What can I do about this?

Question

About every other month or so we have about two or three Jehovah's Witnesses come up to the house and ring the doorbell.
Even when you politely tell them you aren't interested,
sometimes they'll stick around for thirty minutes or more. Well this morning, I figure they have went too far.
Today, as I was getting ready for work, they drove up in the yard, walked up to the house, rang the doorbell and knocked on the door. I walked outside, politely told them I was busy, wasn't interested and was getting ready for work. I finally .went back inside and shut the door.
After I had told them this, they stood in my yard near their car for at least 15 more minutes, came up to the door and rung the bell again. I didn't answer it, so they walked all around the house peeping through the windows. I have never seen anything like it! These people are right up there with telemarketers! Next time, should I call the police? Will they do anything since they belong to a religious orginization?

Answer 1

Perhaps this questioner should consider this exact situation from the point of view of the Jehovah's Witness ministers.

1. They have apparently NEVER been told that their visits are unwelcome; perhaps they believe themselves to be "friends" of the householder, considering their regular 30-minute chats!
2. They were told the householder couldn't talk because he was "getting ready for work"; perhaps the householder even seemed hurried.
3. The two ministers then were either deep in conversation with each other, or perhaps were waiting for two colleagues who were visiting a nearby household and perhaps had the car keys. 15 minutes goes by.
4. At some point, the two ministers realize that the householder hasn't left the home, although their "friend" clearly explained that she was hurrying to work. They become concerned for their "friend's" safety!
5. Perhaps one minister says to the other, "I'm sure nothing is wrong but perhaps it is wise that we just make sure. Let's ring the doorbell"
6. NO ONE ANSWERS, although they know that their friend the householder is hurrying to work and they haven't seen her leave. The more worrisome of the two ministers says "She must have fallen and is knocked out bleeding on the floor!"
7. The windows face the street, so the other instinctively looks to see if there is anything obvious (an intruder with a ski mask?, a pool of blood?).
8. The two ministers are still nervous for their friend the householder, but resolve to simply drive past the house in a half hour or an hour.

Please understand that if this householder does contact the police and discusses this entire matter as it seems to have happened, the police will write a report. The most likely result will be that they will do nothing except make a mental note that the address is a likely future "false alarm". The few times the police do followup these types of reports with the local congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, it is with apologies for the religious bigots who have filed them.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20000622/
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/article_04.htm

Answer 2

As a happy ex-witness I can say this from experience. The jw's have lists of people they "call on". Ask to be put on their DNC aka do not call list. In Canada, that gives you one year of peace...if they come back after your request you can call the police. Or the best is tell them you are not interested and if they could give your their home address and if you change your mind you will come knocking on their door...usually shuts them up.




PS... to the post after me...you are either an irate cop that has been called too many times for such a thing or a very arrogant witness that thinks you know everything. May I also point out that if you are a witness...I recall a Kingdom Ministry article "FORBIDDING" witnesses to participate on online discussions regarding religion or even posting on forums like this one or chat rooms. Take your house to house record sheet and stuff it !

Answer 3

If you ask them to leave and they don't, that's tresspass. Call the police to move them off your property.

You can also hang a sign saying something like "I do not talk to solicitors for free. By ringing this bell, or knocking on the door, you are agreeing to a service contract. I will listen to you for up to 15 minutes for a $100 fee. You must pay the fee if you knock or ring, even if I do not have time to give you 15 minutes. Only knock or ring IF you agree to these terms".

Answer 4

Do you have a camera? If it happens again, take photos of them peeping in, and of the license plate on the car, then yes, report them to the police. Peeping in windows is illegal, and if you have photographic evidence, the police are more llikely to be able to help. At worst, seeing a camera will make them vamoose in a hurry and hopefully leave you alone in the future.

Answer 5

Are you sure they were who they said they were? It almost sounds like they were either casing the joint, or looking for someone in particular. I would probably report them to the police for suspicious behavior. Assuming they were JW's, their religion requires them to "witness" (go door to door selling their faith) so many hours per week. So if they're desperate they'll try to log those hours any way possible, even hanging out in their car for 1/2 before hitting the next spot.

Answer 6

You don't know that they are JWs unless you have asked them. They could be Mormons. You need to tell them that you don't want them to come back, not just that you are busy at the present time. They might accidentally come back. People make mistakes. It hard to keep track of every person who doesn't want you to go to their house. Just be polite and remind them.

Answer 7

Put up a no soliciting sign and yes call the police if they dont leave. After you tell them to leave once they are trespassing. The police will show up and tell them to leave and not come back and if they do it again they will arrest them. Religious Org or not.

Answer 8

Personally, I have never heard of any Jehovah's Witness I know (and I know a lot) doing something like this and nor would I ever think of doing it in my own ministry. Are you sure?

Answer 9

I would say yes, I would definetely call the police. I dont care who they are, that is disrupting your privacy and is trespassing. Even though they are a religious organization, that is still solicitation and if you had already told them that you werent interested, then they had no more business on your property.

Answer 10

Answer the door nude, holding a dead chicken and a voodoo doll.