Third Jehovah Witness visit - it’s making me feel uncomfortable now.

[CaraVann]

Earlier in December there was a knock on the door. Thinking it was my friend who was due to visit me, I flung open the door to find 2 smartly dressed young men. I knew in an instant they were Jehovah Witnesses.
I know that I should have said from the get go I was not interested but the guy talking was so polite that I let him go on with his spiel.
I did feel a bit uneasy though as no one else was at home, all the neighbours were out and here are 2 men I don’t know trying to persuade me to join their religion. Also, the second guy gave me the creeps, he never said a word, never smiled, just stared at me. I felt quite intimidated.
The first guy asked for my name, which I also found unnerving, so I gave him a different name to my own. He said to take the leaflet and look on their website to find out all about JW and then I can be assured of a great future!!
I thanked him, smiled and said goodbye (second guy still unsmiling/staring, never muttered a word).
At least I won’t see them again - so I thought.
A week later, on my own again, the doorbell goes. I open it without checking thinking it’s the Christmas Amazon delivery I was expecting but no, it was the JW guys again. They are bloody relentless. Kept pushing and pushing, calling me by my ‘name’ which I found too personal seeing I don’t know them from Adam. Luckily, I had my coat on as was just about to take the dog out so made my excuses but said I was not interested.
But they are not fucking giving up.
Just had a knock on the door and my daughter opens it to find these guys standing there and again (the talking one) greeted me by my ‘name’ and starts on again about how they can help me and how the future is not bight for everyone, only those following their religion. Mute guy still staring and they were standing there in the pouring rain but wouldn’t give up. This time I had to be a bit firmer and said I was just going out, had no time and please don’t call again. A polite smile and ‘ok’ from the talker guy and same evil stare from mute guy.
I hope and pray they do not turn up again and I’m now only going to answer the door after I’ve looked out of the living room window ffs!
I know I should have been firmer from the beginning but it’s really unnerved me. They have my address and my name (or so they think).
Each to everyone with their choice of religion (personally agnostic) but knocking on strangers doors and harassing them is plain wrong.
I suffer from bad anxiety and this has just made me worse.

I found myself sitting next to a very attractive young woman on an aircraft bound for London Heathrow from somewhere in Europe. It was a connecting flight for me from a business journey to another country in Europe, and also a connection for her but she'd come from USA somewhere with only a brief break before the LHR leg. Despite not sleeping properly for many hours and being jet lagged and very red-eyed, she still gave her captive audience (me) the sales pitch. I had to admire her stamina and determination which yielded her nothing from me. In her place I'd have been trying to catch up on sleep, but not her. It was as if her mortal soul was at stake.

@CaraVann you need to learn how to be assertive without being too rude. As soon as I open the door to any cold callers I talk over them and say ‘no thank you, goodbye!’ and close the door quickly. It avoids any conversation and doesn’t waste my time or theirs.

I've never found any need to be rude or threatening to them. Anytime they've ever knocked my door at various houses I've lived at, I've simply been polite and said no thank you, I'm not interested. They generally just wish me a good day, offer me a copy of the watchtower and be on their way.

Put a sign on your door saying no cold callers

just paper and cover with sellotape

works for me

Last time we had JWs call I took their leaflets, said "OK, thanks" and they left of their own accord. Ours obviously need to try harder.

We have a 'recruitment drive' around here at the moment. I just say I am a blood donor.

They ask for your name to break through the barrier and seem more personal.

Very simple, “No thank you I don’t believe in religion, any religion, have a nice day, bye” and shut the door.

When I lived in East Dulwich with my family they used to come around every Christmas which used to tickle me (they don't celebrate it). I would tell my mum they are coming Christmas afternoon hoping everyone is by now pig sick of Christmas and ready to converting to a non Christmas worshiping religion!

They also 'knew' when the end of the world was coming. My Dad worked with one who regularly told my Dad when it was occurring. Err... did we miss it???!

My cousin is a JW, and she said any sort of chat or argument on the doorstep is what they want, anything rather than a "No, thanks!" and closed door. Which is what I always do!

“I don’t discuss my personal business / conduct my financial affairs on the doorstep.” Close door.

Works with Mormons, JWs, the tea towel prison guys and charity collectors. I once heard a client say that about 12 years ago at his door and used it ever since. Works a treat.

Just tell them you don't want to be visited again and to put you on that list. I told them two decades ago and they pass our house and go elsewhere.

Oh yes, they put the push in pushy!

Many years ago my (idiot) son thought it would be a hoot to engage the elderly couple that knocked. He was doing RE a level and thought he knew it all. So every chuffing month they would knock and ask for him. I told them he wasn’t interested, he’d moved, he was working nights, he was ill (all true btw) “well can I leave this for him” “NO” then they’d shove the mag through the door.(I followed and put it straight in the recycling) Then they built the Kingdom Hall two doors away! I went past one day when they were gathering and told them not to bother us. Lockdown-bliss, no sign (except for the creepy hand written letters everyone in the street got) Two weeks ago the woman of the elderly couple knocked with two young kids in tow. I was fuming, I couldn’t say “look I told you, no one in this house is interested. Go away.” with two little kids there. I just kept repeating no thank you. I’ve called them now and made it very clear that they should never come again. And they park in the double yellows every Thursday and Saturday.

That’s a good point actually!

They placed a leaflet with you - that counts as a win for them!

I remember my mum sitting down at the end of every month to tot up how many leaflets/magazines/books she’d placed with people; how many doorstep conversations she’d had and how many Bible studies she’d conducted. They have to submit what is effectively a time sheet each month to prove how much they’re doing (or at least they had to in the 90s when I lived at home)!

When my DH was living at home and was dating someone before me, he invited his GF round with her parents. My MIL and FIL was happy to meet the parents and GF, so when the doorbell rang, MIL answered and invited them indoors. Thinking they were the new GF and parents. My DH came down the stairs, into the living room with people he didn't know, sitting on the sofa. After a brief conversation it turned out they were not the GF/parents but Jehovah witnesses. They said they were suprised by the warm welcome but were then sent out the front door.

Years ago when I'd just bought my first house (so around 1998) two Mormon 'elders' so looked about 12 knocked on my door and asked to speak 'to the man of the house'.

I replied. 'It's my house, and it's either me, or 2 girl cats. Who do you want to speak to exactly?' and shut the door in their faces.

A friend at school was a JW. When she used to do the rounds she'd come to our house with her parents. We had a strict no-God-talk rule, but would invite them in for a cup of tea just so they could have a break from it.

I always say, "no thank you, I'm a socialist." They fairly run up the path to get away from me 😁

I moved into a new build that didn’t have a road or a post code yet and I still got a letter through the door!!

Speak up like the big girl you are and say ‘I’m not interested. Don’t knock my door again’ and they simply won’t.

Most of my family are JW’s and all you need to do is say you’re not interested. It’s really not that hard

I don’t know if anyone has suggested this but are you sure they weren’t Mormons. JW’s don’t usually return so quickly, they have a set timetable. Young men in suits with badges with Elder… insert name are Mormons, usually harmless but can be overly eager. If they come back tell them firmly you’re not interested and don’t come back to your door.

Tell them you are Catholic. Works a treat.

I'm afraid it doesn't - or at least, it didn't when I tried it. The guy said "I used to be Catholic, but then I saw the light!"

My friend, who happens to be Muslim actually invited them in to talk about his religion. They disappeared very quickly!

Almost 200 posts to explain how to close your front door with more and more
not ‘funny‘ comments. I’m not at all religious but there’s so many thickos here. Satan..really? You might want to read about JW and Satan. As a pp said, it’s like teenagers all trying desperately to be more funny than the last and failing.

Just close your fucking door. As if anyone actually spends any time thinking about this. When they’ve come to us, I don’t even mention it to my partner unless he asks who was at the door.