Page 7 | How to handle unsolicited religious callers?

excitingselfreliant · 19/04/2026 18:06

Ha! This just reminded me, I wasn’t expecting anyone so looked at my ring doorbell, looked like two people there to ‘spread the word’ I just ignored put my phone down carried on watching my film… then my ds informed me I hadn’t actually switched the ring off and had the speaker on, on playback all that can be heard is two people swearing having a sort of domestic with threats of violence… these two women stood there initially smiling ready to welcome whoever answers the door then they side eye each other then the look of concern grows before they quickly leave and in fact skip the neighbours.. come to think of it I don’t think anyone else has knocked out door since 😂

Momoftwoscallywags · 19/04/2026 18:14

At our last property my husband inadvertently got us on the no call list when he answered the door in just his shorts and no shirt! (in his defence he had just finished mowing the lawn in very hot weather). Anyways, the elderly lady and young girl on the other side of the door didn't know where to look, scarpered before you could blink and we were never disturbed by them for the remaining 15 years we lived there.

At our current home it was me who got us on the no call list, not because I was walking around half naked but because the caller said that the previous owner used to invite him in for a cup of tea and a chat about god (the previous owner was a local vicar) and he thought it really rude that I wasn't doing the same. I asked him if he knew the average police response time for the local area as I had just moved here? Puzzled, he asked why and I said that there seems to be a strange man going around the neighbourhood, trying to get into properties under false pretences.

Took him a couple of seconds for the penny to drop and by this time I had my phone in my hand.
Never saw anyone back up a path so fast.
But I have had no more callers of this type and it's been 10 years!

Livpool · 19/04/2026 18:27

I just say I am not interested and shut the door. I have never listened to anyone waffle on

Radiat · 19/04/2026 18:42

I told them once that I’m Catholic, and smiled broadly at them. They said have a nice day, didn’t even try and have a conversation, and have never returned!

I’ve since learnt some of them see Catholicism as pretty much akin to satanism.
Can’t remember if it was JH or Mormons. Or both.

Julimia · 19/04/2026 20:04

Dont open the door. If you have done say Thank you but no thank you. Close door.

Smoggy1 · 19/04/2026 20:46

If they're Jehovah's Witnesses, tell them you've been disfellowed. If they're Mormons, tell them you've been excommunicated. I've been friends with former members of both churches, and they've said this generally works.

Farr85 · 19/04/2026 20:57

Open window at the top of the house and politely tell them im not interested and good day, close the window

AhMh67 · 19/04/2026 21:25

No thanks bye and shut the door.

NorthFacingGardener · 19/04/2026 21:33

“Sorry, I can’t talk now”.

I have also used “sorry I’ve got to see to the baby” and it was very effective, the person apologised and hurried away. It was actually true that time but it was so good I sometimes use it even when the kids are out.

Morrisdancer24 · 19/04/2026 21:36

Fuck off and close the door would have been my response.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 19/04/2026 21:47

Say something like "Oh I thought you were the Health Worker about my chronic diarr-rrr-hea-aaa. Oh no there I go again"
And just shut the door

ForPearlViper · 19/04/2026 22:17

"No thank you, I am happy with my current deity."

Apologies if I missed someone saying this before
.
.

SpottyAlpaca · 19/04/2026 22:27

I used to be polite to religious nutters, chuggers etc but I realised that they take basic courtesy & good manners as weakness. So now I just shut the door in their faces without a word.

Trying2310 · 19/04/2026 22:30

I always respond with 'I am a committed practicing Catholic, would like to discuss Catholicism with me?' They never do and leave pretty sharpish. They haven't been in a good while so assume I am on a no call list!

Hellometime · 19/04/2026 22:37

Just shut the door. I was disturbed day after landing back from a long haul flight. I shut door clearly very annoyed, think I swore and never been bothered since.

Bonbon249 · 19/04/2026 23:08

I got button holed by a couple of LDS guys on the street and gave them a fake name and phone number. My partner suggested I should have told them I was a Satanist, I said I didn't want them having a candlelit prayer vigil outside! 😁

MrsMoastyToasty · 19/04/2026 23:28

We never used to get bothered by them. Our NDN were Jehovah's Witnesses.

Original poster

allthingsinmoderation · 20/04/2026 08:59

Thanks for the replies, some made me laugh,some made me think.
Basically, its a me problem.In my defence i am bereaved and injured atm and felt annoyed at the intrusive nature of cold callers on matters of belief.
The callers were polite but very,very persistent and difficult to get rid of and in my weakened state i felt annoyed.
Bottom line is i need to be firmer in my boundaries without being rude as despite the fact they are intruding ,they probably have their reasons and their story.

OP posts:

Comtesse · 20/04/2026 09:03

No thank you and shut the door. DH answered in his boxers once (because he thought it was a delivery) and they didn’t come back after that.

Chersfrozenface · 20/04/2026 09:07

"No thank you, I am happy with my current deity."

Adding that to my list of retorts.

heartsinvisiblefury · 20/04/2026 09:11

I brought my baby son to the door who had had a bone marrow transplant and told them if I embraced their religion he would be dead. It was when they started to tell me that there are other ways he could have been saved that they got told to fuck off and a door slammed in their faces.

moomoo1967 · 20/04/2026 18:21

allthingsinmoderation · 18/04/2026 10:54

I am working from home today ,well working from my bed due to a broken ankle.
I had a sleepless night due to discomfort and not in the best mood.
Just had 2 women knock (very persistently) at my door, so i struggled down stairs and was greeted by 2 smiling gurning stepford wives dine up to the nines asking me "How due you view the future"?
i was discombobulated from lack of sleep i think and almost entered into a discussion about world events but something about them was weird and i managed to blurt out that i was busy working, they were undeterred and went into a full religious speech. i stood my ground and and maintained that i didnt a have time to discuss,they wanted to make an appt to return and i felt pressured .
When i tried to evade,they pressed further.They werent rude or impolite just doggedly persistent and unnervingly odd looking.
After a while (felt like forever) they thrust some pamphlets into my hand and left.
AIBU to be annoyed by the intrusion?
Or should i be more tolerant?
How is it best to handle these people?

Not opening the door in the first place really, especially if you're ill

EmeraldDreams73 · 20/04/2026 18:28

Mercifully rare here in darkest Devon but "No thanks, we're not religious" and a firmly shut door worked well.

My brother used to get a LOT. His solution was a deadpan glare and "I'm a Satanist". (He's not!) Worked a treat apparently but I'm far too much of a coward to try that one!

Original poster

allthingsinmoderation · 20/04/2026 18:53

moomoo1967 · 20/04/2026 18:21

Not opening the door in the first place really, especially if you're ill

Show quote history

I didn't at first ,but they were persistent and had quite an aggressive knock .
I was also expecting a delivery (medication) and i thought perhaps it was that and it needed to be signed for so eventually hobbled to the door.
Think i need a ring door bell.....

OP posts:

muddyford · 20/04/2026 19:03

Just tell whichever group it is that you don't want visiting. Make them write it down. It's worked for me in two different houses plus neighbours.