Unwanted contact

“Please don’t contact me anymore”

should do just fine.

If you think that’s a bit abrupt you could add

I wish you well for the future.

And then just delete anything that comes in.

He’s pestering you.

Thank you Lathyrus. I fully intend to block him on WhatsApp once I send a message, so I shouldn't get any more calls.

Surely, if you don't answer the phone or door to him, he'll have to give up? Can't you just block him on phone and WhatsApp? You can create a silent ringtone for his number too. He could still leave a message - but you can just ignore it.

If you must do the 'don't contact' thing, it could be better sent through somebody else, like your late friend's partner. You really cannot avoid it being unpleasant though.

No response is a response

You can block incoming calls and WhatsApp messages

You don't owe this man anything

Hetty this has been going on for a couple of months. I never answer the phone to him and blocked him on messenger. However he's calling me on WhatsApp now and yesterday there were five calls and a message. He isn't getting the message at all! I really hope he doesn't turn up at the door, hence my need to make it unambiguous.

Violetsky. Good point. I know I don't owe him anything. I just want him to stop contacting me.

Grandmabatty, oh I see, a real pest. Block him on WhatsApp:

faq.whatsapp.com/1142481766359885/?cms_platform=android

Hetty thank you

GMBatty, I have a similar problem. He is someone, who was very involved in our church, but fell out with the clergy.
I found it very difficult to tell him not to contact me, when he kept phoning both landline and mobile. Ignoring and blocking didn't work and last week after a spell of no contact, he turned up at my door, which I found very unsettling, for I find him very creepy..
Unfortunately I answered the door, thinking it was DH arriving back from the golf.

My advice is to be blunt, trying to tell my stalker (for that is what he is) kindly, didn't work.
Good luck.

Marydoll thank you. That sounds like a horrible situation to be in! My 'stalker' isn't creepy at least, but a rather unpleasant man who I no longer need any contact with.

Grandma Batty I have the same problem. What is it with lonely men? Friend died now her husband who has always been over familiar rings and wants to come and stay. My husband died 3 months ago.

I'm sorry Tinks that you are in a similar situation. That sounds worse for you. This man was overly familiar at times but I ignored it. I suspect my issue is that I have known him for such a long time so I'm struggling with being blunt.

I'm not convinced that ghosting him will work. He seems pretty thick skinned, and anyway, ghosting is a horrible thing to do. Maybe reply to say something like 'I don't like not replying to your messages, but I have a lot going on just now. That's not likely to change, so it would be better if you stopped contacting me.

Being blunt and straight with him really is the only way.
Anything less and he will think he has a chance of getting through.
Like pulling a very difficult plaster off just grit your teeth and do it.
You will feel so much better.
I hope you are feeling a bit better today.
Having this on your mind will not be helping.

Me too Grandma Batty I have known him for over 50 years I feel vulnerable now that I am on my own. Luckily for me he lives 100 miles away. I don't like to be rude.

Well I've sent a message saying stop contacting me as I find it intrusive, then I blocked him. I hope that's enough. Annsixty thank you. My voice is going now which many would say is a positive thing!😂

Tink you say you don't want to be rude, but he's got no problem in being rude to you!

Yes you are right Grandmabatty. Just good to have some one else to discuss it with Thankyou.

Telling someone to stop contacting (pestering) you is not rude.

I learned this in my teens thanks to my Dad telling me to be forthright with a boy who kept asking me out. Dad said “Just say NO.” He’ll understand that and will BELIEVE you to be serious whereas if You keep giving soft negatives he’ll think you’re stringing him along.

It worked.

I also don’t think ghosting in these situations is wrong.

Baggs the trouble with this man is, I was ignoring him but he wasn't going away. A bit like if you ignore a verruca!

Do not worry about being rude , he is a menace! If you respond by phone , what's app or any other method of communication you are rewarding his behaviour, even if your response is very negative. Please do not appeal to his better nature by politely asking him to back off - men like him do not have a better nature!! Ignore , Ignore , Ignore. As a last resort, if despite you not having communication with him,
make it clear if he contacts you again you will involve the police. I don't mean as an idle threat either - act on it immediately by contacting the police. Don't be afraid, and most certainly do not worry about being rude to him !! He is a pest and his behaviour needs stopping. He is unsettling you and causing you anxiety and that is unacceptable. Keep us posted be brave and good luck 💐💐

Baggs

I also don’t think ghosting in these situations is wrong.

Ghosting just makes them more persistent!

Shelf life thank you for your support. Fingers crossed he gets the message