... to not have given anything to these callers?

[PacificDogwood]

Picture the scene: 5.30pm, dinner on the hob, overtired fraught DS4 (11 months) on my hip, DS3 (3 years) whingingly hanging on my leg with no pants on, doorbell goes. 2 'nice' looking young women who are collecting for an organisation I had never heard of (although I have in the meantime ascertained that it is perfectly genuine and a very good cause).

I could smell dinner burning as they were giving me their spiel, DS4 was slipping on my hip etc etc.. you get the picture.

I hope I was perfectly polite to them, but I did say 'sorry, this is a really bad time, I do not want to donate anything at this time'. They looked crestfallen and left.

I feel a bit bad about having turned them down, but a lot IRKED at anyone calling at dinner time on a Sunday night.

AIBU? I'd really like to hear how others would have handled the situation.

Off to do bedtime now, but will be back later.

I'd have done exactly the same as you. Don't worry about it.

I'd have done the same, I usually also say I have 1 charity which I support (which is the truth!)

I'd have done the same as you - and in fact have! So YANBU!

They should have been feeling bad! They will just move on to the next one.

I won't sign a direct debit regardless of what time they turn up! If it is volunteers collecting pennies etc I normally try and find something.

We've had a few people come round trying to get us to sign up for a monthly amount coming from our bank account for some charity we've never heard of.

They always say "Most of your neighbours are doing this."

I tell them I do voluntary work which is my contribution to charity.

They always act like they think I'm making it up and get arsey.

It is always at dinner time and often on a sunday.

You were polite to them, YABU.

they are on commission which is why they wanted you to sign up. Not because they have the best interests of the organisation in mind.

Sod 'em.

Sorry sorry that should say YANBU NOT being unreasonable. Sorry

I'd have done the same aswell - hazards of the 'job' IMO, they should expect to be turned away sometimes...

YANBU

YANBU.

I loathe people calling at my house for anything like this, selling, collecting, surveys, anything. It pisses me right off.

I had an old lady knock last week about something I have never heard of, no idea if it was collecting or what but I was in my pyjamas at 4.30pm and she made some comment. I just informed her I had had surgery (c section). She went away straight away.

In your position I would have done exactly the same, its always worse when you are in the middle of things and have children to see too, I am exactly the same if I get any phone calls too, particularly if they are at tea time/evenings or weekends.

You get harassed when walking through the city centre at least every few yards by chuggers, they shouldn't be coming to your home and doing this as well.

I never give money at the door - no idea who they are and I have charities I support.

YANBU

I don't care what the cause is for, I can't stand it when people come chugging at my doorstep.

I give quite a lot to charities, but I like to decide when and where I do it.

I never, ever give anything at the door

YANBU I wouldn't of opened the door

Never give your info to anyone at the front door. If it's something you're interested in, take a leaflet and check it out, find out what they do, and make a decision about how you want to spend your money when things are calm. You don't know who the people at your door are - if they are from a registered charity they will be grateful to receive donations in whatever timeframe. Hardselling is awful.

I say that I donate money to a specific cause (which I do). I also donate to Kiva where the money can be used to repeatedly help people who need it.

And as Aloneinthehouse says, just because someone knocks at your door, it doesn't mean you have an obligation to answer it.

OP - I would have done just the same as you.

As for "All your neighbours are giving us money," Say something like this: "Well you won't be too disappointed if we don't then."

II once had a doorstep chugger call mme "darling". A complete stranger. I shut the door in his face.

What a cheek these people have! Gives charity a bad name, they could actually be good causes.

Oh my, unanimous support on 'AIBU' - is this a first on MN??

purplefeet, I thought you ment I was BU because I had been polite to them...

And at signing direct debit at the door - that I would never do. We never got as far as what it was exactly they wanted.

What I don't understand is the thinking behind genuine doorstop calling (because do not think that my situation was fraudulent, just annoying): you want people to part with their hard-earned cash or whatever, you need their goodwill. Why piss them off first by bothering them at home, at a time that a lot of people will be having/preparing dinner AND on a Sunday night??

I just don't get it .

YABVVU.

Not really, I just couldn't bear to see a unanimous AIBU thread.

You were polite, which is probably more than I would have been if they could SEE I was busy and they still carried on with their spiel.

You were quite right - Don't feel guilty.

YANBU.

My partner works in membership recruitment for a charity and they deliberately do not do doorstepping because it brings in such low yields (read: fucks off potential donors).

Often, doorsteppers for charities do not work for the charities themselves, but for fundraising organisations that the charities employ. So, if they are calling at bad times and annoying you, you could ring up the charity and tell them that. They would probably appreciate the feedback, as they will be paying for these people to slog around your neighbourhood...