To get a bit pissed off with charity collecters

[Notfuckingpastit1]

Not being funny or anything, and I know times are hard! But everytime I go to my local supermarket, there's a different charity collector outside rattling a tin in my direction. Sometimes it feels like I should factor in my donation into my weekly shopping budget. Don't get me wrong I do donate to some, but it's getting ridiculous.

I seem to attract them! It is really awkward trying to politely tell them no when they follow you down the street telling you how they need your money to help abused children... I know I am easy prey (too trusting & easily manipulated) and my husband has had to ban me from ever signing ANY direct debits without his permission! I usually have to tell them this to get rid of them and they are and they work in packs so as soon as I loose one I run straight into the next one! It really puts me off going into town because I like to be nice to people but charity collectors just seem to prey on the vulnerable . I do give to charity but when I do so it by a direct donation, not someone on the street (who could be anyone!). And I hate charity's who reward your generosity by sending begging letters asking for more.. It makes me feel personally responsible for starving children if I don't cough up and also puts me off donating to that charity again

So YANBU

I always find some change for those who are prepared to spend their free time standing in the cold for a charity that means something to them. Tip for the "Chuggers", stand and listen to them, sympathise with their charity ,even go so far as to fill in one of their forms and then point out that you don't atually have a debit card/ credit card at all, and you only deal with cash. Gets right on their goat! Strangely satisfying!!

Chuggers don't bother me much: I'm good at looking purposeful and if you say "no thank you" clearly they usually go away. If that fails I point out that continuing to follow me when I'm told them not to constitutes harassment.

Door to door and telesales bug me though, because I've interupted what I'm doing to go and answer the door. Again a "no thank you" works, quickly followed by a closed door or putting the phone down.

Otoh I happily put money into charity tins of people stood inoffensively by doors. They are not trying to bother anyone, just quietly raising awareness.

The only chuggers round here are World Wildlife Fund ones. I find my 'all pandas must die!' t shirt keeps them away.

I don't mind putting some change in a tin tbh but I hate chuggers.

Addressing the OP's specific point, which was charity collectors at supermarkets.

1. it is illegal to rattle tins - it constitutes harassment. You are NBU if you object to rattlers. I ignore rattlers but give to those that don't rattle.

2. I volunteer for a charity and sometimes I stand for 8 hours at a time at supermarkets. I do not rattle the can, say anything, block anywhere etc. but simply stand there and hope that people understand that they may need the services of my charity at some point in their lives (or their loved ones may) and that without people willing to knacker their knees standing for hours at a time that help may not be available to them. So I think it is VU to resent them.

3. Chuggers are another breed altogether. They are paid, it's a job to them and they are a PITA. Eventually their pushiness and harassment will damage all charities - not just the ones that employ them.

Sometimes it feels like I should factor in my donation into my weekly shopping budget - well, why not? A pound a week for charity, many (not all) people could easily afford that.
Afaik Muslims set aside 2.5% of their money for charitable causes, and for Christians it's supposed to be 10%!

We had a chugger try to break down the door with his hammering knock several times and ring the door bell 4 times at 7:30 in the evening. My DH (who is 6' tall and built like a rugby player) answered the door growling if you wake my DD I will kill you. The chugger almost cried and ran away. I have no sympathy, if you knock loud enough to wake my child your balls belong to me.

We also got no less than 12 charity collection bags pushed through our door in one week.

However people with tins I usually give to provided it is a charity I support, and I always make sure I have money during November to buy poppies, give to Help for Heroes.

I don't mind the collecting tins at all, apart from the fact that I feel guilty if I haven't got any cash with me or if there is one everywhere I go. I used to do that once as a volunteer for the local hospice (hated it though!).
We give to quite a few charities by DD and it does annoy me when I am approached at the supermarket entrance/exit (or wherever...even our own house where surely they must know which houses already give!) to set up a DD for a cause that I already give to and I am almost accused of lying or it is firmly suggested that I should give more (without them knowing how much I do actually give).
I have found that THREE signs requesting no door-to-door sellers of any kind (inc religion/charity etc) works. One or two just don't seem to work - three stops them completely.

So the chap rattling the tin at the bottom of the stairs coming off the train a while back giving a talk about sick children to the commuters wasn't supposed to be rattling and talking? Despite the good cause he was very aggressive.

We get dodgy tin-rattlers outside our local shops; the cause is always a vague 'sick children'. I read a while back that the collectors get a cut of whatever is given, but don't know where the rest of the money goes - I suspect very little to any charity.

Basically, it's a con. I do see a lot of people putting money in these tins, though.

Roxy I don't know if you're just referring to the specific "dodgy" collectors you see at your local shops - it is certainly not normal for collectors to receive any of the money they collect. I would worry that would put people off giving when it's just not the case.

"Sometimes it feels like I should factor in my donation into my weekly shopping budget - well, why not?"

I don't know about anyone else but if I'd rather that money went to the charities I choose to support rather than any random charity stood collecting.

I do given occasionally if I have a bit of spare change but I don't want to factor it in.

I understand. It's part of a feeling that we are being asked to give to charity almost constantly now it feels.

They are either knocking at your door, phoning you, sending you letters, accosting you in the street or standing outside shops.

Yes the shop tins are easier to ignore but I just feel the pressure is so constant now I'm pissed off with it.

There are very few charities I don't sympathise with so how do you make a decision each time? And I can't give to all.

I've now decided to not give at all to anyone when approached or asked and will only now give when I make a conscious decision to give to a particular cause, and I will make the approach /arrangements myself.

I have given a lot to charities in the past and I think my name must be on some 'suckers list' as I get so many letters and calls.

But the pressure has actually stopped me giving.

I now quickly cut off the collector at the door with a swift 'no thank you I don't give at the door' and close it. It feels very harsh to be so blunt with the kindly Christian aid lady but then I think 'she knocked on my door'!!'

People with the tins are the least offensive but part of the overall pressure I feel.

People are always wanting frigging sponsoring too. I'm fed up with that as well.

YANBU. Chuggers are one more thing colonising public space, making you feel uncomfortable enough to rush through the high street, avoid making eye contact...

Chuggers are dreadful.

I have been in the unfortunate position of needing money from a charity and don't know how I would have got through without it.

However, I do feel annoyance at the level of charity collectors in my area.

Does that make me a hypocrite?

I do give to non-tin rattlers when I can afford it, but only to certain charities.