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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel a bit harassed by charity worker

343 replies

Hardknocks · 29/10/2024 18:40

Was on my way back from a meeting in London this evening, had to stop at the ticket machine to get my ticket a charity person came over to ask for a donation - I said I couldn’t afford it (I couldn’t), but I usually do give something. However this guy was so pushy, putting leaflets in my face, telling me he lost his brother to knife crime etc etc. He put £25 into his card reader and just kept saying ‘just tap your phone, tap your phone’. I politely asked him to move so that I could get past and through the train barrier but he said not until I tap.. so feeling completely intimidated I did.

I feel stupid, I couldn’t afford £25. I don’t begrudge giving to charity at all and I do where I can. AIBU to feel a bit upset about the whole thing.

OP posts:
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Agapornis · 31/10/2024 02:30

Ooh, they've replied to a MNer's 1 star Google review (in American spelling) 😂 Apparently it won't happen again. I'll believe it when I see it.

To feel a bit harassed by charity worker
Agapornis · 31/10/2024 02:14

They used to lurk around Leyton station, only lasted a few days though, people don't take shit round here and there are no tourists 😅

Used to see them outside Tottenham Court Road station too. Had a chat with a friendly shortly shy one - they work on commission only, so despite the alleged goal of the CIC, they don't even pay young people minimum wage.

I work in the sector and while there is some badly enforced law around fundraising, unfortunately a lot of it is just guidance, and charity and CIC regulators have minimal powers. Your best bet for an authority to complain to is the station manager if inside a station (TfL/LU for Farrington), or the local authority if in the street.

glittercunt · 31/10/2024 00:28

This (screenshot from their website) shows they've not even bothered setting it up properly - caught my eye because I've been setting up my webshop recently and I had to go through and check this sort of thing was gone.

Always via the bank if it's not a registered charity.

To feel a bit harassed by charity worker
JoBrodie · 30/10/2024 23:39

There are two companies registered under the Uplifterz name, with the same address but different officers, incorporated a couple of months apart.
• Uplifterz CIC: 12 July 2024 - nature of business is "46180 - Agents specialised in the sale of other particular products"
• Uplifterz Union C.I.C.: 9 September 2024 - nature of business is "85590 - Other education not elsewhere classified"

Re: Inside Success / Inside Success Union CIC using similarly persuasive tactics - ITV reported in August 2023 (includes short video) on complaints to the Fundraising Regulator about the organisation. The complaints came from several members of the public and also from their own employees who ended up being underpaid or not paid.

@southpawsofthenorth that was horrible to read, what an awful experience.

Jo

IncreasinglyGrumpy · 30/10/2024 22:51

Hardknocks · 29/10/2024 18:40

Was on my way back from a meeting in London this evening, had to stop at the ticket machine to get my ticket a charity person came over to ask for a donation - I said I couldn’t afford it (I couldn’t), but I usually do give something. However this guy was so pushy, putting leaflets in my face, telling me he lost his brother to knife crime etc etc. He put £25 into his card reader and just kept saying ‘just tap your phone, tap your phone’. I politely asked him to move so that I could get past and through the train barrier but he said not until I tap.. so feeling completely intimidated I did.

I feel stupid, I couldn’t afford £25. I don’t begrudge giving to charity at all and I do where I can. AIBU to feel a bit upset about the whole thing.

See if you can get the details of where the payment went to through the card and complain and if possible stop it.
I once told a chap from a well known children's charity that I couldn't sign up, I had 4 children of my own and I was a Foster parent and he said "well what about all the other children" !! I think sadly they do anything to make you sign up but this may have been a scam.
XX

JustAnotherDadOf2 · 30/10/2024 22:23

TTPDTS · 29/10/2024 18:42

That's terrible!

Personally I'd get in touch with the charity.

Are you sure he was legit as well - this sounds like such a horrible pressured situation I can't imagine a genuine charity person collecting would be blocking your way and forcing you to donate such a large amount!

Chuggers often work on comission, so when you donate it doesn't all go to the charity...

chezzabee80 · 30/10/2024 22:09

I've had the knife crime guys in the train station ask for money, they're really pushy, puts you off donating when people are getting paid to give their sales pitch, I stick to the small charities that I know and hopefully it's a lesson learnt to you, sorry you got caught out it's scary.

AngelInBlueJeans · 30/10/2024 21:29

Hardknocks · 29/10/2024 18:40

Was on my way back from a meeting in London this evening, had to stop at the ticket machine to get my ticket a charity person came over to ask for a donation - I said I couldn’t afford it (I couldn’t), but I usually do give something. However this guy was so pushy, putting leaflets in my face, telling me he lost his brother to knife crime etc etc. He put £25 into his card reader and just kept saying ‘just tap your phone, tap your phone’. I politely asked him to move so that I could get past and through the train barrier but he said not until I tap.. so feeling completely intimidated I did.

I feel stupid, I couldn’t afford £25. I don’t begrudge giving to charity at all and I do where I can. AIBU to feel a bit upset about the whole thing.

You are NOT being unreasonable.
Something similar happened to me in M&S, he wanted my card details for a regular monthly payment by DD. I don’t give out my bank details in these situations, in spite of the tabard as far as I was concerned he was a stranger and there was no guarantee he was who he said he was. I tried to politely move on, but he was pushy and obstructive when I tried to get past him at the foot of the escalator. I felt intimidated, he had a way of making me feel guilty too for not donating.
It was a horrible experience and looking back I wish I’d asked to see the manager in M&S.
This harassment for charity donations needs addressing.

I’m so sorry you went through this, you sound quite shaken by it and it sounds horrendous, much worse than my experience. Please report it while you still can, and to the police too as this person broke the law.

TitsInAbsentia · 30/10/2024 21:15

SqueakyDinosaur · 30/10/2024 16:32

The brand of Uplifterz (sic, vom) uses blue, so it may well have been them. I have sent a note round the office to warn people not to engage.

https://uplifterz.co.uk/

Edited

I note the address used happens to be serviced offices/mail handling address, no surprises there, and only formed in July this year. Wonder if Lamine Yamal knows he's on their tres expensive leaflet.

AllstarFacilier · 30/10/2024 21:07

Definitely needs reported, you’ve been intimidated into handing over money

Missingpop · 30/10/2024 21:05

Report it directly to the charity; with every bit of information you can remember. But I have to say it doesn’t sound how reputable charity workers collect donations & I fear this might have been as scam.
You can also report this through your bank especially if the charity says it’s nothing to do with them; your bank will try to get your money back for you & you could be the person who helps bring down a huge organised criminal organisation who are using forceful tactics to fluster people & back them into a corner so they feel they have to pay to get away from them x
Goodluck

Gemmawemma9 · 30/10/2024 20:25

Op I hope you reported it to your bank and managed to get a refund.

Zoec1975 · 30/10/2024 20:20

Please report it.no one should be doing this demanding money,and making you feel that way.

DiduAye · 30/10/2024 20:19

I'd have got BT police involved it's highway robbery!

Jack80 · 30/10/2024 20:14

Contact the police and the charity he was from

pollymere · 30/10/2024 20:06

That's basically threatening you until you gave him money... Don't feel it's anything less. You poor thing. I'd be reporting it to the police and getting the CCTV of the incident.

RawBloomers · 30/10/2024 19:13

You should report the payment to your bank and the police as fraud and blackmail. It’s fraud because he gave the impression he was asking for a charitable donation and he was not, and blackmail because it was a demand for money with menaces (refusing to let you through unless you paid).

These are both serious crimes, and while many people would just say “why did you give him any money, you could have just said no.” The whole point of your post is that you didn’t feel able to just say no, so he did manage to dishonestly get money from you. And it will be more vulnerable people (women, older people, etc) who he targets and not young, male, 6ft rugby players because he knows his menaces would be less effective on those who don’t feel as intimidated by him.

SweetcornFritter · 30/10/2024 19:00

viques · 30/10/2024 01:04

Sadly the Evening Standard stopped publishing some weeks ago. Metro is still produced though, so they might pick it up.

Oh gosh, I had no idea! That’s sad.

laraitopbanana · 30/10/2024 18:38

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 30/10/2024 11:36

A friend and I got cornered by a charity mugger in a restaurant once - she didn't have permission from the restaurant to be there, and was being very intrusive and pushy. We refused to make a donation, and when she left, she stood outside the window, next to where we were sitting, and swore at us.

We reported it to the restaurant and complained to the charity, and got apologies from both - we didn't blame the restaurant, but just wanted them to know what these people were doing on their premises, so they could keep an eye out for them and prevent them coming in again. They were horrified, and gave us a free dessert each.

Seriously!???

People have gone mad

CommonAsMucklowe · 30/10/2024 18:37

They're not called CHUGGERS for nothing!

laraitopbanana · 30/10/2024 18:36

Hi op,

you should report him. Charities don’t need this bad publicities.

terrible!!

listsandbudgets · 30/10/2024 18:16

YDBear · 30/10/2024 17:59

Why would you tap your phone instead of starting the video camera and recording his behaviour while informing him you were going to send it to the charity with a complaint?

Because she was intimidated that's why... its very easy fornyountonsit at home and say that but you might find it harder if faced with the actual situation

YDBear · 30/10/2024 17:59

Why would you tap your phone instead of starting the video camera and recording his behaviour while informing him you were going to send it to the charity with a complaint?

EerieSilence · 30/10/2024 17:48

Don't let them intimidate you. My usual response is Karen face and fuck off, said very loudly. Can't be arsed with those idiots anymore.