To feel a bit harassed by charity worker

Knew it would be! It seems to attract the worst-behaved of all of them. Sorry you were intimidated like that and hope you get the money back!

😮😮. Good God, That’s practically day light robbery.

I’d fib and report it via my online banking as unauthorised and try for a chargeback. I once got my money back from a chugger who did this to me! Grabbed hold of my arm and would let go until I tapped my card. Reported it to my bank and not me and got the money back.

What is a Chugger?

Why do you feel stupid saying you can’t afford £25 plenty of people haven’t got a spare £25 just chillin in their bank. Okay it’s far from a lot but in this economic climate it’s certainly not a little either. Plus regardless of wether or not you or anyone can or can’t afford it it’s your right to say “No”. Even a billionaire can’t help every cause out there.

Or actually Islington!

Op already did

“Uplifterz CIC is the charity.”

The issue is that TFL must already know. It’s impossible to miss it, there’s loads of them, drawing loads of attention to themselves every single day. It’s being allowed to happen.

Thank you. I guess I'll be contacting City of London because they're not a registered charity, they're a CIC. It's honestly outrageous the tactics they use.

Thanks for the heads up as going via Farringdon in a few days time.

I have a whistle attached to my bag and it's my back up for getting attention in situations like this.

Or if they aren't a charity. Go through your council.

• Charitable Street Collections:The charity must be a registered charity with The Charity Commission OR have national or international charitable/humanitarian objectives.
• An unregistered charity will not be issued a licence.
• Each charity is only allowed to collect once a year.
• Collections can only be made on the specified date, time and location.
• The licence has the Council logo on it.
• The licence should be produced on request.
• A letter is sent to the charity confirming the collection and licence.
• No collection will be made in a manner likely to inconvenience or annoy any person.
• Collectors shall remain stationary.
• Collection boxes shall be numbered.
• Collectors normally display some form of identification badge.

If they are not a registered charity, report to the council or potentially if they are actually harassing call 101 report for harassment.

YANBU. It's completely understandable to have been flustered and absolutely unacceptable behaviour by that person, whether or not the charity was legitimate. I'd have said loudly 'if you obstruct my path I'll report you' but I know hindsight is 20:20. Definitely complain to the station management and the Fundraising Regulator - if enough people complain this organisation will be flagged and may not be allowed to collect, which sounds like a good thing frankly.

Same. It’s really intimidating and annoying. I give to plenty of charities as I choose and I just want to get home in peace without being harassed in the street!

Everyone from here who has been harassed at Farringdon needs to complain to TFL - actually, I think someone should tweet this thread to them, and maybe that will light a fire under them. And report every instance to the BTP too.

https://www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/complaints/make-complaint

I knew from the minute you posted it would be about Farringdon. I am absolutely sick to the back teeth of these people - every damn day. They are insanely pushy. I really really want to complain, but I don't know who to!

pfra doesnt exist anymore. Charity commission is who you need 👍

That's terrible! I just walk off and say no thank you and carry on walking. So frustrating they are rude and very pushy shoving stuff under people's noses. I don't allow it though.

Commuted on the tube for 25 years. Anything like that happened to me, I used to shout 'Get away from me, get your hands off me!' really loudly and they left me well alone. I'd rather feel stupid for causing a scene than for giving someone my money out of fear of being seen to be rude.

This is scary. If they could get the money from you by you touching your card against their machine, then presumably, they could just take it by holding their machine up to your phone - maybe distracting you in some way or working with an accomplice.

If it were legit, it would be an extremely odd MO - as PP pointed our bluntly - to be working and campaigning against aggressive behaviour in the streets by aggressively demanding money from people who very clearly can't/don't want to give it.

Report to the charity commission and the charity itself. It’s people like this that give fundraisers a bad name!

Was this at Farringdon today OP?

I was yelled at by one of them and called a “fucking weirdo” because I asked one of them to please leave me alone after following me into the station and waving his hand in front of my face. But it sounds like I got away lightly - sorry this happened to you.

The whole chugger tactic is so incredibly rude, obnoxious and exploitative. I genuinely think it should be banned.

I'm actually in shock that you tapped your card 😲 but just don't try to get your money back from these scammers - report it to your bank and try that way too. If it was late this evening maybe it hasn't gone through yet.

In Bristol, we call people in this profession "Chuggers" ie) Charity Muggers.

This is an extreme example though!