A Late Night Phone Call

My phone rang at 9:45 and it shocked me.

Ok, so, technically, 9:45 isn't THAT late. But it's late enough for me. 

When my daughter answered the phone - for, really, if the phone rings it MUST be for her, especially since she's grounded (again!) and can't use her cell phone - I could tell from the things that she said that she didn't know who it was on the phone, but the conversation wasn't going well. I signaled for her to hand the receiver to me.

"Hi. My name is Mr. XYZ and I'm with the Department of Defense. I'm conducting a background check on your neighbor, twentysomethingcollegegraduate. Do you know this man?  I'd like to ask you some questions about him. I'm in your neighborhood, about 6 houses over, and I'd like to come over and interview you now."

Blink. Blink. And, no.

First of all, how was I to know that this guy was who he said he was? And did he think I was crazy enough to just let an unknown man into my house? Apparently he did. Frustrated, I passed the phone over to my husband.

Who answered the phone, indicated that we weren't comfortable with this line of questioning, and arranged for the DOD worker to visit my husband's job the next day. We both wondered if the entire phone call was on the up and up. We'd heard nothing from our neighbor about her son trying for a government job, and the idea of a late evening phone call and request for an open home made us nervous.

But today brought both a confirmation of the DOD application by my neighbor and a visit to my husband's job that checked out with a perfect ID.

But what would you have done?

Comments

[Julie]

I would not have let someone in my house! It's a shame that you can't believe people these days but you just can't. You did exactly what I would have done.

[Hayes]

1. There is never a time when seeing FBI on the caller ID is not scary. It's happened to us a couple of times, and it always freaks me out!

2. Um, no at almost 10 pm you may NOT call my house, much less come over to chit chat about the neighbor boy.

3. Hubster handled it perfectly.

[Tracy D]

You guys handled it the way I would have. If it is not an emergency, there is no need for them to even CALL that late at night, much less want to come to your home.

[Kalisa]

That's completely inappropriate that they should call at that time of night AND expect to be allowed to come over! I would report that person to their superior at DOD. That does NOT sound like they're following protocol.

[mimbles]

Whether I believed they were for real or not, at that time of night, no, they would not be welcome to visit. How ridiculous!

[amie]

Seems kid of creepy to me >

[Beth S]

Not quite as creepy as two supposed IRS agents knocking on your door on a weekday evening. I took their cards and made them call back a couple days later for an appointment (after I had called and confirmed they really were supposed to be there). It was legit but totally creepy way to show up out of the blue.

[Heather]

Um, that would be a no. Not letting any stranger into my house at that hour, no matter the explanation. Good call.

[Lauren]

Meh. It was probably just a matter of him being in the neighborhood already and wanting to kill two birds with one stone. But he called first. He asked. He was respectful when you said you weren't comfortable with him coming over right. A little peculiar, maybe, but nothing to get worked up about.

[Headless Mom]

Weird. Although I'm impressed that you both had the piece of mind to handle it that way. I would have been way too flustered to come up with that.

[The Only Girl]

I would have done exactly what you did. Passed it to the hubby, meet the guy somewhere other than home and confirm with my neighbour. But what a weird process!? You'd think the DOD would have all the information they would need at their fingertips and wouldn't really need to call a neighbour. Weird.

[Megan]

I cannot believe that it's in their standard protocol to conduct business that way. Well, actually, I can. I work for a hospital and we had someone with the Census who just showed up and acted very unprofessional. They did eventually check out to be legit but the behavior was very suspicious and unprofessional, and I now have no faith in the Census Bureau and its numbers. Good for you and your husband for following your instincts and not allowing his supposed authority to intimidate you.

[threeboysindc]

In Washington, DC you get that knock on the door/card in the mail slot/phone call pretty frequently.

However, there is no rule that says you have to do the interview.

It's just they way they roll here...

I've done these interviews. They still care if you are now, or if you have ever been associated with the communist party. No lie.

It's a great country!

[Nelson's Mama]

There is an Airforce Base in our small town, most all of the employees are civilians with high-level clearance.

I've done those interviews for my neigbors as well, not at 9:45, but I would have probably killed two birds with one stone too.

[Kai]

Same thing happened to me, but at a much more respectable hour! The guy came by and asked me questions about a former roommate of mine. It is a little alarming.

You should complain to someone about his calling at that hour though....that seems rude!

[Amy]

Same thing you did. Calling at 9:45pm would have thrown up a red-flag for me too.

[Laura V.]

When my husband first enlisted in the Air Force (10 years ago) all interviews were either conducted by phone, at the person's place of employment or in a public meeting place. The DOD contacts just about everyone close in your life. I think you and your husband handled it perfectly, because no matter if it turns out to be legit 9:45 is just too late.

[kyooty]

After what happened yesterday, it's a plus that they are doing background checks. I do think it was Very unprofessional of them to handle it this way. I suspect they want to put you on the spot so you can't arrange answers ahead of time.

[wookie]

Yeah, barring emergency, you don't need access to my house at 10 at night. Arranging an alternate appointment is fine.

[mm]

Yes, you did good. 9:45 at night nobody is coming into my house, friend or foe,unless I totally knew ahead of time. And I am thinking that this person should not have called you that late at night.

[keri]

We've done several of those interviews, but I would've done the same thing. NO WAY would I have done that at 945 and I hope your husband told the guy/gal the next day that his timing was inappropriate... good grief.

PS - I am pretty sure the DOD "outsources" that function to private contractors now, so the person was prob not from the FBI (at least not for a standard background check)

[Alana]

I agree! I think you handled that perfectly. And, really, I'd have been in my PJs at that time!

[Mary]

We had one of those calls too, probably around 9pm (which to us is late!) about a friend that we didn't know all that well. We knew him socially, I am not sure why he gave them our name. We know nothing about what he does. They asked all kinds of personal questions about his marriage and his habits (smoking, guns, drinking, seatbelt wearing) that we could not answer. Very strange. We declined a home visit and told our "friend" to please take us off the list. He was very apologetic, but said you had to write down all family, friends, neighbors, everyone you had socialized with.

[Brenda]

I've had this happen, but never at 9:45 p.m.!!! Sounds like someone was up against a deadline and wasn't working fast enough.

Good handling of the situation!

[Azul]

Exactly what you did. Along with a line dropped to the DOD to let them know their practices, if this was sanctioned, need work.