wibu to tell the chugger to f#$# off?

[fallingsun]

I was walking down the high street, hurrying as it was cold and I wanted to get home. A chugger bounced in and started cooing at 11mo dd, saying 'oh soooo cute' etc etc. I ignored her, partly as she hadn't addressed me and partly because running the gauntlet of chuggers really annoys me. Anyway, I blatantly wasn't interested, but the chugger kept going, trying to get in dds face and my way. When the chugger was still there despite me practically running to escape ten paces layer, I turned to her and quietly told her to f#ck off.

I'm don't normally swear, especially not at someone, but she really irritated me, I especially didn't like the fake cooing of dd as an excuse to get my attention. Wibu?

dinosaurs, yes call them, write and email them, tell them you do not wish to subscribe next year and do it in good time. It doesn't sound like the type of organization who will make it clear when you can unsubscribe and are banking on a proportion never getting round to it. Good luck :)

OldBag why do you assume I have always had the luxury of being able to pick and choose my jobs? I have always stuck to certain principles, sometimes at some cost to my financial security.

I despise the "I was desperate" excuse. Or the "don't blame me, I'm only doing my job" brigade.

We don't get to many chuggers here, but I pretty much ignore everyone, however I've been abused by Big Issue sellers for doing this, so now say 'no thanks'.

Two wrongs don't make a right .No need to lower yourself by swearing at her

I was once doing voluntary work of my own on the high street (not bugging people, putting up notices for a local charity craft fair). A couple of chuggers would not leave me alone, and I couldn't get away without abandoning my own task. They tried to get me to sign up for £5 a week and I really, really couldn't afford that much - I had not long graduated and was scraping by on temp work. I offered to give them a fixed amount or sign up for less and they insisted I could afford a fiver. At one point they went away, had a chat and then came back telling me a whole load of stuff about corporate child abuse which turned out to be nonsense (I checked out what they were saying later) to pressure me into signing up. I refused but they made me feel really, really shitty about it.

I e-mailed the charity (a big NGO) to complain about them and didn't get a response. I would never sign up to one of their direct debits and I'm now quite wary of charities that use them.

OP, I maybe wouldn't have sworn, but they are a curse.

I always find a loud but polite "No Thank-you" works, chuggers are annoying but as mentioned before, they are just youngsters trying to earn a few quid.

I loathe chuggers but YABU to swear, especially as you had already gone past.

I think it's important to remember there's a big difference between screaming fuck off at a smily 17 year old chugger who happens to look your way and firmly but calmly saying fuck off to one who has launched themselves at your baby and then followed you down the road.

I don't think fuck off should be your first reaction to a chugger but if one follows me down the road then that's what will happen.

I'd rather someone signed on for job seekers allowance etc than signed up to do this horrible job. It's not about taking a job that the general public finds annoying, it's a job that many find morally repugnant and ethically bankrupt. I also believe it's possibly quite a damaging job for young people. Being constantly rejected is not good for anyone.

Had one approach me this week while I was out with 'let's dance' (???!!!) so I just said 'let's not' and swerved around him with my pram. WTF did he think I'd say to that ????

Yes, of course I'd rather. I'm stating my opinion. I know it may be hard for some people but I do really think that chugging should be done away with. It is at best morally dubious. Anyone who can get a job chugging (it's not actually that easy unless you are 17, blonde and female I know several articulate, bright, sparky men and non blonde/curvy women who have been rejected) can get a job in a call centre (I have lots of friends who have done this post 6th form or university) and then at least people can just put the phone down/not answer rather than be harassed down the street.

I suspect any 'success' from chugging is down to targeting vulnerable people in society anyway. My brother has Asperger's and he was brow-beaten and guilt tripped into signing up with Bliss by a chugger who lost their job after we complained. My brother suffered nightmares about dying babies for weeks afterwards and threatened to run away from home when we cancelled the direct debit.

I think one of reasons I hate chugging with a passion is being interrupted whilst just quietly walking, having my space invaded, and having inane drivel said to me in my face, over and over again, whilst just trying to go to a shop.

I know I have become dismissive to the chuggers. I don't like becoming rude, but I know of no other way of running the gauntlet. So I hold up my hand to keep them away from me, and say 'No', and ignore them.

It's the same with cold callers at my house. If you ignore my clear sign, why are you surprised if I am dismissive in my response.

I really am fed up of being pestered by other people's shitty jobs. And I definitely do blame their organisations for giving them crappy instructions in the first place.

How old is your son OldBag? I heard from someone who works for the National Apprenticeship Service that there are a lot of vacancies on their website that they have trouble filling: www.apprenticeships.org.uk. The starting apprenticeship minimum wage is low but rises to at least minimum wage after the first year.

YANBU. It's everywhere these days.
And if its not chuggers, it's people in my supermarket (Sainsburys) trying to get me to sign up to energy companies or their credit card. And then outside the supermarket, in the shopping centre, it's woman trying to thread my eyebrows at extorionate prices.

I hate it, and you always feel so bloody awful refusing to put money in buckets for charities. There was one outside my Boots the other day, shaking her bucket asking for donation s for 'children with cancer'. I had to walk past her twice pushing dd in her buggy. I ready give to a couple if charities us do stuff via work for others. But they don't know that.

We had chuggers at our door the other night. DH let them in, I was fuming (bath/pj time) and he signed up!! He'd mistakenly made a mistake with his account code by 1 digit, and they were back the next night to get it sorted. Right in the middle of our dinner at 8pm. The girl kept using my DHs first name, it just reminded me of a tacky sales persons job.

I guess it's tough, charities have to make money a d people are only doing their jobs, but nowhere is sacred anymore!

Me too Jambalaya, 2 of them followed me down the street when I was crying and a third one told me to fuck off when I didn't stop to talk to him (still crying). Now I just ask them if the charity has a website and tell them I'll donate through that. It's much cheaper than giving to the chuggers and they can't try and talk you into signing up with them without looking more interested in their comission than the charity.

I had one on my doorstep once, piling on the charm and telling me my neighbours had signed up to his Unicef stuff. He was trying to engaged children and get invited inside. So I felt guilty and signed. When he'd gone I thought 'wtf?' Was furious. So I kept an eagle eye on the bank account online and as soon as Unicef appeared in my direct debit list I cancelled it before it could take any money. I just got a letter in the post saying sorry they were losing me. I wish they'd phoned, I'd have told them what I thought of being conned into being mugged on my own doorstep.

Engage my children.

Bloody fat fingers.

Oldbag - I live in Surrey too, I've seen lots of high street shops with signs hiring staff for Xmas - could be a good way for your ds to get some experience?m&s were definitely recruiting, as were several others :)

Oldbag - well done to your son for doing that. Pleased it worked out for him.

Seriously? Your first thought was to say "fuck off" rather than "I'm not interested, sorry"