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A religious group has visited your door many times in an attempt to convert you, you have told them you aren't interested..
Do you continue to open the door and listen to what they have to say? Stop answering the door? Take another line of action?
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December 18, 2009 11:39 PM
Note: The above citation is from the online code of law for Clearwater Florida. It doesn't have to be your local law to request someone to not solicit and define what your request entails. It's only pertinent to your area if you choose to sue. Quoting "No Solicitation" law(s) that are local to your area are even more effective - besides, you should know what is and isn't allowed in your area anyway in case you are entitled to damages by those who break the law on your property.
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1. Post "No Soliciting" at the edge of your property or driveway or next to your doorbell. A "No Trespassing" sign is more effective but not always appropriate. "Day Sleeper: Do Not Disturb" also works if you live quietly and like it to stay that way and prefer to simply not answer the door.
2. If you use(d) a "No Soliciting" sign, post a copy of this in the center of your door:
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OFFICIAL NOTICE
Sec 21.16.
(1) Definition of a Solicitor:
"Solicitor" as used in this section means ALL PERSONS seeking funds or services of ANY KIND FOR ANY PURPSE or seeking to sell, give or IN ANY WAY dispose of goods, services, wares, merchandise, newspapers, or written material OF ANY KIND, REGARDLESS of whether the person is engages in a COMMERCIAL transaction or in a RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL, POLITICAL, SCIENTIFIC, PHILANTHROPIC, BENEVOLENT, FRATERNAL, CHARITABLE or ANY OTHER NONCOMMERCIAL activity.
(2) Prohibition against solicitors entering upon the properly of a private residence posted with a "No Solicitation" sign:
No solicitor shall willfully enter upon the property of a private residence when the owner or occupant thereof has posted or placed near or at the entrance of the property a sign containing the words "No Solicitation" or a substantially similar message in letters easily read by a person approaching the property. Said signs shall be posted or placed in a manner and in such a position as to be clearly noticeable to a person approaching the property.
(3) Exemptions:
The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person or business representative invited upon the property by an inhabitant of the property or by an inhabitant's agent.
---
If anyone chooses to ignore your post AND the official notice you can pursue the matter in the following ways.
1. No trespassing sign? You can call the police. In Texas you can shoot them.
2. Day Sleeper: Do not disturb? You can ignore the intrusion and yell at them in your underwear if they persist (always fun).
3. No Soliciting? You can point out that if they can't even read and understand a simple sign, how do you expect them to be competent enough to explain complex religious concepts in any significant detail?
Sometimes I have had to ask them if they read the sign at all. Some don't. Some start reading it after they knock/ring so I give them a moment to finish before answering and smile as they apologize. I thank them for their consideration. If they have read it (we have a windowed door so I can see them reading it) and they insist they aren't soliciting I ask them if they were asked to come to my door by me. They have to say no. Then I point out that if they'd read the letter of the law AS PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED before disturbing me they'd know that that makes them a solicitor by definition AS PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED and they'd do well to remember that "the customer is always right".
If they further argue the point I politely ask them if they really think that arguing with me is really the best way to gain sympathy for their cause and ask them if it's more important for them to be right or to RESPECT MY REQUEST TO GET OFF MY PROPERTY and ask them to please go before I call the police.
http://www.hooksigns.com/i/PRODUCT%20IMAGES/Warning-Security-Camera-In-.jpg
As a last resort, post a sign that says "CAMERA AREA: By approaching this domicile you hereby consent to be videotaped, photographed or otherwise recorded and grant unconditional use of your likeness to the residents of this facility" and start taking their picture when you open the door.
Trust me. You won't get ANYONE knocking on your door unless they are providing services you've requested!
When I'm feeling particularly mischievous I put out a Recycle Bin and add a sign that says "Please deposit all literature in the bin - that's where I'll be putting it anyway."
http://elekhni.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/bin.jpg
And I do. But not before calling up the number on the flier and explaining that the reason I'm choosing to blacklist their company is due to their inability to respect your request to not be solicited at my home.
Source(s):
2. If you use(d) a "No Soliciting" sign, post a copy of this in the center of your door:
---
OFFICIAL NOTICE
Sec 21.16.
(1) Definition of a Solicitor:
"Solicitor" as used in this section means ALL PERSONS seeking funds or services of ANY KIND FOR ANY PURPSE or seeking to sell, give or IN ANY WAY dispose of goods, services, wares, merchandise, newspapers, or written material OF ANY KIND, REGARDLESS of whether the person is engages in a COMMERCIAL transaction or in a RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL, POLITICAL, SCIENTIFIC, PHILANTHROPIC, BENEVOLENT, FRATERNAL, CHARITABLE or ANY OTHER NONCOMMERCIAL activity.
(2) Prohibition against solicitors entering upon the properly of a private residence posted with a "No Solicitation" sign:
No solicitor shall willfully enter upon the property of a private residence when the owner or occupant thereof has posted or placed near or at the entrance of the property a sign containing the words "No Solicitation" or a substantially similar message in letters easily read by a person approaching the property. Said signs shall be posted or placed in a manner and in such a position as to be clearly noticeable to a person approaching the property.
(3) Exemptions:
The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person or business representative invited upon the property by an inhabitant of the property or by an inhabitant's agent.
---
If anyone chooses to ignore your post AND the official notice you can pursue the matter in the following ways.
1. No trespassing sign? You can call the police. In Texas you can shoot them.
2. Day Sleeper: Do not disturb? You can ignore the intrusion and yell at them in your underwear if they persist (always fun).
3. No Soliciting? You can point out that if they can't even read and understand a simple sign, how do you expect them to be competent enough to explain complex religious concepts in any significant detail?
Sometimes I have had to ask them if they read the sign at all. Some don't. Some start reading it after they knock/ring so I give them a moment to finish before answering and smile as they apologize. I thank them for their consideration. If they have read it (we have a windowed door so I can see them reading it) and they insist they aren't soliciting I ask them if they were asked to come to my door by me. They have to say no. Then I point out that if they'd read the letter of the law AS PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED before disturbing me they'd know that that makes them a solicitor by definition AS PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED and they'd do well to remember that "the customer is always right".
If they further argue the point I politely ask them if they really think that arguing with me is really the best way to gain sympathy for their cause and ask them if it's more important for them to be right or to RESPECT MY REQUEST TO GET OFF MY PROPERTY and ask them to please go before I call the police.
As a last resort, post a sign that says "CAMERA AREA: By approaching this domicile you hereby consent to be videotaped, photographed or otherwise recorded and grant unconditional use of your likeness to the residents of this facility" and start taking their picture when you open the door.
Trust me. You won't get ANYONE knocking on your door unless they are providing services you've requested!
When I'm feeling particularly mischievous I put out a Recycle Bin and add a sign that says "Please deposit all literature in the bin - that's where I'll be putting it anyway."
And I do. But not before calling up the number on the flier and explaining that the reason I'm choosing to blacklist their company is due to their inability to respect your request to not be solicited at my home.
Note: The above citation is from the online code of law for Clearwater Florida. It doesn't have to be your local law to request someone to not solicit and define what your request entails. It's only pertinent to your area if you choose to sue. Quoting "No Solicitation" law(s) that are local to your area are even more effective - besides, you should know what is and isn't allowed in your area anyway in case you are entitled to damages by those who break the law on your property.
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December 18, 2009 09:09 PM
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These groups, and we all have dealt with them, are trained to get out what they are preaching. I have a simple solution. I tell them that before I will invite them into my house to talk religion, they had to promise to do 2 things. They will ask me what. I simply reply, For one year 1. You have to pray for truth, and 2. Pray for the grace to accept the truth. if you do that for one year, I will sit down with you. They never return. I am the crazy Catholic lady.
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December 18, 2009 09:13 PM
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Well, we have a few groups that come to my door too and I'm not interested.
I take the same action each time. I open the door, I see who it is and before they can start I say "I'm sorry, I'm not interested". If they try to talk before I close the door again I just repeat myself and speak over what they are saying. I say thank you as I shut the door.
Works every time.
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I take the same action each time. I open the door, I see who it is and before they can start I say "I'm sorry, I'm not interested". If they try to talk before I close the door again I just repeat myself and speak over what they are saying. I say thank you as I shut the door.
Works every time.
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December 18, 2009 09:41 PM
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I wouldn't really send them away just like that... I can say "No" nicely. If they repeatedly go to my place, maybe they didn't just know that they already knocked at my place or what but it's not really enough reason to get mad at them if they'll continue going to my place to tell me about their religion.
I'll just tell them that I understand their mission but it's just that I have my own beliefs too. If ever they'll be knocking again, then I'll just tell them that they've just asked me before and I said I'm not that interested.
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I'll just tell them that I understand their mission but it's just that I have my own beliefs too. If ever they'll be knocking again, then I'll just tell them that they've just asked me before and I said I'm not that interested.
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December 18, 2009 10:51 PM
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Tell them you'd love to talk, but before they begin, they need to tell you what they'd ultimately like to have happen. The answer your looking for is "a conversion", which of course they'll never say. If they just tell you they'd like to talk, tell them you're not interested in talking until you're sure of what the talk will be achieving. That's usually all you need to say.
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December 19, 2009 12:27 AM
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I had a similar problem. I listened to them for a while and promiced to read what ever they left for me if they would read the teachings of Wicca (not actually my religion but I know enough to fake it). They left and never came back.
Years later I met a very nice nun who started to get into a chat about religion. I told her I am a person of very strong faith, and I am blessed to have friends of many different religions. She looked thoughtful for a moment smiled and never pushed her religion on me ever again.
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Years later I met a very nice nun who started to get into a chat about religion. I told her I am a person of very strong faith, and I am blessed to have friends of many different religions. She looked thoughtful for a moment smiled and never pushed her religion on me ever again.
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December 19, 2009 02:59 AM
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All of the above answers are good one!
As for me, I'll be tempted to sic a dog on them, not a big scary dog, but a slobbering overly happy chihuahua or other small lap dogs for hours while I pretend to have to do something in the kitchen or bathroom that'll take me hours to finish.
Since I don't have any lap dog I can sic on them, I'll just ignore them when they are calling out at the gate. If they enter from the gate to my door without my permission, I'll call my local Security operative.
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As for me, I'll be tempted to sic a dog on them, not a big scary dog, but a slobbering overly happy chihuahua or other small lap dogs for hours while I pretend to have to do something in the kitchen or bathroom that'll take me hours to finish.
Since I don't have any lap dog I can sic on them, I'll just ignore them when they are calling out at the gate. If they enter from the gate to my door without my permission, I'll call my local Security operative.
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December 19, 2009 09:23 AM
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I had this problem for about 3 weeks. I answered the door naked. The lady said "Oh. I can wait a minute." I replied: "Nah, i'm cool. What's up?". I don't know if this can get you arrested for indecent exposure, but if i'm in my own doorway...
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December 19, 2009 05:28 PM
This is hilarious... but in some states to my understanding you can now be charged with indecent exposure in your own home :( I was sad to read it.
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December 20, 2009 10:46 PM
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I would put a sign on my door reading "No soliciting, please (Yes, that includes religious groups, so don't bother knocking)"
OR I would tell them that I am already a happy and content member of a different church than theirs and that I have NO intentions of converting to their church and ask them to please stop bothering you or you will press charges for harrassment.
http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/mba/lowres/mban2345l.jpg
http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/mba0905l.jpg
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OR I would tell them that I am already a happy and content member of a different church than theirs and that I have NO intentions of converting to their church and ask them to please stop bothering you or you will press charges for harrassment.
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Also the hint that if it happens again I'll be photographing violations and reporting them to the authorities gets their attention. If they argue I tell them 1) That's why I choose to not do business with them and 2) we'll see if the judge agrees with them or me.