Im not BU but this was BU (wasn't it???)

[troisgarcons]

I was in a department store today with my 11yo and I was tapped on the shoulder. Turned round and a lady ratted her tin under my nose with a "NSPCC, donate please". I just said take this one and I'll find you two more at home "No thanks".

But the more I think about it, she really shouldnt have (a) touched me (b) directly asked me (c) caused my mind to wander when pondering the merits of new bathroom towels.

I'm far too bone idle to write/email to the charity and the store - but it was a bit off wasn't it?

Erm, well I read it on here at least and there were links but I can't remember them sorry

Something about the fact that a massive amount is spent on those awful adverts, the managers are very highly paid and not much gets spent on the help they advertise. Something like that, there were threads on it in the past.

2old2careSun 23-Oct-11 14:16:16

I do not think she was out of order...Maybe you could of given a small donation?
Any charity trying to help children is surely a good thing.Would be nice to only have to worry about towels.I think you are the one bu

This is true. I could have done. But the NSPCC isn't one of my charities and neither is it likely to be either. I'm sure it does sterling work but I prefer more localised charities, where I give time and money to on a regular basis. if I put a pound in every leaflet through my door, every sponsorship list under my nose at work, every envelope through the door, every teenager doing a sponsored walkasking if I'd like to give a fiver up front - I wouldnt have a salary left. We are also due the blackmail season of the 10 Christmas cards dropping through the door with a request to pay for the privilege.

It's not causing me any great grief or angst, I kind of thought she was little bit 'naughty' directly asking (not to mention tapping me in the back).But sadly she ruined my fantasy of beautiful white, fluffy bathroom towels, woven with ribbon... coz that just isn't going to happen with 4 bloke-creatures in the house is it! but we all have little dreams.

Bringing in a point byanother poster, taht you never know hopw much anyone has in their purse - I never use a handbag, I use a rather scruffy 15p Ikea blue bag over my shoulder, one of the small ones! We were particularly badly dressed yesterday as I was doing a dash to get my 11Yo some trousers as he's out of summer shorts and everything else in his wardrobe was ankle flappers. I'm also rather prone to shopping in my slippers, thus looking slightly batty So we were looking less than affluent!

I've spent years perfectiong the slightly deranged look as I find it does stop people approaching you ~ especially teenagers wanting you to buy their fags evils

Thanks Haunty, not to worry I believe you!

I thought that slightly deranged look was just the way you are, troisgarcons!

I never give money to professional collectors. When I donate I do so directly, using gift aid to top it up. And some charities like RSPCA will never see any of my money, whilst some other ones I have committed to donate no matter what for years to come.

That was rude of her.

I used to donate to 4 different children's charities (they always tug at the heartstrings don't they) but stopped my DD's when i got sick of them writing to me asking (surreptitiously) for more money.
Not once do they ask your personal circumstances. they still ring me claiming they're not asking for money but want to thank me for my generous past donations and then proceed to ask for money...although I don't let them get that far now. I explain I am a lone parent with 2 SLD kids of my own and get 15p per hour wages (which is probably less than some of the charities beneficiaries).
Plus i was told that the actual beneficiaries get about 2p to 3p out of the pound and the rest is admin and wages.
the CEO's are all on ridiculous salaries (like £150k to £200k plus per year)

I'd rather give it direct to the person who needs it if this was possible.

A lot of the time if you think you're donating to a local charity which is a branch of a bigger charity the bigger charity gets all the money and decide how to share it out.
So what I mean is you might think you're donating to the local children in need football kit but actually they might not see a penny of it!

I was once chugged on MY FRONT DOORSTEP by someone collecting for blind children. I was very nice in my refusal , but he ended up by being rude and saying "Basically, you just don't care." I stormed after him, heavily pregnant and barefoot shouting "How dare you?" Rather gratifyingly he started running.

it's not legal to rattle the can