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Original poster

Charities grabbing you at exits in stores!

116 replies

MonroeM · 29/07/2019 17:11

I hope this is in the correct place to ask this, if not then apologies.

For the last 15 years at least I have made regular donations to 3 charities of my choice and very happy to continue. I also donate unwanted goods and clothes etc. to charity shops and buy all kinds of everything from those shops too.

Lately I have noticed the fund raisers have started to set up their stalls inside stores but at the exits so customers can not avoid them. If they stood there and not tried to grab me that would be one thing but I do resent it when I know they are watching and waiting for me to pack my shopping. I can feel their eyes on me.

What are your thoughts on this? Maybe there are some charity fund raisers here but does it annoy anyone else as it does me?

OP posts:
Argeles · 30/07/2019 07:20

I usually just say ‘no thanks’ to whatever they’re saying to me and continue walking - it doesn’t matter if they’re saying ‘hello,’ or some kind of sales patter.

I have also pretended in the past to not understand English, and shrug my shoulders and pull faces and put on an accent to say ‘I no speak Ingleeesh’ before walking away.

HidingRealName · 30/07/2019 07:28

I often wear headphones as I like listening to audio books and don't always remove them when my book is switched off. I've had a chugger indicating that I should remove my headphones so he could talk to me! I carried on.

CitadelsofScience · 30/07/2019 07:29

I do try to be polite to them no matter how stressed and anxious they make me feel.

I'm fairly sure the job centre include these types of jobs on the ones you must apply to to claim out of work benefits. I'd never want to cause anyone issues with the DWP because those people fuckers are absolute bastards.

In my head however I'm screaming "fuck off, fuck off, fuck off".

Chocolatedaim · 30/07/2019 07:34

It happens to me regularly at our local co-op. I am often with children as well so I feel really pressured to stay and listen to what they say when they are giving the kids stickers and balloons.

I have said when I have been in a mood before, ‘please don’t ask me for money, I donate to a charity already’

kalinkafoxtrot45 · 30/07/2019 07:37

I say “No thank you” every single time. I’m not passing my bank details on to total strangers no matter how good the cause. I suppose it must be effective, otherwise charities wouldn’t fundraise in this way, but I have yet to meet the person who thinks it’s a good idea and not intrusive and annoying.

TitianaTitsling · 30/07/2019 07:41

Once had a very difficult day at work, supporting young woman and her young family in her final hours from a fast and agressive cancer, was stopped on way home in shop, "do you care about people with cancer? How much " listing the DD amounts.. the cheesey smarmy fecker kept doing that side steppy thing "ooo you dancin'?" Would not accept my initial attempts to be polite, and then when he asked "do you not care" ended up shrieking "leave me alone!!" Not exactly my most mature moment.

MadamePompadour · 30/07/2019 07:48

I tell them I'm under 18yo so can't sign direct debits. I'm blatantly much older but nobody has dared point this out yet. 😁

leckford · 30/07/2019 08:00

I have had a couple of them come around where we live. One was very persistent with the usual phrases to guilt others, I give to charities but not people who come to our house uninvited.

rabbitwoman · 30/07/2019 08:03

They are v annoying in deed, but I don't see the problem, I put my hand up and shake my head, don't even speak if they approach me, never a problem.

Some people are excruciatingly aware of this being rude, though. When I first met my lovely husband he had FIVE direct debits going out from his bank account every month to these charities, and they always ended up in bank charges for going overdrawn, I had them cancelled. He still says to me "be aware going into town today, it's full of charity muggers", because he finds it hard to deal with them

He is quite aspie

EvaHarknessRose · 30/07/2019 08:07

Some Alzheimers chuggers spent a week throwing an orange around to attract interest and then repeated their spiel ad nauseam in front of thecheckouts at our mini sainsburys. If i was working there i would not have been responsible for my actions after that torture.

wherethewildthingis · 30/07/2019 08:14

I'm a frontline social worker and I absolutely hate this stuff. I work very hard "saving the life of a child " every day thank you very much ! As do many many other people in all walks of life. Outside of work we just want to go about our business in peace. Like others I already give to charities of my choice.
The NSPCC by the way will never see a penny of my money but that's another thread!

HarryDaylight · 30/07/2019 08:22

I got my purse out to donate to a local hospice charity but they refused the money as they wanted me sign up for a direct debit.

I declined, and walked away with the uncomfortable feeling that it's no longer "any spare change" but "we want £38 a year".

Autumnbrownie · 30/07/2019 08:24

I'm 25 but thankfully look young enough that they aren't sure and ask me my age, you usually have to be 18 so I just say I'm 17, works every time although I probably won't be able to use that one for much longer.

KatherineJaneway · 30/07/2019 08:34

He literally stepped in front of me and asked did I want to save the life of a child.

I'd reply with a big grin 'No, but if you don't get out of my way someone will have to save yours' Grin

Hoppinggreen · 30/07/2019 08:39

I find that “ as long as you aren’t going to ask me to set up a direct debit” as my opening line usually stops them in their tracks.
I actually went full on psycho (DD’s words) on one last week. We were walking through our local town and one loomed at Dd, it made her jump as he seemed to come out of nowhere and she let out a frightened squeal. I didn’t know what was going on and I totally (over)reacted by jumping in front of her and saying loudly “ what do you want? Leave us alone” . Poor kid looked terrified and backed away slowly while apologising
Don’t recommend it but it works!

NuttyOrNice · 30/07/2019 08:45

I agree with you OP, they are awful. I must look like a soft touch as they always target me. They are really rude and pushy.
I complain about them to their head office sometimes.

DieCryHate · 30/07/2019 08:48

Yeah it really annoys me. I got into an argument once with a pushy woman trying to use my baby to guilt me into life insurance and will writing done at my home via their charity. I already had insurance (plus severe pnd and anxiety not improved by being accosted in a shop to insinuate I may die) but that's not her business when I'm buying candles in bloody Matalan.

Soola · 30/07/2019 08:50

“NO” said very loudly if they approach me.

If they sidestep in front of me then it’s, “MOVE!” also said very loudly.

Sometimes hey still persist as you walk on, “Well if your busy now maybe on your way back.....” Grin

jenthelibrarian · 30/07/2019 08:54

I ask in very 'Lady Bracknell handbag' tones
'Is this a CHRISTIAN organisation'
Whichever way they reply I then say in a similar tone
'In that case I can't possibly support you!'

Iwantacookie · 30/07/2019 08:55

Our local Facebook group has started putting on it where they are so people will avoid those areas.
Earphones in and just shake your head and walk on.
Although I did have one at my door banging on about starving children and how my £X per month could make a difference.
I said it also makes a difference to weather my child eats or not and shut the door.

ImportantWater · 30/07/2019 08:56

They were in WH Smith the other day, right by the exit, grabbing people as they left. Not physically obviously. It annoys me even more because WH Smith in our town is now also the Post Office, so some people have no choice but to go in. A young man and a young woman, they were really full on, “Oh that’s a lovely smile”, “Oh what a lovely dress”. Incredibly patronising and fake. I said to them “I don’t think you should be harassing people” and they said “We’re not harassing them!” But I do feel some people, especially the more vulnerable, can’t help but respond to the icebreaker because it seems rude not to, and then they get drawn into all the guilt tripping.

SuperPixie247 · 30/07/2019 08:59

I have an..er..interesting sense of style and a number of tattoos which obviously makes it OK for a chugger to yell something across the high street about my appearance to lure me in.

You think commenting on my personal appearance is the way to make me part with my money? You are so barking up the wrong tree, mate.

It does make me cringe though when I see a very young adult who has been snared quite clearly out of their depth but the chugger showing them no mercy.

ArgyMargy · 30/07/2019 09:01

Just say no thanks, or not now. It's incredibly simple. No need to engage.

CigarsofthePharoahs · 30/07/2019 09:03

I usually just carry on walking by like I haven't heard them.
Sometimes I say "I don't do direct debits so if that's all you're after then don't waste your time."
I had one chap knock at the door asking for dds for his charity. I did ask him why they didn't take cash donations and he didn't know.
I'm happy to give a but of cash if someone has a collection tin and they aren't being an arsehole. I regularly use charity shops (buying and donation) but I will not ever set up a direct debit.

ysmaem · 30/07/2019 09:03

This annoys me too. I make no eye contact and just zoom past before they have the chance to stop me