible idea and under no circumstances should they do it?
posted by deliciae at 2:49 AM on November 9, 2013 [1 favorite]

My neighbours have turned their buzzer off permanently and are also on the bottom floor (although we're a little far back from the street and no one wonders in here randomly). I second the person who mentioned doing this.
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 3:12 AM on November 9, 2013

Best answer: Ignore any buzz you're not expecting, and don't think to yourself, "I'm keeping somebody legit/in need from entering the building." Think to yourself, "I'm keeping potentially unauthorized people out of my building. I'm really glad I can do that."
posted by Rykey at 7:35 AM on November 9, 2013