Chugger - "do you mean yes?"

diggerdigsdogs

They do that here too, two memorable ones

them: have you heard of these charities?
Me: yes my mum has cancer and is supported by X
them: That's good then
Me: No it isn't go away.

The other was 2 or 3 different people knocked on the door the same day, 1 after dark. I was furious and phoned the charity (before no.3 had called) and pointed out where I live is bungalows specifically for people with health issues/disabilities.

They are vile creatures.

I am sometimes tempted to say 'have you see that episode of Friends where the encyclopaedia salesman visits Joey?' Uh-huh. You see, those of us clearly not at work during the day, are not all that likely to have a high income, are we?'

Bit disingenuous as a SAHM or on mat leave but there is a point there. I didn't get approached anything like as much when I was 'busy looking woman in nice business clothes that indicated decent income' than I do as 'mum who clearly hasn't bought herself new clothes in four years'.

They come to the door here in Aus. I find this particularly offensive because it means they are targeting those who are home in the day - in general elderly people and SAHP. My dgparents would all have found this very distressing in their last few years and wouldn't have known how to say no.

Hope you've complained OP. Horrible thing for him to say and do.

I used to work for a charity that didn't use chuggers but did use other forms of 'face to face' recruitment, like stands in supermarkets with info and recruiters keen to talk to you. I don't know the numbers but it was certainly worthwhile financially, even though paying the recruitment company cost most of the first year's membership fee. People would sign up for much higher monthly direct debits that way than if approaching the charity themselves.

Therein lay a risk and an ethical concern. The recruiters earned NMW or commission, whichever was higher. So they had an incentive to get people to sign up for the highest figure possible. The drop-out rate was proportional to the monthly payment amount though, people would sign up for ridiculous amounts, realise they couldn't afford it and pull out after a month or two. There was some clause about retention in the recruiters' contracts, so no commission for early drop outs. What was astounding, and the ethical issue, was what low incomes some of these high monthly rate sign up people were clearly on. There was definitely a risk of gabby, personable recruiters exploiting naive or slightly vulnerable people.

"I asked earlier but has anyone got any information on how much revenue is actually gained by these chuggers, presumably charities wouldn't pursue with it if it wasn't making a reasonable return?"

Don't know, but I know some of them outsource to "marketing" companies who don't give a damn about anything but getting credit card details signed up. And someone at the marketing companies make plenty, but not the chuggers.

"And I doubt they do they smiley, flirty, jumping into your path thing to men either."

It's happened to me by student age female chuggers.
I suspect it's something they're trained to do - "charm"/flirt.

Yes that's a hideous thing to say. It's good he was interested in understanding why really.

Reminds me of a waiter once who asked if I wanted coffee. I vacillated a little, 'no thanks, oh well ok, thanks' and got a 'witty' 'oh typical woman, they always say no when they mean yes, ha ha', addressed to my dining companion, my dad. Ugh.

Also of emails I received for a while from Virgin Wines, after I'd taken up one of those 'half price case, no obligation but we'd really like you to sign up to a case a month' offers. They were along the lines of 'i haven't heard from you for a while, I hope you haven't forgotten about me, how about x,y,z, from, some bloke'. Can't recall exactly. The tone just struck an immediate 'creepy, stalky bloke' chord with me. I responded to tell them this. Young marketing twit clearly did not give a damn or have any interest in trying to understand my pov, or learn why they might put off other women with this approach. I told them never to contact me again.

On a lighter note, I hit on my best 'win win' response to chuggers a few years ago, once when this answer was true (then realised it was a brilliant stock response); ' oh, I already support you', smile and walk. Cheery greeting back. All happy.

I used payroll giving at the time, which is much better, as there are no recruitment fees (chugger wages) to cover and it's pre-tax income, so no faffing about recovering gift aid either, just straight up full value income.

Most of them are polite enough, just a bit irritating.

Some go way too far.
I can't stand the ones who do all flirty flirty with every passing woman. Bletch.

Had one force her way into our offices once and refuse to leave. Came into reception, receptionist said no she can't come round and talk to our staff at their desks, and she just said 'oh I won't be long' and forced her way in anyway. Unluckily for her, mine was the first desk she came to. She was extremely indignant at being ejected (it took a few minutes, cheeky mare was most determined and I almost had to get physical!) I complained to the charity and got an apology.

I keep walking briskly and if I feel I have to reply I say something like 'I'd love to help you as I am sure you would love to help me with the XXXX project/campaign that I am involved with'. No one ever does .

I asked earlier but has anyone got any information on how much revenue is actually gained by these chuggers, presumably charities wouldn't pursue with it if it wasn't making a reasonable return?

I agree they're a complete menace, and I'm sure some people get targetted more than others, they very rarely stop me, and if they do I just say no thanks without catching their eye or breaking my stride. I have to say the rape overtone thing wouldn't have even crossed my mind, nor would the possibility that they might only say it to women. However, I do think you have a point, if this was AIBU, YADNBU.

I might try "I'm only 17" next time.

Also loving the shushing! And Unspecial you've hit the nail on the head for me too, after having lived for quite some time in Spain where I was incessantly harassed on the street, especially at night, with vile phrases and allegedly innocuous 'chat up' lines. I hadn't quite realised why I hate the chuggers so much before you wrote that.

Love the shushing!!

I have stony face, say "no" to any question and keep walking.

Apart from the Amnesty one, where I said, "no, I don't agree with your stance on prostitution" and kept walking.

I agree it's a statement with rape overtones OP, and really not ok for any man to say to a woman, much less one who is working in a sales capacity

I'm impressed with your presence of mind to explain it to him, I would have tried to get away as fast as possible (hate being cornered).

My preferred strategy with chuggers is vague distractedness (smiling beatifically while completely failing to actually engage in conversation for example). And to be honest, I'm mostly in my own little world walking down the street so I'm usually mostly past them by the time I realise they're actually talking to me.

If that doesn't work I try to summon "the tone of command" and say no with a forceful unspoken subtext of fuck off. I haven't yet perfected it to the point where it reliably works on people but I can usually make dogs do what I want so chuggers are further practice!

My town was full of chuggers last week. When the third one approached me in so many minutes I put my finger to my lips and just said 'Shhh!' as I do with my kids.

It worked! (The look on his face was almost worth being chugged).

I tend to get 'hello darling. Got a minute?'. I have replied 'I am not your darling' as I walked past. But he was already focusing on his next victim. ..
Some of them think they can charm middle aged women by flirting. Bit pathetic really.

They're a bloody menace. I don't think any response other than "no" or "fuck off" works. And they only do if you physically remove yourself at the same time.

I think we all need to make more effort to complain to the organisations involved about the behaviour and intrusion of chuggers. Particularly in this case, it was totally inappropriate and potentially triggering for someone if they had been raped.

Most charities use companies to carry out their chugging and set guidelines for their behaviour. Charities do it because it is effective and they need to compete for funds with other charities. The more complaints they have to deal with, the more likely they will manage their activities better.

It would be good to come up with a single phrase to shut them up. "No, I don't talk to any charities on the street". Don't apologise, don't say not enough time, even the most simple phrase they will have a script to respond.

I don't get targeted too much but did get one going on at me a few weeks ago. I told him I have no income, so there was no point trying to get me to donate, but he kept on talking. I had nothing better to do, at the time, so I let him talk. Then he got out the forms for me to fill in, and asked about my income. I told him again - nothing. I don't work, I'm a student. I don't qualify for benefits, so my income is £0. He muttered something, looked embarrassed, and went away.

chuggers feel like a sanctioned version of this, let's stop women in the street and intimidate them, but instead of it all being "a laugh, banter" it's all for charity so it's ok.

Unspecial you're absolutely right. That's why I hate them too. I am accosted often. I have to run the gauntlet every day between the station and work. I find being stopped/shouted at (and the oh so amusing chuggers do shout at people) by a random man quite intimidating.

Once I had DD with me and one particular twat stepped in front of me and asked 'I see you have a baby. do you care about suffering children?' I was livid. It was a vile and manipulative thing to say and I did report his to the charity. He's still there though and still a twat so my complaint did nil apparently.

Anyway OP, YANBU to be upset. I can't think of a single scenario in which the no/don't you mean yes interaction applies except rape. Not nice. Nobody should have to deal with that out minding their own business. And him following you afterwards was out of order.

Grimble has it.
The most obvious retort to them is "I support charities for free" and glower like this: at them.

Or, of course, "I don't give money to charities that waste it by paying chuggers!"

I've found the best thing to say to chuggers is I'm 17 (I'm a fair few years older) even if they doubt what I've said they can't approach under 18s

Yes Yonic. I collect for a charity and we are not allowed to rattle tins as it is seen as harassment. Yet chuggers confront people, persist and are a royal pain in the arse.

I normally ignore. Two occasions I haven't. Once after being walked after when I had said no thank you I asked him what part of no did he not understand.

The other time I had just come out of the bank after depositing over £1,000 that I had spent my whole weekend outside a supermarket collecting and just got the rage, pointing out that people who genuinely care about a charity give their time for free. Chuggers don't give a damn about a cause, they are simply interested in their payment. They can sod off.

I find it odd that coin collectors can't jingle their collection boxes (or certainly didn't used to be allowed to) as it's intrusive but that chuggers are allowed!

I've had the "don't you care about starving children" line, this was when dd was with me who was about 10yo at the time. I kept walking and said "no I don't care, now fuck off". Dd giggled.