Mumsnet Talk

Well, in honour of OldBag's son, I'm going to start up the 'love a chugger' movement. The next chuggers who stop me I shall be polite and friendly to.

Now of course they'll all have disappeared next time I go into town.

They can be very intimidating, though I do not really resent them.

There have been several ways of repelling them mentioned already, but the one that I use as it has no comeback is "I'm sorry, I don't pay UK taxes".

They are gone quicker than the smile drops from their lips

I've never heard the term chugger today but I love it! One really pissed me off today. My excuse was that I didn't have any change (which was true) and so he whipped out a portable machine and said "it's ok I take cards"!!!

Best response I've heard to chuggers was

' Oh yeah I already give to that charity '

nothing they can say to that.

Thanks BlueEmerald. He has taken the part time job as a theatre usher and starts tonight so fingers crossed it leads to a full time position.

My DP has offered him some work to make up the lack of hours but DS doesn't seem keen. He hasn't said no but said he'd prefer to find something close to the theatre to keep travel costs and time down. I imagine though that if he doesn't find another part time job this week he'll take up DPs offer.

I don't think he'd have the patience to work as a TA - he certainly doesn't cope well with 6yr old DS! I will have the details of the call centre though please just in case all doesn't go well at the theatre plus it doesn't hurt to have another option. Thank you again.

I hate these. They used to congregate outside my former office and I couldn't get a bloody sandwich without running the gauntlet of them! I have a particular hatred of them because the first one I ever encountered said I had lovely hair and asked where I got it cut (which gave me a lovely little lift on a bad day) and then ruined it all by starting his pitch.

I do the look right through them no eye contact thing that another poster mentioned. There is really nothing they can do with that.

One of good things about not working at the moment is not running the gauntlet of the awful chuggers every day. I used to hate it but I couldn't get from work to the station without going past them. I usually stick to "no" or "not interested" but think your woman sounded particularly pushy. Maybe "get out of my way" would be better than swearing but I can't really say I blame you.

Oldbag- I live in Lewisham, South London. I'll get some details for you. I'd also recommend TA work, as a male he will have an advantage there, especially at primary level or in special education, as long as he can stand kids! You don't need infinite vacancies- you need one, for your son.

You could have shouted Get away from her, you bitch!

That would be my ideal fancy dress outfit / act.

she had no right to accost your baby and deserved everything she got.
chuggers are sometimes young people who haven't got another job - students or whatever. they're recruited by team leaders, often people they know from uni. they don't have much life experience so talking to a baby might seem like a valid way to get a mother's attention, or stopping an elderly person and pressurising them for their bank details might seem reasonable to them...
but the door-to-door one who walked right into my daughter's house, through the porch/vestibule into the hall, and wanted to argue with me about whether he was leaving or not - well, he didn't work for the charity named on his tabard and he managed to con the police... but he was potentially dangerous. what if she'd been home alone?

I say "I'm sorry, I don't sign up with chuggers" and walk faster.

Some indignantly say "I'm not a chugger" - "oh, I'm sorry, I thought you wanted me to sign up to donate to your charity" - "Erm..."

I agree that YWBU to swear at someone without first being polite. Walking along without responding isn't necessarily a "no", it might be a "hadn't noticed".

Our local council has brought in restrictions - no more than 3 individuals in the high street I think it is.

What I can't understand is that it was (and I assume therefore still is) illegal to be a street collector and shake your tin and/or approach people. You were only allowed to stand there and accept donations, you weren't allowed to make any approaches or 'disturb' people through rattling your tin.

Chugging should be made illegal. Far more disturbing than someone shaking a tin.

Seriously? Your first thought was to say "fuck off" rather than "I'm not interested, sorry"

Oldbag - well done to your son for doing that. Pleased it worked out for him.

Thanks FallingSun. He has applied to M&S, Debenhams, House of Fraser, John Lewis, H&M, etc and all the supermarkets.

He has always applied for full time work but now he's talking about taking the part time job at the Novello he could reapply to all of them for part time work too and as you say, at this time of year lots of them are recruiting.

Oldbag - I live in Surrey too, I've seen lots of high street shops with signs hiring staff for Xmas - could be a good way for your ds to get some experience?m&s were definitely recruiting, as were several others

Engage my children.

Bloody fat fingers.

I had one on my doorstep once, piling on the charm and telling me my neighbours had signed up to his Unicef stuff. He was trying to engaged children and get invited inside. So I felt guilty and signed. When he'd gone I thought 'wtf?' Was furious. So I kept an eagle eye on the bank account online and as soon as Unicef appeared in my direct debit list I cancelled it before it could take any money. I just got a letter in the post saying sorry they were losing me. I wish they'd phoned, I'd have told them what I thought of being conned into being mugged on my own doorstep.

Me too Jambalaya, 2 of them followed me down the street when I was crying and a third one told me to fuck off when I didn't stop to talk to him (still crying). Now I just ask them if the charity has a website and tell them I'll donate through that. It's much cheaper than giving to the chuggers and they can't try and talk you into signing up with them without looking more interested in their comission than the charity.

YANBU. It's everywhere these days.
And if its not chuggers, it's people in my supermarket (Sainsburys) trying to get me to sign up to energy companies or their credit card. And then outside the supermarket, in the shopping centre, it's woman trying to thread my eyebrows at extorionate prices.

I hate it, and you always feel so bloody awful refusing to put money in buckets for charities. There was one outside my Boots the other day, shaking her bucket asking for donation s for 'children with cancer'. I had to walk past her twice pushing dd in her buggy. I ready give to a couple if charities us do stuff via work for others. But they don't know that.

We had chuggers at our door the other night. DH let them in, I was fuming (bath/pj time) and he signed up!! He'd mistakenly made a mistake with his account code by 1 digit, and they were back the next night to get it sorted. Right in the middle of our dinner at 8pm. The girl kept using my DHs first name, it just reminded me of a tacky sales persons job.

I guess it's tough, charities have to make money a d people are only doing their jobs, but nowhere is sacred anymore!

He's 19 TheFarSide.

Thanks for the info and link. He has looked into apprenticeships and applied for a couple within the media industry but they don't really cover his living expenses. He doesn't live at home so has rent of £80.00 pw to find plus food, travel and sundries. Minimum wage at his age is just £4.98 ph but in his first year of an apprenticeship it's just £2.65 ph.

I think he's going to take the part time job he's been offered as he can't bear being on JSA - Last weekend he went to Piccadilly Circus armed with copies of his CV and handed them out at all the theatres as someone told him they're regularly looking for ushers. Luckily one had a part time vacancy and he got the job. He now needs to quickly find another part time job to give him a full time wage.

How old is your son OldBag? I heard from someone who works for the National Apprenticeship Service that there are a lot of vacancies on their website that they have trouble filling: www.apprenticeships.org.uk. The starting apprenticeship minimum wage is low but rises to at least minimum wage after the first year.

"Anyone who can get a job chugging can get a job in a call centre."

Excellent. I'll pass on the details of these call centres with infinite vacancies to my son and his friends if you can let me know the details. In and around the South London/Surrey area please. Thanks in advance.

I think one of reasons I hate chugging with a passion is being interrupted whilst just quietly walking, having my space invaded, and having inane drivel said to me in my face, over and over again, whilst just trying to go to a shop.

I know I have become dismissive to the chuggers. I don't like becoming rude, but I know of no other way of running the gauntlet. So I hold up my hand to keep them away from me, and say 'No', and ignore them.

It's the same with cold callers at my house. If you ignore my clear sign, why are you surprised if I am dismissive in my response.

I really am fed up of being pestered by other people's shitty jobs. And I definitely do blame their organisations for giving them crappy instructions in the first place.

Yes, of course I'd rather. I'm stating my opinion. I know it may be hard for some people but I do really think that chugging should be done away with. It is at best morally dubious. Anyone who can get a job chugging (it's not actually that easy unless you are 17, blonde and female I know several articulate, bright, sparky men and non blonde/curvy women who have been rejected) can get a job in a call centre (I have lots of friends who have done this post 6th form or university) and then at least people can just put the phone down/not answer rather than be harassed down the street.

I suspect any 'success' from chugging is down to targeting vulnerable people in society anyway. My brother has Asperger's and he was brow-beaten and guilt tripped into signing up with Bliss by a chugger who lost their job after we complained. My brother suffered nightmares about dying babies for weeks afterwards and threatened to run away from home when we cancelled the direct debit.