AIBU to feel harassed by charity chuggers targeting women in public?

My friend was desperate for a job and he managed to get a job as a chugger for a charity. If they did not get 10 people to sign on in the first week of employment they were sacked. This is what happened to my friend, he was sacked after only one week. This is why they are so annoying.

Dreadful people who try to make you feel guilty for not stopping. They are not employed by the charity, rather, a large "umbrella" marketing company who take a cut and farm them out as needed.

Yes they drive me mad. The dogs trust guy pounced on me outside of Tesco, I just said I’m a cat person sorry

A couple of weeks back there were chuggers opposite my office for a week . I could see them from my desk.

Are you on the first floor or higher? If so, this is exactly what water bombs were invented for
I do agree that it's insane they stop strangers and ask them for their bank details... and even more insane that people actually give them. Especially as the first however many monthly payments go straight to them and not the charity. It's outrageous if you stop and think about it.

I did this role (many years ago) and we were always taught that males in the role will stop far more females than males. Also vice versa, females are more eliable to stop males. This is actually true from experience, so males trying to stop you is because they have a greater chance of you stopping over another male. If more of them were female, you'd be targeted less

Fair enough. It’s shops like Tesco and Sainsbury’s they hang around where I live. And at the entrance to the shopping centre in the place I lived before (no arcades or casino’s to be found in either sadly)

A couple of weeks back there were chuggers opposite my office for a week . I could see them from my desk. One in particular seemed only to try to talk to middle aged and older women. On the fifth day I was going into the shop and he approached me. I raised my hand but still got the “ can I just tell you one thing “ . In the end i asked him why he only approached women . His colleague laughed and said he only likes talking to women - but I absolutely do think that many target more women then men , probably thinking they are an easier target for children’s charities etc.

Personally I think the whole idea of expecting people to provide their bank details to strangers in the street is a weird idea. I make a note of the charities that use chuggers and make a point never to donate to them !

Ello darlin gets a eff right off

I once had one route through my shopping bag in my trolly saying "oooh what's for tea tonight" I almost rammed him eitu my trolly

I literally just walk past them and shout no now

I absolutely hate them

Get a real job

They wouldn't even need to restrict themselves to just cash that people might have on them, as even Big Issue sellers and buskers nowadays have those basic contactless card terminals.

The reason they don't do it is because it would earn money for the charity, but not for themselves; plus both they and the charity prefer the idea of an easy ride and getting money from people every month (for as long as possible until they decide/have to cancel it) for one interaction, rather than a one-off donation. Their convenience matters; yours doesn't at all.

Depends on what the shop is. I have asked the poster in question which shop it is, and if the shop is more likely to attract women. She hasn't answered yet, but she's probably busy/out for day as it's a bank holiday. Hopefully she can clarify later.

I only ask this because in the high street of a town I go to sometimes, the chuggers usually stand outside Lush, Claire Accessories, and New Look... (And similar shops.) Never stand outside the bookies, or arcades or casinos (that all attract men much more than women.)

Never see them outside sports clubs (where sports that attract more men are played,) or working mens clubs and the like either. I wonder why?

Well they’re lurking outside a shop because they know there will be people going in and out all the time. Not sure how this is gender specific.

Random question @ChocolateCinderToffee but this shop you have to go into regularly, is it a shop that is more likely to attract women/have women shop there?

They bloody well do! There’s one spot on my local main shopping street that I avoid when I can because they’re always there. Unfortunately it’s outside a shop I regularly need to go into.

This has been a really interesting thread to read.

There are always chuggers outside my local supermarket. Next time i have some free time, i might have a sit down there with a snack and watch them to have a look at how they are targeting people and if they are targeting more women.

I have to wonder if they would actually get more money by asking for £1 in the bucket. People are making a really good point about not giving out bank details. Though they still wouldn’t get anything out of me as i never carry cash.

But even if they do only ever approach people and speak to them respectfully and non-persuasively - which very few of them ever seem to do, as they know that this doesn't get the money in - they're doing a job that the vast majority of people find an imposition and do not want. They are salespeople, who have sized you up as a potential/intended source of money, which people just do not want when they are trying to get on with their day. They have chosen to do their job; but their job wholly relies on my participation - and I most definitely have not chosen that job.

And let's not forget that they are working primarily for themselves: they are wanting to effectively get you to give THEM your hard-earned money over several months in exchange for the 'service' of them guilting you to continue giving each month to a charity that you will almost certainly be already familiar with anyway... but only after they've had the first several months of it for themselves, which they never, ever tell you is part of the 'deal'.

I really don't think that most people realise how this works and the brazenness of it. It's the direct equivalent of, in the old days, somebody rattling a bucket labelled "Please give generously for Anytown Hospice" and actively approaching people passing by for them to chuck in cash by calling "Help the hospice?" EXCEPT, they stand there doing this from 9-3 each day... they take out all of the money that's put in the bucket in the morning and pocket it for themselves; then whatever is thrown in in the afternoon is passed on to the hospice.

Absolutely everybody would have considered this blatant fraud and deception - even if the hospice had surprisingly pre-agreed with them that they were fine to do this. Just because technology and banking have moved on, it's still every bit as deceitful and shameful.

Years ago, I had one stop me for "Help the Aged". He nabbed me and was on about the plight of elderly people, and at the very same time... an elderly gent came up and grabbed my ass 😒

Yeah this. ^ And as has been said, they are a MENACE on the exits of supermarkets. There was a big complaint on the Facebook page of my local market town the other week, where a man said he was sick to death of having to avoid chuggers on the way out of the supermarket every single time he went in. They were right by the exit, (before the foyer that lead to the doorway out,) so there was no way to avoid them.

It was noted by the author of the post, and many other people that women are targetted more, and most people over 65 (men and women.) I have a resting bitch face, and just look through them and don't engage. OR I pretend to be on my phone. #sorrynotsorry. I owe them nothing, and IDGAF if they are 'just doing their job' NO other 'job' hounds and harrasses people like chuggers do.

As the OP said, no WAY am I giving my bank details to some random in the street - or supermarket... And the patronising 'hello dear how are you today, you look friendly, do you like animals, children, the environment, the disabled, the elderly, and pink footed goldfish' type of comments is going to make me sign up.

I have offered coins before - 2 or 3 pounds, and asked them if they have a collection tin. But they don't want that, they want your BANK DETAILS, so they can keep hounding and harrassing you, and sneakily taking additional donations from you when you're not looking!

I already give to several charities, and DO things for the greater good which I won't go into, and I don't have to explain myself anyway! I am NOT signing up to these chuggers. And yes they do target women more, and people over 65, and they need to be outlawed, BANNED, and consigned to the history books!

I don't know anyone who can stand them, and I find it unfathomable that ANYone can stick up for them (as a few people on this thread are doing...) These (few) people either never leave the house, OR they are chuggers themselves!!!

@Bertiebiscuit YANBU, it is absolutely 100% HARASSMENT, and the chugger-type pushiness and harassment has done charities NO good at all. It's put many people off donating to anything. And it doesn't help that every other shop and business you buy from asks you for a donation at the checkout too!

I am sick of the fucking constant begging. They must all think everyone is made of money. FFS, people can't keep give give giving to everything and everyone who asks!

.

I loathe them with a passion, especially the ones who target you for kids’ charities when you have kids with you.

I always get "you look friendly"... and I respond with "well, I am not!"

I enraged one a few weeks ago. He said that I looked kind and I replied " Appearances are deceptive then, I absolutely am not".
He was visibly angry.

We're all agreed then. We're never going to sign up to donate because we were asked on the street. If everyone bands together on this, this scourge will end!
Can this be the next Mumsnet campaign?