Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Original poster

Chuggers and "leading questions"

156 replies

HellomynameisIcklePickle · 05/03/2014 13:51

I've had quite a few on the phone/at the door and I honestly don't mind them trying. I like to be polite and will generally wait to say "not interested" at the available opportunity.

But what really, really winds me up is when they do really staged "Yes" questions.

"This is just a terrible problem, isn't it?"
"£2 a week seems reasonable to help, doesn't it?"

Oh fuck off. Is it just me who gets so annoyed and thinks these "leading questions" are really them saying "You're so stupid, if I just get you to nod your head and agree with me you'll do anything I suggest."

I know that it's a recommended selling technique and lots of people use it, but the main people who pitch to me are chuggers and it's only them who I notice it with. It just gives me the rage.

OP posts:

Dawndonnaagain · 05/03/2014 14:34

"your neighbours are all chipping in 2 to help end child poverty" as if it was a bloody whip round in the office!
One of them tried that with me. It wasn't a good move and you should have seen him scuttle away when I said:'Are they really? Let's just go check shall we' and went and knocked next door! Fortunately, she's a good friend and we had been moaning about the buggers earlier in the day, she was in stitches!

mumofboyo · 05/03/2014 14:38

The worst "chugging" I ever fell for was NSPCC. I ended up paying out £9 a month, which isn't a lot of money in the grand scheme of things but when you consider the fact that I'd just finished a long term post and the short term work hadn't yet picked up yet I wasn't able to get JSA but I still had a house to run, bills to pay and food to buy with dwindling savings, that £9 was much needed so I cancelled the direct debit. Over the next few months I had phone calls and letters asking me to explain why I was no longer giving them my money and telling me that I should have arranged to reduce rather than stop payments.
Whilst I fully support their work I do not appreciate being harassed and bullied into giving my money, that I needed to support myself, away to charity. In the end I called them and demanded they remove my name from their mailing list/database and told them that, although I was considering reinstating the direct debit at some point in the future when my finances improved, due to the forceful way in which they'd tried to get me to start donating to them again I had changed my mind.
The lady on the telephone was very apologetic and did remove me from their list as I haven't heard anything from them since.

I sometimes feel targeted now because I am nearly always with my dc whilst in town, walking at a snail's pace with 2 toddlers, a buggy and lots of bags. I think they see me as an easy target and my children as 'selling points' in that if they say nice things about them and complement me on how lovely they are which is obviously true I'll fall for their charm and happily sign up to anything. I won't - I learned my lesson and now just say I'm not interested and tell them to move out of my way.

mumofboyo · 05/03/2014 14:39

Massive rambling sentence there, sorry, I got quite angry thinking about it

Sevensev · 05/03/2014 14:41

They are useful people to practice assertive skills on.

PublicEnemyNumeroUno · 05/03/2014 14:43

I just reply with 'not interested thanks'

Floggingmolly · 05/03/2014 14:46

It's the old Dale Carnegie technique... Get the customer saying yes; and they'll find it too difficult to suddenly say no.
It's as big a pile of bollocks now as it surely must have been then.

flipchart · 05/03/2014 14:48

It's funny how often my car parking time is about to run out when people approach me in town!! 'Sorry. darling, if only got a couple of minutes on my parking!!'

OvertiredandConfused · 05/03/2014 14:50

I find it useful to smile and then say FIRMLY that I already have my giving to charities in place and wish them luck as I walk away.

ProfessorDent · 05/03/2014 14:50

I am in two minds about chuggers, I think it is good that they encourage people to donate, but yes the tactics are annoying. I don't mind being asked to send a text that will cost me £3, but after that you get the thank you follow up call and request for a regular donation.

I don't like to be rude and I'm not, but all the same... Tbf I think of the other rubbish I spend £2 on... £2 a day on Pret coffee at least, and can't get up on my high horse.

Guess one answer is to direct debit a quid for the main charities so you can just say, I'm already signed up. Even then, they will phone to get you to increase it.

DebbieOfMaddox · 05/03/2014 14:52

"I already make a monthly donation to [name of charity]" is a good option for the non-confrontational. Although I tend to manage by looking harassed (doesn't take much effort) and saying "I'm sorry, I'm running really late for an appointment" then making mental note to go home a different way .

everlong · 05/03/2014 14:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DebbieOfMaddox · 05/03/2014 14:54

In practice I am never signing up for regular donations again for anyone because once they have your details you are constantly phoned and hassled to increase your donation level.

oldwomaninashoe · 05/03/2014 14:57

In Central London they operate in large gangs. It has not been so bad this winter bcause of the rain but any decent day they are out there in their hoards hassling passers by. Last Thursday I was approached by 3 different Charities on the short trip from the office to the station.

It is intensely annoying, they get quite well paid, and are inclined to "chase" if you ignore them and start walking away quickly.
It was very bad (until they recently changedthe law)you could not sit outside a pub or cafe as they would target you. whilst you were eating or drinking.

Chugging is obviously very effective otherwise all these charities would not still do it.

Ohwhatfuckeryisthis · 05/03/2014 14:57

i get annoyed by Dogs' trust asking me if i care about animals. One day I'm just going to say no.

TheReluctantCountess · 05/03/2014 14:58

I usually just say no thanks and keep walking, but I did once have a massive long conversation with a chugger and then took great satisfaction in telling him I didn't have a bank account.

Patilla · 05/03/2014 15:03

I used to regularly get asked if I cared about human rights.

I got quite good at simply saying "no thanks" but it did surprise them

Ohwhatfuckeryisthis · 05/03/2014 15:03

DS1 (as and a soft touch) ended up with three direct debits going out of his dole at one point. Had no end of pushy phone calls just like poster above, until I had a go at them for harassing someone with a LD.
i find not having a uk bank account helps.

eurochick · 05/03/2014 15:10

I've never had one at the door, but on the street I just don't make eye contact and if they try to talk to me I just carry on as if they are not there. It works for me. I give to the charities I want to, not the ones I am bullied into donating to.

SouthernComforts · 05/03/2014 15:11

The softdrink rep that comes into my work is gorgeous. He could sell me anything. My colleagues have to lock me in the stock room when he comes in

growingolddicustingly · 05/03/2014 15:19

Twenty to bloody nine last night I had chuggers at my door. Only reason I answered the door was because I thought it may have been my neighbour. I said no before they could launch into their spiel and shut the door sharpish. Twenty to bloody nine FFS

Ishouldbeweaving · 05/03/2014 15:29

We have them at the door at least monthly. I live on a largish estate with short paths that was originally built with no garden gates and it makes door to door really easy. My standard answer is that I fully agree with the aims of whateveritis but as we already give X a month to Y charities and times are hard it's now one in, one out. I've not yet had someone who is prepared to argue that their charity is worth more to me than my existing ones, they thank me and wander off.

jammygem · 05/03/2014 15:33

SouthernComforts

We had a bloke who somehow managed to convince me to let him in "just for a quick chat". Ended up shelling out £12 a month after feeling too rude to just turf him out after the half hour lecture chat.

Cancelled it after a month and am a lot more firm with chuggers now. Definitely won't be letting anyone step foot in the door again...

YouAreTalkingRubbish · 05/03/2014 15:35

I have a 'NO COLD CALLERS' sign on my door and it stops any chuggers coming to the house.

In the street I just say 'no thanks' as many times as is needed.

curlyclaz13 · 05/03/2014 15:36

I find 'we already donate to you' is effective. Not much they can say to that. Usually ignore the door now including last night when we were eating dinner and they could clearly see us ! They knocked about three times before giving in.

gamerchick · 05/03/2014 15:43

everythingsdozy ring or go to your bank and stop the direct debit there.. they always say you have to stop it at the other end but I've never done that.

Then practice saying no in the mirror.

I'm vile to chuggers these days... just don't have the patience.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Swipe left for the next trending thread