Charities grabbing you at exits in stores!

[MonroeM]

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?

God i hate this.Especially when they use your own tattoos as a way to talk to you."Hi,i love your tattoos" Yes so do i,thats why i got them.

I always say i dont sign up for dd at the door or in the street.But give me a leaflet and i will look in to it.

Its weird though,a lot of times they are not allowed to give out their leaflets.So they can harass people but not give out info regarding the charity.

If the chuggers in question are quite persistent, I quite enjoy saying 'I don't like (xyz)' in a flat, disinterested voice, just to annoy them.

Chugger: BLAH BLAH BLAH, WORTHY cause, JUST A MINUTE of you time, follows you down the street/blocks the aisle.
Me: Looks vaguely at bucket. "I don't like children though."

They always look so confused, as if the concept of not liking children/donkeys/the elderly is just not allowed.

Ask the person whether they are a volunteer or are getting paid.

And then, "I'm sorry, I never give to charities who employ chuggers. I'll add your charity to the list."

I actually do volunteer in the office of a local hospice so I have the moral high ground over people who are paid to guilt me into donating.

I was in Cornwall a couple of months ago, and was accosted by chuggers from the Battersea cats and dogs home. Now, afaik, the nearest centre is a few hours away and not in Cornwall, we have plenty of local shelters that need support. Asked if I like dogs, said, no, but I support the Dog's trust. Did I like cats/ Would I consider helping to rescue cats. Had great pleasure in informing him that indeed, I liked helping rescue cats so much, that I had had two for 10 years, and felt that I was doing my bit in keeping them in the manner to which they had become rapidly accustomed.

The other thing that works is to say you live abroad (I do), and that I support local charities where I live.

At several exhibitions I've been too there have been stands for cat and dog charities. I said I was happy to put some coins in their collection tin, they didn't have one. They were only intersted in my signing up for a DD, bloody cheek. The air ambulance does the same at the entrance to the shop i work at.

I had the "Don't you care about the starving children overseas" from one. I was in a bad mood and totally lost it. I replied that not helping the starving is the solution to the issue. How? was her reply. I responded that if no help was given then all the children would not grow up to make more children so the issue is sorted. Felt bad later but was never bothered again.

About 15 years ago I received in the post some promotional material from the NSPCC. This included appallingly graphic and upsetting descriptions of child abuse and murder, all in the name of shocking people into contributing.

Coupled with their unsupportive stance towards struggling parents and eagerness to find fault with normal parenting practices, this has put me right off the charity. Interesting to see that social workers (who know what they're dealing with) don't like them either.

I just reply that I hate kids. By the time they've processed that, I've escaped.

Morrisons are the worst for it, ours always at least one person trying to get money, you have to get past the scouts packing your bags, the local photographer trying to sell photoshoots, the chuggers in the foyer then just as you think you've made it out safely you get the AA man outside trying to sign you up.

Gretchen am so sorry and angry for you, was so annoyed, frustrated and upset on my own behalf l never even considered that the same could have happened to her family after leaving the hospital.

Had one chugger shout 'Lady in the pink jacket' at me, I completely ignored her and carried on walking. Then she shouted 'Oh, I guess not then' with a tone at me. Wish I turned round and given her a piece of my mind now.

A close family member had just died and we had to go into town for something when we would rather not have had to. A chugger stepped right in front of me (I was early 20s and I think he targeted me rather than my parents for that reason). I snarled “Piss off! How DARE you block my way!” and carried on. Wouldn’t ever be that rude normally, but their tactics mean that sometimes they are going to stop people who just have no patience for their shit.

I love the Otter reply and the multi-purpose “Are you a CHRISTIAN organisation?”

more often than not, that don't even register on my radar. I just keep walking I don't give them eye contact when the step out to address me with what ever it may be. I don't listen to what ever they are saying, I just say no sorry I can't whilst walking.

Years ago before I became harden to them, if they did manage to stop me, I'd ask them for information or leafet to take with me to look at, as I didn't have time and I like to know how my money will be used, they don't have leaflets, so I say I'll look online at the charity and maybe set something up then, you could see they weren't happy but couldn't argue with me about.

DS (17) learnt quickly after getting targeted at Oxford circus by anti knife crime chuggers. He cares about the rise in knife crime and worries about ot when in London. so he listened and agreed then said I don't have any cash sorry, to which they replied, oh don't worry no body does these days and pulled out a card machine! He now won't engage and swerves them saying "I've already donated" he says there are loads of them targeting teens staight out the station.

Several years ago,I actually had one young male chugger call out 'Oi! Blondie!'. I just ignored him and hurried past,but I know I should have pulled him up about it.

Gretchen How awful for you. They make me so angry.