To think the Co op should not allow this?

Shoplifters running about unchallenged inside, chuggers outside. I don't know what that place is coming to. I've a good mind to cancel my funeral plan.

YANBU- they are really persistent and irritating. Best way I've found to get rid is to simply tell them, "I already have a direct debit set up with your charity". It's a total lie but they have nowhere to go with it if you already donate PLUS it makes you sound generous if anyone is watching/listening so they cant then hassle you any more.

Works every time.

Technically it is considered unacceptable practice to be abusing or harassing you whilst chugging. It's a complain to local trading standards / the council job.

I had similar once - I'm a bit of dick, admittedly, but I know full well what the rules are (or at least were) for charity collection, being not approaching people, not encroaching on the entrance, etc, etc.

This bloke stopped me by stepping in front of my trolley, piled high with bags of litter, wanky crunchies, hypo allergenic cat food, big bag of frozen prawns and the cheapest rice, eggs and salad, plus loads of cleaning products to deal with the blasted animal's guts of evil. About twenty quid on me, best part of two hundred on her.

'Do you like cats?'

'No, not particularly'.

We have 'save the children' so I've offered them mine (who were misbehaving ridiculously at the time). They declined. Suggests they're not hugely committed to the cause IMO.

Just ask them what their commission is...and then move on through.

I hate this so much, I used to volunteer for a big name charity but stopped when I found out they used chuggers and sold them why. I choose who I donate money to and regularly donate to 2 very local charities and volunteer my time to another local charity.
The chuggers don’t give a shit about the charity, they would promote anything that paid so I just walk straight past them.

Earphones are the answer, ear buds aren't as effective as the chuggers can't see them but they can see the wires.
Works everytime!

It's quite common, it's a charity mugger - someone who's raising money for charity, usually in the street wanting you to give them a direct debit. It's more applied to those who are working for the charity and get a commission for signing you up.

If only shop staff had that much power 😂😂. It's the arseholes at head office who authorize this nonsense because they don't have to deal with it.

I agree. It's really not on, especially at a convenience store. Often younger people who feel embarrassed give them money, or elderly people who can't afford it.

CHarity mUGGER

Have this in my local co-op as well, I now get my phone out and pretend I'm on it before I reach them. They shouldn't be allowed.

Yep Dont like this either. I,m just dropping in to get some milk I don't want to be hassled . I don't engage just say "No thanks" and keep walking.

😂Ask a silly question...

oh my goodness, they would have stopped me, even though I never have any intentions of signing up. I donate but after made my decision at home and choosing what we want to support. I have a choice and my husband his own.

Once when I was a bit younger one man called me and waved at me and said: come here, Bella. And oh goodness, I just went and asked: what are you offering. So he said what and I gave two pounds and he said: but we need your bank details. For what? Asked I. For monthly debit donations.

But I have no money in there, I do not work currently. My boyfriend pays the bills.

He said: you are too clever, poor man.

i thought: ahhh nooo, you just thought I am too stupid and came just because you waved at me and called me Bella

Am I the only person who doesn’t have a clue what chuggers means?

Yes Pets at Home are very generous with MY money. They flog off their nearly out of date food in packages their customers can buy and donate to a local pet charity. Rather than just donating it themselves. Sick bastards profiting off generous customers and needy animals.

And it's not as if they are using the money to pay staff either. Always woefully understaffed when I go in.

I hate this too. It especially bothers me as some vulnerable people may not feel able to say no so end up giving money they can’t afford. But please complain to the store manager - from a previous job we had to say yes to these otherwise it would seem the company were uncaring, however we were able to ask them to leave once we had enough complaints to justify it

I hate above all the ones who reckon they don't understand what you say: 'I'm on a very tight schedule today and I can't stop' gets the reply 'I'll make it very quick', as if 'can't stop' did not mean exactly what it says.

Chuggers of course do not work for the charity whose tabard they wear but for a fundraising firm under contract to the charity - and the fundraising firm will take a cut of anything you give.

We have it outside the local co op. It really annoys me, it’s not that I don’t care about charitable causes I just can’t afford to give, especially if they want to set up a DD! It’s not just one either, there’s often two or three people together.

Had this at Pets at Home. "Would you like to donate to feed a hungry animal?" No actually I'm alright thanks.

Yes I hate it too. They have them at my local Waitrose and while I always buy fur the food bank there (they are outside and do not talk to you unless giving them something) inside there's a desk you can avoid - last week it was someone dressed up as aTeletubby. I feel weird because there I am shopping at a 'premium' market. But truth is I give by DD to two charities, I give to the food bank, and I rarely have cash on me. Still makes me feel uncomfortable.

The other annoying one is the card machines (esp service stations) where they round up to the next pound and suggest you donate it to charity. The people behind the counter get really hacked showing people the NO button..

I haven't seen any since before the pandemic. But we used to get a lot in town trying to flog joke books for a charity I haven't heard of.

I was in town once with a friend when one approached us and asked if we have a sense of humour. My friend snapped no at them grabbed me and marched off.

She then told me they stopped someone she worked with. When she said she had no money she said she would go to a cash machine to get some out to get rid of them. They only followed her to make sure she did. She gave them the money to get away from them.