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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." Angry

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:
Glitterfeet · 05/03/2014 16:01

Gamerchick is right, you can cancel it with your bank! no need to talk to the charity. If a payment is due to go out within the next few days you will need to do this anyway. This will generate a letter from the charity informing you that it has been cancelled, this is a requirement. If the charity is sensible they'll have a bit on it about please come back etc. ignore this, some people do cancel for a short time and sign up again.

The one benefit of cancelling through the charity is that you can ask them to mark your record as no further contact at the same time. They have to do this. You could always go onto the website, find the right online form, or email and do it that way. Mail doesn't stop straight always as mailings are often prepared weeks in advance.

With some charities you can be fairly specific with what want. No telephone calls, no info about wills, no direct debit upgrade ask, 2 cash asks a year etc.

ItsAFuckingVase · 05/03/2014 16:07

I give to CF Trust (who are fab, have never once harrassed me to give more) and had a chugger at my door the other week getting quite aggressive in his sales pitch, telling me why NSPCC is a far more worthy cause than CF Trust.

I cannot abide that! It is obviously a personal choice to me, and I don't just have mountains of cash ready to give to the next good cause, so to donate to them would be taking away from my chosen charity. Pillock!

BornToFolk · 05/03/2014 16:19

I confused a chugger once. He knocked on the door and asked "do you know how much it costs to produce a braille book?". I actually did have a fairly good idea as I worked in publishing and we had produce Braille editions from time to time, so I answered "yes, I do". It obviously completely derailed his sales pitch and he had no idea what to do next!

He eventually managed to explain what the charity was all about and I was actually quite interested in donating. I won't sign up to anything on the doorstep though, so I asked if he could leave a leaflet or something that I could look over and make a decision later but apparently it was a "now or never" kind of deal. Hmm So, they lost out on a potential donation then.

Anyway, I don't let them draw breath now, firm "not interested, thanks" and shut the door.

RufusTheReindeer · 05/03/2014 16:25

I had one ask me

"Do you not care about deaf children?"

Drquin · 05/03/2014 16:28

It's a shame we employ such tactics, but some times and places the attention can be quite relentless.

I have sadly said "no I don't" in reply to "do you care about human rights / starving children etc".
Obviously I do care, and in some cases I care enough to already volunteer time and talents, and donate cash - but I will carefully consider both, which means I'm not going to make a decision on the street / doorstep.

If I'm feeling particularly devilish I will listen to the spiel then say I've not got a bank account, or allowed to sign anything without joint consent ....

mayorquimby · 05/03/2014 16:32

"It's a lot of fun to reply no, not really. They don't quite know what to say to that "

Exactly
I always respond "not particularly" to the question of do you want to help end the suffering of x people.

GrendelsMum · 05/03/2014 16:33

I say upfront that I'm very unlikely to donate, but I'd be delighted to hear more about what their charity does. I then explain that I work for a charity myself, and so wouldn't donate to another charity without first checking out their annual report etc online. I'm also happy to say that £2 a week is £104 a year, £208 over two years, £250 inc Gift Ade, and that I wouldn't donate £250 pounds without checking an annual report first.

Works fine for me and I don't think that either they or I are rude.

londonrach · 05/03/2014 16:35

Havent been caught by them for years now. Im too busy running from one place to another they dont bother me anymore. Smile

Anyway apart 3-4 years ago I ran past one who was starting to say something and shouted ''sorry I dont give to bloggers!'' Left him standing there saying 'bloggers!' Not sure who was more confused me or him! Grin

littlefiresofdesire · 05/03/2014 16:51

The latest trick they have in my town is to compliment you if you say no hoping your low self esteem will drag you back to them.
'Hi do you have a moment for xxxx'
'No thanks'
'You have a beautiful smile/eyes' or 'do you know which celebrity you look like?'

NO I FUCKING DONT I've had pissing 2 hours sleep and no make up on I'm aware that I look like shit. Don't lie to me.

chrome100 · 05/03/2014 16:52

I'm really surprised at the number of you who have chuggers at your door. I'm always having to run the gauntlet in town but none have ever come to my house. Mind you, I live in a shit hole so that could well be why Grin

AngelaDaviesHair · 05/03/2014 16:56

The one who asked me "Do you not care about Africa?" (I am part-African) lived to regret it.

I now tell every single one that comes to the door that I won't entertain doorstep chugging on principle. End of conversation.

aprilanne · 05/03/2014 16:56

i just usually ask are you being paid .when they yes i just say well thats not very charitable .unless its an autism charity .because of DS
then they usually go

littlefiresofdesire · 05/03/2014 16:58

Also they start their spiel and ask you how old you are then since I'm 21 that's not good enough for them. I can't save kittens because I'm not 25, but I can drink, smoke, have sex.
Even if you're a pensioner everyone should just start telling the chuggers that they're 17.

AngelaDaviesHair · 05/03/2014 17:04

How about, 'Sorry but I lack mental capacity so I can't sign the DD form, it will have to wait until my DH/mother gets home"? That might do it.

kim147 · 05/03/2014 17:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BlueberryWoods · 05/03/2014 17:26

"Sorry, would love to be able to donate but I've just been made redundantSad"
Works on chuggers and people wanting to upgrade our windows, mono block the drive, install solar panels, coat the roof in some energy saving stuff and many other things.

EatShitDerek · 05/03/2014 17:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EmpressOfJurisfiction · 05/03/2014 17:38

Well, the answer to the "Do you not care about..." question is pretty easy.
"YES. So much so that I'm going to donate to the charity direct to save them paying you a cut."

2cats2many · 05/03/2014 17:39

I just say: 'Sorry, but I never give my details at the door' and the close said door.

unlucky83 · 05/03/2014 17:50

Can't believe how many get into a conversation with them! In town I just shake my head and say 'sorry - no thanks' and then blank them if they say anything else...
At the door I don't let them start their pitch - as soon as I open the door - before they can speak - I say 'Sorry you are wasting your and my time, bye' and close the door... if they are quick enough and (dare) try and say any more I say 'I only donate to small local charities - I won't donate to large charities because of their huge running costs' (and if feeling particularly cross) such as large wage bills - and smile as I say bye, door closes ! (local charities bit is true...)
On the phone I also break into the spiel (do this for all nuisance calls) and without pausing for a second say 'I'm on the TPS - are you sure you should be phoning me? Can you take me off your list please? Thank you. Bye' Phone down...unless it is a windows computer fraud one and then I may well say nothing, not hang up and just leave the phone off the hook until they doSmile..

marmitecat · 05/03/2014 17:57

I smile and tell them I'm bankrupt. Then add the word "morally" as I shut the door in their face :)

AgaPanthers · 05/03/2014 18:24

Never, ever, ever give to chuggers.

The typical chugger commission is around £100. Typically your entire first year of chugrect debit goes to the chuggers.

falulahthecat · 05/03/2014 18:41

"£2 a week seems reasonable to help, doesn't it?"

"It would if I had anything to spare." Is my answer. Once had an oxfam person call me up asking for a fiver. I told him I didn't have a fiver in my account (I had £2.86 out of a 2 grand overdraft left at the time) He didn't believe me, so I gave him my card details and said he could try putting it through right then - when it didn't go through, there was a BIG silence. Then he had the audacity to ask if he could set up a direct debit for the next month!
I told him unless the direct debit was a tenner going IN to my account every month he could shove off. They haven't called back since!

Princessolipops · 05/03/2014 18:43

Have literally just closed the door to a charity rep wanting a direct debit of 2.50 a week and then questioning when I say no!!

Time to purchase a no cold caller/salesmen/religious bodies door sign!Confused

silverten · 05/03/2014 19:11

They plague my high street. Mostly earnest student types.

When DD was small they tried the 'gorgeous baby' trick, which was pretty audacious as she was usually purple faced and screaming hard. If she was asleep I was on the clock to get everything done before she woke up and made everyone's ears bleed, there was no way on earth I was going to shoot the breeze about anything. They could have been relying on my two quid to save the planet from destruction and I wasn't stopping, so desperate I was to keep her asleep.

I often wonder why they think mums with prams are going to want to stop and chat when they could be getting on with the precious few things one can cram into a day with a newborn. I guess it comes from being rather too young to breed themselves..

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