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

I'm not defensive of chuggers at all, I don't like the approach at all, but the charities that employ them are to blame for that, rather than people who are just trying to make a living.

There is no excuse for them being rude or abusive, of course, and if that ever happened to me, I would report it to the relevant charity. It's just that I see a lot of people being pretty rude to the chuggers as well, or just not knowing how to handle them. That doesn't justify the rude response, of course, but if people don't like the rudeness, I'm suggesting that they could try a different response themselves to see if it makes any difference.

Of course, if people would rather continue to put up with the rudeness while complaining about it on the Internet, then that's their prerogative.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19316167

Complaining directly to the charity or to the Fundraising Regulator (0300 999 3407). Note the charity name, time, location, and the fundraiser’s ID if possible

It is not permitted to stand directly outside shop entrances or station entrances. They must be a minimum of 3ms.

saying no thank you doesn’t seem to deter them,

Only on mumsnet would you get called desperate for enjoying chatting to attractive members of the opposite sex 😂

I am sure that's true, but if you are repeatedly getting rude or aggressive responses from chuggers, then I would respectfully suggest that it's worth changing your own response to see if you get a different reaction.

I walk through a busy city centre every lunchtime and I'm approached by these people daily. Am I just unusually lucky that they're never rude to me?

Victim blame much?

Why are you so defensive of chuggers when so many people have had bad experiences? It's very odd.

Head down, headphones in and they usually ignore me. However I have ones call out to me, jump in front of me and block my path, wanted to punch him and had one call out "so you don't care about deaf children then?" as if that would shame me into dashing back and giving my him bank details.

If they shout unacceptable comments, then you turn around, make a note of their name and complain to the charity.

@MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack

I gather you're suggesting that the individual is saying 'no' in an aggressive way and thus receiving a rude response in return?

That could be the case, but there will almost certainly be a cross-section of chuggers who are rude without any justification.

I liked Alan carrs quote on last one laughing- ‘they’re called chuggers, charity muggers, but I call them chunts’

They're not allowed (legally) to block your path. Wanker.

Actually, they absolutely do. Chuggers are trained to target women, particularly older women, as they are considered to be the easiest targets, I've read lots of threads on the internet where chuggers give insider information, and this is repeated on every thread.

And you can absolutely bet no chugger shouts abuse at a man who ignores them.

Oh well, maybe it was a bucket, can't remember. But yes, I know, they're not allowed to rattle things. What can I say, I was flattered 😂

@ColdAsAWitches

Having someone be rude to you can be hurtful and distressing.

Not everyone is able to brush off rudeness and verbal abuse. For some people it can cause emotional distress.

That's why it can matter if chuggers are rude - it might do emotional harm.

Chuggers with a collection tin? I don't think so, they want monthly sign ups. If you gave them cash they probably just pocketed it.

Chuggers operate under different laws to tin rattlers who aren't allowed to accost people.

If you were working for a charity you'd target people based solely on their sex and looks, thereby reducing potential reach and income? Why? You sound a bit.... desperate.

Depends on the situation I think.

The time one called me a bitch when i was 16 years old stayed with me. And certainly didn’t make me feel great when i was already having an awful day.

Tbf if I was a young chugger, as a woman, I'd target the men, especially the good looking ones because why wouldn't you?

Yes! This also happens at City Thameslink. One chugger actually stepped in front of me as I hurried to the station, clearly looking flustered.

"Excuse me please, I have a train to catch in minutes," I said.

"There will be another one along soon."

"No, half an hour actually. I need to be on that train."

I should have just told him to fuck off, bearing in mind he'd tried to stop me by commenting on my smile (absence thereof).

Fucking outrageous now I think back!

I've had them shout back at them when I've said no thanks "Don't you care about children/animals?"

Chuggers are awful humans.

Well yes I do and that's precisely why I won't donate to your charity because a huge percentage of the money doesn't go to the cause if they employ large numbers of chuggers...

But if they are rude, so what? It's no reflection on me, I just keep walking.

Of course that's totally unacceptable and you should report such behaviour to the relevant charity.

However, if this is happening to you often, then perhaps it reflects more about the way in which you are saying no. I find that most people are perfectly pleasant when you are pleasant towards them.

Back in the day, before "chugging" took its form of clipboards, lanyards, plastic smiles and impossibility to take cash donations (I might have dropped a coin in their bucket to silence them), my DH recalls that it would take the form of a chugger handing someone a tiny model flower, to get their attention. He said that as a teenager, he once tried to ignore an older woman who did this, who then grabbed his wrist.

Perhaps those of us who were taught "never talk to strangers" had it right. Compare "would you like to see some puppies" with "would you like to save some puppies"?

I am glad you haven't encountered any who have called you a bitch or been rude to you as others have experienced then because that is not a pleasant experience