To be annoyed at the chugger who shouted excuse me redhead!

[LittleMissGerardButlersMinion]

I always say no thank you to chuggers, as when I donate to charity I do it myself, never when I am approached.

Anyway one today shouted 'excuse me redhead' which I thought was very rude!

AIBU to think this was rude and get annoyed? I hate being called a redhead.

I still politely said no thank you and walked off, but inside I wanted to say 'did you mean to be so rude'

I know they aren't all bad, but there is a street in my town where you cannot avoid them, and I personally find it very intimidating. I cannot avoid this street as there is a shop I need regularly. I always walk up there dreading bumping into them.

I am always polite and say no thanks, but I just don't like it.

I had one shout down the road at me, saying I was a rude bitch for not speaking to her!

Actually I had said "No, thanks" but she'd been talking over me at the time. I emailed the charity, and told them. They obviously don't employ them, themselves, and said there's nothing we can do. However, the did finish the email by asking if we'd like to donate money to them anyway! Erm, no.

impty well done for reporting her as fundraisers like that should not be out representing any charity and give the industry in general a very bad name! It's a shame that the charity in question did not follow through on your complaint as, I know for a fact that they very easily could have traced the offender simply by the location and a description to the agency employing her.
As things stand, more and more charities are now employing their street fundraisers directly rather than, as previously was the case, using agencies to recruit on their behalf. This, I believe, has been done as an effort to more rigorously ensure that the fundraisers representing them are doing so in the correct manner and are passionate about what they do. This, in turn, sees a dramatic uplift in the effectiveness of this type of fundraising but, also means that the fundraisers themselves are more easily held accountable should a complaint be made....

I bet the chugger doesn't shout out 'oi, baldy' or 'pepper and salt' to men walking past!

EXACTLY this. It's about women being addressed or identified by physical characteristics. I'm sure this happens a lot more than it does to men.

I cannot stand chuggers. I have seen them actually try to physically stand in your way and block your path which cannot be allowed.

I always shout "no!" at them very loudly and they get the message.

I cannot see the justification for stopping people as they are going about their business and the aggressive tactics they use.

Chugging is a notoriously high-overhead way of raising money for charity.

those who do an immoral job shouldn't expect respect. (although I can only think of one job more immoral than chugging, and no it isn't prostitution)

doesn't mean we should thump them as we go past, but there's no need to waste any time on them.

I work for a charity that funds research into a range of very common and devastating conditions. Much of our income comes from individuals - who have to be "recruited" somehow. We do use the services of some face to face fundraisers (and there are several different sorts of Face to face fundraisers). We also raise funds through all other available streams. Just hoping we could get enough income together from a single income source would be impossible.

Would I therefore be naive to assume that those of you who avoid giving to such charities would be equally happy not to take advantage of the results of such research that this has funded?

Every time you see a doctor you can bet that their knowledge has been furthered by charitable funding somewhere along the line and by getting on your high horses about perfectly legal methods of fundraising you are crossing your fingers that not everyone feels the way you do!

'Would I therefore be naive to assume that those of you who avoid giving to such charities would be equally happy not to take advantage of the results of such research that this has funded?

Every time you see a doctor you can bet that their knowledge has been furthered by charitable funding somewhere along the line and by getting on your high horses about perfectly legal methods of fundraising you are crossing your fingers that not everyone feels the way you do!'

Oh I see, it's all so clear now. We should prostrate ourselves in front of the chuggers who are doing so much to aid developments in poverty relief and medical breakthroughs.

I give to charity but avoid charities who use this method of collection, it's intrusive and often bullying. So you can get off your high horse Dido and accept that while chuggers may rake in money for the charity, many, many people dislike this method intensely. Berating people is not going to change that.

I like my high horse, It gives me great view of the minions....!

Or alternatively, you could just accept that face to face fundraising is a valid, legal and effective method of fundraising, done by people who often have to put up with insults from the public, (and are defintely not highly paid) and step politely away from them.

And the results really do transform lives.

'Or alternatively, you could just accept that face to face fundraising is a valid, legal and effective method of fundraising, done by people who often have to put up with insults from the public, (and are defintely not highly paid) and step politely away from them.'

Could you maybe pass your message re. politeness back to them? As I'm sure you're aware many people are regularly hounded and harassed by them to the detriment of the charity's reputation.

Thanks ever so.

Well no, becasue we don't use street fundraisers.

But the ones we do use have ongoing training and there is a clear complaints procedure. And yes, face to face fundraisers do lose their jobs if members of the public are not happy with the way they have been approached.

I don't mind people who come to the door. I've signed up to several charities this way. Especially if they give me a leaflet and come back. There are some very skilled mature knowledgeable fundraisers.

However, I object to some acting-wannabe schmoozing me in the street. It's their manner that offends.

I'm always polite to chuggers and I do try and step away. But I've been followed and guilt tripped up the high st and it's awful.

"Don't you care about the children" I'm asked. "No, I couldn't give a shit" is now my response to that one. Though politely and with a smile. I'd never shout insults, etc but do find that sometimes I have to ignore to get them to stop chasing me.

I told one once I couldn't afford to donate as I was a student and was told it was OK they had a student rate and I could sign up for something like £10 a month instead of £15 as long as I had student ID.

Charities do sign up to a Code of Conduct regulated by an independent body, the Fundraising Standards Board. And many are also members of the Institute of Fundraisisng, a professional organisation who have separate Codes of Practice.

Each year we have to submit a detailed report to the FRSB on the number and type of complaints from each type of fundraising undertaken.

So for anyone that asked, it is regulated.

Viva

yes - they insult your intelligence by using pathetic tricks like "don't you care about the children?"

I told one once I couldn't afford to donate as I was a student and was told it was OK they had a student rate and I could sign up for something like £10 a month instead of £15 as long as I had student ID

Oooo, how kind of them to do such a lovely favour!!

I remember the days when charities would accept anything. A one off fiver was gratefully received.

Offer them a solitary fiver now. I dare you!!

We gratefully receive one off fivers. And they'd get a thank you letter too.

As I said upthread, there are many different sorts of fundrasiing and sources on income and all charities use a range of them.

Face to face fundraisers are not allowed to accept cash. It's part of the Code of Conduct.

It's part of the Code of Conduct.

But the Code of Conduct is fine with them shouting down the street at people, calling someone grumpy and preventing people from walking past them?

Their Code of Conduct needs readdressing.

:(

Some of them are annoying to be sure, but they are under the illusion that they are a bit funny in order to get money.

But I wouldn't say I hate ALL chuggers.

At the end of the day, (when all is said and done) they must turn in a decent income for the charity or they wouldn't be used.

I can cope with saying no to a few collectors rather than cut off any income for a valuable charity.

I think we've all established that the shouting, name calling, and path blocking is the behaviour of a minority.

Ninja, have you read the Code of Conduct? Clearly, it does not allow disrespectful behaviour.

If you have any complaints about the behaviour of fundraisers, then by all means report it to the charity involved. They expect you to do this and will deal with it.

Only a ginger can call another ginger ginger!!

If no one complains there isn't any code.

If anyone does those things get their id and complain, only way to stop it.