To think Jehovah's Witnesses can become a bit of an annoyance

[UnbelievablyChocolatey]

There are two ladies that often come round our estate. There are many others that also come, but this particular couple are the ones who seem to call the most.
As I'm a SAHM I'm usually at home when they call. I would never be deliberately rude to them, but I'm getting a bit annoyed by them continually coming to my house. They know I've recently had a baby as the first time they came I was pregnant. They even turned up the day I went into labour and DH answered the door to them!

Last time I saw them they were hinting at coming inside to meet the baby. How on earth do I politely tell them I'm not interested? Some of the others who have been don't seem to take no for an answer!

I told them I'd had blood transfusions and would need them in the future (true). They haven't been back.

I think they have to agree to a minimum number of hours per week spreading the word to be able to be a JW - even the children are required to do it. It doesn't stop it being annoying though - my nan always used to answer the door and lie profusely that she was a devout Catholic - they still came back though.

The only thing that will stop them coming back is calling or writing and asking to be put on a do not call list. Even then they will politely check every few years in case you move or change your mind.

Saying you are catholic/devil worship/donate or accept blood etc will not stop them returning. I see people saying on here all the time "oh I just said blah blah and they've never been back" but that's just coincidence (or you've not been in when they came)

I had this on maternity a lot too! I just said we're not religious, do you mind not coming, with a smile . Looking back I wish I'd called them on their homophobia !

Easy - Don't open the door to them!

I say I'm not interested while shutting the door - charity collectors get the same treatment.

I did talk to them for a while once but that was because it was chucking down with rain and I was in my dry hall and they were outside in the rain.

As a poster who was one for 32 yrs. You ask to be put on a "Do not call" list. Don't be overly polite. Just be business like. Like any other "victim" they push the boundaries if they perceive a weakness. All they care about is marking time. It's no longer even the religion I was sucked into. It's a cult. Believe me. Look at what Steve Hassan has to say.

They were trying to convert my 12 year old son the other day 😡😡😡 bloody well showed him some kind of brainwashing video and left a leaflet. They got very short shrift when they returned to see how he'd got on with said leaflet.

Put this on your door

To think Jehovah's Witnesses can become a bit of an annoyance

Dunno. D'you think the sun's a bit hot?

We don't get JW where I am, luckily for them

You shouldn't worry about being rude to them.

They are being highly rude and intrusive by turning up uninvited ar your home repeatedly.

I have a sign on my door which reads No cold callers, No charities and NO religious people please. Anybody who ignores this notice will be greeted by my air horn. Don't get many callers anymore tbh. The neighbours always laugh about the air horn though.

You just have to be very firm. There's no point trying to get into a debate with them, or really giving them any time to talk to you. I have tried the polite approach, it just seems to encourage them. Now it's just a firm "Not interested, go away." from me. Just like any cold caller. Or you could say "Sorry, but I'm just about to go and donate blood" and then badger them to come with you and donate too......

Thanks everyone

Some pretty hilarious suggestions that I don't think I dare try

I think I will just make it very clear I'm not interested. I always tell myself I won't answer the door if anyone knocks that I'm not expecting, then like autopilot I just go and open it!

How do you get on this no calling list?

OP, the next time they call, just say to them I know about the "Do not call" list kept by the local congregation elders. Please ensure that this house number is added to it. Thanks very much.

Job done.

A few techniques I've heard work...

Start debating the "awkward" bits of the Bible with them (like the bit where God orders she-bears to kill a load of children because they mocked an old man). The person who did this subsequently watched them go from one set of next door neighbours to the next, skipping him. He must have been blacklisted

Point them in the direction of neighbours you don't like very much and tell them that they need their soul saving (they'll keep coming back, but at least you've had a spot of fun!).

Tell them you're gay (they're a bit homophobic...)

Take the attitude that you can waste their time and stop them attempting to target the vulnerable. Invite them in for a chat, and see how long you can keep it going. I've heard of people lasting 2.5 hours before they started to edge towards the door (bonus points if you can get them to help out with household tasks)

Try to convert them to your religion / lack thereof

I opened the door to them whilst breastfeeding once. (I didn't know it was them and assumed it was the postman. I was discreet no boobs on display but it was obvious what I was doing)
They never came back

There was a Kingdom Hall in the town I grew up in and every so often they'd come knocking on doors. (I've since lived in London and NYC and have ended up with a Kingdom Hall down the street both times. Just my luck.) I still remember my father telling us to turn the lights off and hide every time he saw them walking down the street Just don't open the door.

You've just reminded me I had this years ago when the kids were really small, and one of the ladies knew MIL (she wasn't jw) and they came every other week for a few months until I had to be quite (nicely) blunt and say that the way I led my life would not work with the believings of their faith. I smoked, drank, was living in sin and LOVED birthdays AND Christmas, oh and if my child was dying and in need of medical intervention I would move mountains to get them whatever they needed!

My grandparents were JW, and I heard them say some awful things over the years (calling a toddler a bastard as it was born out of wedlock, saying another child would be better off dead as its JW parents refused life saving treatment by the local hospital - they refuse blood transfusions as it is "contaminated") and my dad who was brought up a catholic would quote the Bible at them, telling them which bits had been "rewritten" in their bible.

I learnt very young, not to like JW (even though I loved my grandparents but disliked their religion), but I cant forgive them for trying to get my gran to rewrite her will in her last few months of life to give them all her money, when she was most definitely not of sound mind. Luckily this was discovered before she signed but I was disgusted this was by people claiming to be her friends.

I had a revelation the last time we had one of these discussions.

We all know that the reason JWs knock on people's doors is because their religion mandates it. They have to spread the good word so they can get converts.

So here's the revelation: it's entirely counterproductive. Everyone hates people knocking on their door trying to convert them. Hence, everyone hates the JWs. What they ought to do if they want converts is to hold fetes and do some charity fundraising and invite schoolchildren to look around their place of worship etc. All the things that the other religious groups (and particularly the churches) do so well. That way they might actually convert people.

I feel like I should write to their head office and point this out to them.

I live in a small block of flats. The uncertainty of not knowing who might answer our communal front door is, I think, what keeps the Jesus freaks, trick-or-treaters and chuggers at bay. It's a pest-free doorstep !

I feel awful as they do seem like nice ladies and I don't want to offend them

Yeah - so nice they'll call unsolicited at your home to preach crap at you!