To think that if your child is doing sponsored

[bottleofbeer]

...Whatever then you shouldn't go knocking at random houses asking total strangers to sponsor you?

Kid (about seven) and his mum at my doorstep asking me to sponsor him. Totally on the spot I agreed to do it, once I had she then tells me they're collecting the money now, before he's done it to save him knocking back.

I feel like I've just been robbed of a fiver. I suppose I'm not being reasonable by just saying that sorry, I can't afford it at the moment.

Whenever my kids have done sponsoered anything I've always told them to only ask family IE their grandparents, uncles, aunties. I'm a bit gobsmacked tbh.

YANBU about the random strager sponsoring thing.
YABU to sponsor any child but your own £5!

Hahaha I know! I just saw it was the average amount and felt tight going any less, thinking "oh well, I'll have the money by Weds".

Why did you find it hard to say no to a stranger on your doorstep?

Because I'm a wimp who finds the word "no" very difficult

Probably because there is a young kid looking up at me all hopefully.

I'm just amazed his mother thinks it's acceptable to do it!

Random people on forums are also asking me to sponsor them or donate to some cause or another but I wonuldn't allow my child to go door knocking as I hate this.

If she'd said beforehand that they were also taking the money now I'd have just said that I don't have any cash on me atm. The whole thing feels very underhand now.

Op can you sponsor me please I'll pm my email addy, payment by paypal is fine just make sure you gift it

A few years ago a couple of kids and an adult came knocking saying they were asking for sponsors for a reading project. It was all very plausible, lots of details and printed forms. I said Ok, come back when you've done it, and they said oh no, it takes too much organising to get them back to collect, so we'll take it now (£5 same as you) and send you info on how they did. Of course, I never heard from them again, it was a con.

YANBU - but you should have refused to give them the money up front if you are going to feel robbed by them.

I've only ever asked people I know to sponsor me for anything, and find that embarrassing enough, tbh.

I was a little put out when my estate agents emailed me to ask for sponsorship for something their staff were doing - they had obviously emailed their entire client list - I thought that was rather unprofessional of them! (It was a BCC email, I didn't see anyone else's email address, so not quite that bad although I think there are ways you can access the other email addresses even with BCC, aren't there?) Still unprofessional though.

What do you really think is the chance of that money going to charity?

Who do you think wrote down the first £5?

I have had this a few times around here. Mostly children of neighbours that I know so am usuallly happy to contribute.

However, last week had a random boy turn up at my door looking to sell raffle tickets. It was ?2 a ticket so I looked in my purse and only had about ?1.20 so said "I'll have to leave it I don't have enough" Cheeky git then looked into my hand and said "Sure how much do you have I'll take that"

Needless to say all he took with him was a flea in his ear - I don't think he'll come back to my house for money again.

Lovebeingafirework, if course! £50 ok?

Gawd, Im such a wally.

You feel put on the spot don't you?

If they say the sponsorship is through school you can always ask them to come back when you've spoken to his Head of Year! Schools should tell pupils to only ask people they know.

Well, the husband reckons I've just been scammed.

He's trying to make me feel better by saying that it's either genuine in which case I helped a good cause, or she was just so desperate and her kids can't eat if she doesn't do this...either way I've been charitable

YANBU. How rude!

What's worse, is that this woman is probably going round now with a smug sense of self satisfaction because she is being so supportive, and involved with her child's charity activity. And then will feel even more smug and self congratulating wheh her child has raised the most in sponsorship because none of the other Mothers would even think of doing something so outrageous as go knocking on strangers doors for money.

I know, I really am kicking myself for at the very least refusing to hand money over up-front. If she's serious enough about helping him get sponsors, then calling back when he's actually done his sponsored silence shouldn't be any hardship.

Thinking about it they struggled to change the ten pound note I handed over so I'm assuming lots of those who have sponsored him have refused to do this, or else they'd have had no problem changing the note would they?

Maybe they were playing you along with that, too, so that you'd say "Oh it doesn't matter, put me down for £10."

OP, I really think you've been scammed.

Hmmm sounds like it. Not a local accent either.

Oh well, live and learn. In the unlikely event it ever happens again (I honestly don't think most people would have the gaul to ask strangers for money) I'll just say I don't sponsor people I don't know.

Could have really used that money too (not payday till Tues)

will you sponsor us? £5.00 is fine, four kids; you don't mind, do you?

(Easiest 20 quid I made all week!)

Hahaha Kytti, I was thinking the same thing

YANBU

I'd have said "I don't know you so no"

If they're genuine, it's breathtakingly rude. But I agree it's probably a scam!
I'd have said no, sorry, I don't have any cash.

I have a small essay on my front door at the moment about all the people who shouldn't bother cold calling. I guess I need to add 'scammers' and 'people I don't know seeking sponsorship.'

Sad for you, OP, I'm another one who thinks you were scammed. That poor little kid, as well, being made to do it (if that's the case).

Well they also knocked on my sister's and parent's door (live on the same street) they did exactly the same thing, waiting for the sponsor THEN telling them it's money now.

My sister said the entire time the mother was on her mobile phone and left the kid to do the talking, the kid mentioned to my sister that she had a spider on her, my sister looked and saw it was only tiny and said she'd have panicked if it'd been any bigger. At which point the mother looks over and laughs - but if she was talking on her phone why would she have been listening to the conversation? she was also on the phone when they called at my mum's. If she's a bit embarrassed by taking her son (hence being 'on the phone') surely she'd just be embarrassed about it full stop and not done it?