...to feel that charity agent workers should be stopped?

[whatever187]

Today as I tried to leave my local supermarket with my shopping and baby in the pram, I was approached by a person from one of these charity sign up stands (you know the ones where they take your bank details and you sign up to a direct debit to support x-charity)
He was stood in my way, showing me a picture of some dogs and asking if I would like to sponsor one. I said no, to which he didn't move, and asked 'why, don't you like dogs?' It felt awkward and I replied that our family couldn't afford it. Thinking that would be that (and it is embarrassing enough to be made to stand there and say that) he ridiculously claimed 'Everyone can afford it, it is only £2 a week' I was almost immediately irritated, I have a lot going on today with appointments etc and didn't feel like having to explain, so I said that it wasn't true as we can't. He was so pushy and to my utter disbelief said 'Well, you can afford shopping and having a baby'
YES! Yes we can because we planned to do that, we budgeted to do that and we already support a charity, don't enjoy luxuries and are happy because we wanted a second child, knowing we would be making sacrifices to do so, but we do it. I told him exactly that! He angered me so much when he asked if we were saving in trust funds... yes... well then we have some money to spare! No... we don't. Why won't you leave me alone? 'Because people think it's ok to say they can't afford it and move along. What if everyone did that? We would have to close rescue centres within 6 months, it is ONLY £2 a week!'
I literally felt like crying, it was so embarrassing and I was getting so enraged, so I asked if he supported them, to which he answered 'No, because I work for them' He doesn't, he works for an agency that gets employed to fundraise! I told him that and proceeded to walk forwards, he had no choice but to move out of the way of my pram or get run over, but now I feel terrible.
AIBU to think that this shouldn't be allowed? It is turning me against charity of all kinds!
Sorry about the rant

[RightyTightyLeftyLoosey]

*volunteered ffs.

[Seriouslyffs]

If he said that you should complain of course.
I just walk on by if I can't stop, you should do the same.

[Cupcakes123]

I tend to tell them that I already give to whichever charity they are trying to sign people up to.
I don't.
But it's the only way I've found of shutting them up

Although when the fundraiser then high fives me and tells me I'm a good person it makes me feel a bit guilty
I find a collection box and stick £1 in and karma is restored!

[randycheeseburger]

I hate these!
I had 2 knock on my door last week 1st was red cross and I opened the door because just through the glass I could see red and thought it was the postman, as soon as he spoke he got to the point so I was able to say no sorry.

2nd time it was dark and I answered thinking it might be avon, then this guy kept talking giving me some long story and when he got the the point I said no I'm sorry I can't afford anything, he said but its only a couple of pounds a week? I said yes but those couple of pounds add up!

[KatriKling]

Unbelievable. Aggressive charity fundraising is counter-productive I think, it leaves a bad aftertaste. In this instance, it sounds like he was a poorly trained/inexperienced fundraiser and who wants to buy anything from someone who argues with you and makes brash statements? Idiotic.

I find just ignoring sales people -- charity or otherwise, is the only thing that works. I don't need/want to justify my reasons for not buying something — nor should you. Obviously, if he was blocking your path, that's harder to do. I would complain to the charity and the store — they shouldn't have their customers' exit from the store hampered by 'sales' people.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Not much point in complaining to the charity - they do this because it works, though never ask me why. Comments to the retailer are much more effective, since if enough customers get hacked off these pests are unlikely to be admitted again

Too many insist that they can't raise money without PF's, when they really mean they won't get off their own backsides to do it. I've personally raised a vast amount for charities, but it's been for purely local ones - and then only those who can show they've made a real effort to help themselves

It's been accurately said that charity is big business now - another reason, perhaps, to avoid these PF parasites

[addictedtobass]

OP complain to the charity and supermarket, especially the latter via social media- you may find others have the same annoyance with it.

Practice your 'no thank you' and next time just don't engage. They always try the tug on heartstrings to drum up business so it's easier to be polite and ignore initially rather then get engaged and upset or into an argument.

[crazypenguin]

I screamed at one in the high street once.
My DP had died that year and I was trying desperately to do some Christmas shopping without losing it over the "from both of us" & "to my darling boyfriend" cards etc.
I'd cracked a bit and was sheltering in a shop doorway crying when a chugger approached me, I thought she was asking if I was ok. She wasn't, she was trying to get me to sign up to a DD!
I screamed at her to leave me alone so loudly that half of the high street turned and looked at the crazy bawling woman.
She scuttled away sharpish. I now employ the hand up, very firm "no!" Approach...
Parasites.
I regularly donate to charities that are close to my heart, but I refuse to donate to charities that employ chuggers.

[amidaiwish]

i was in westfield yesterday and actually commented to my friend how nice it was to go shopping without chuggers up and down the street.
don't highstreets realise how off putting it is?
why do they allow it?

[Wotsitsareafterme]

Yanbu. I refuse to engage with chuggers and am often quite rude to them. They stand along the high street where I work like a gauntlet thru are rude and invasive.
Dm won't leave them alone if they approach her and she will know something about the charity she objects to for ethical reasons and question the always clueless chugger about it.
One put his hand on my pram to stop me once. I went fecking bananas

[glentherednosedbattleostrich]

Last time I was chugged in the street I had a huge go at the guy. He stopped me by shouting 'hey yummy mummy, your the kind of hottie I love to chat to'. (Note I'm a slightly overweight childminder who usually has a couple of kids in tow and food or snot in my hair).

He was told at length why it was wrong to address women in such a manner and no I don't appreciate his pathetic attempts at charm. And I called the charity to inform them why they wouldn't be getting my money.

[Petallic]

YABU - they're just sales people. Say no thanks and move on. They obviously work as the charities continue to pay to use their services.

I think people feel far more strongly about chuggers than other sales people because charities aren't considered to be profit making businesses, but that's exactly what these large charities are.

[amidaiwish]

no i would feel just as strongly if double glazing or timeshare salesmen harrassed me in the street. but they don't. no other companies use these techniques and they shouldn't be allowed.

[ClaudetteWyms]

YANBU. I would complain to the charity and the supermarket.

I never stop for chuggers, and never engage with them. I have had them try to flatter me, and physically stand in my path. I had to shout loudly at one to get him to take his hands off me when he tried to stop me walking by. And I once turned round to give one a piece of my mind after he shouted a "cheer up love" to my recently bereaved friend who was with me.

I agree it is harassment.

[Myearhurts]

This makes my blood boil.

There was one at our door the other night. He was very pushy with my husband who had our toddler in his arms and was trying to get him to bed! My husband is a very gentle soul and doesn't like to seem unkind, he said no straight away but the man kept him talking. I would have said no and shut the door, but I was upstairs and didn't hear!

I have a relative who lives on the same estate and she told me that she got the same treatment. Luckily despite being elderly she is sharp and told him no, despite much nagging.

There are a lot of elderly and vulnerable people on our estate. I think it is very likely that a few people will have been pressured into giving money that they didn't want to give or don't have.

I cannot understand why it is allowed, when charity workers with tins are forbidden from even approaching you.

[Aeroflotgirl]

Yanbu I woukd have said no thank you and walked off. That's what I do. If chuggers come to the door, I gave already give to certain charties close to me, I can't afford another. That usually works, and they walk off.

[OfaFrenchMind]

Last time a chugger asked me if I was concerned by Hunger in the world, I told him "I am ok, thanks, I just had a burger".
Not nice, but I was not in the mood to be pestered. This is harassment.

[Ludoole]

I had a certain cancer charity knock on my door at 8 o clock in the evening last week.
Unfortunately he got both barrels as 1) i dont think thats an acceptable time for unsolicited callers and 2) dp has cancer and we dont want to keep being bloody reminded of it in our own home!!

[ChatEnOeuf]

I hate them, they put so much pressure on people and make assumptions that just because you are shopping that you can afford to donate to whatever cause they are chugging for.

I tend to tell them that I have already decided on my charities for the year but that I shall keep them in mind for the future. And then speed off.

[Theas18]

I resort to a straight forward " no , no thanks" and walk on !

Wish I could tell them to F off in Welsh or something though.

I'm suer they are nice enough people but the stupid scrip and he financial motivation they have makes them actlike idiots . saying things like " cheer up noone has died" and other nonsense. Well actually how the F fdo you know??

[Monstamio]

Years ago, before this chugging thing became such a big business, my Mum and I were stopped by someone in London who asked whether we knew about Barnardo's. As it happened, my Mum (who worked in child protection at the time) did know rather a lot and launched into a ten minute spiel about the life of Thomas Barnardo and how the charity had grown from the Ragged Schools of the Victorian era to the work it does today etc etc.

The poor chugger was so taken aback by all this information that she forgot to ask for any money and we continued on our way. To this day I think Mum believes someone was just interested in learning more about the charity

[Sallystyle]

I sponsored Guide Dogs after someone talked me into it outside the Co-Op. All ok until a few weeks later they started phoning me asking for more money. I said no, they still continued to phone me.

Last week they were back at the Co-Op and asked me to sponsor a dog. I explained that I already do so they asked my dd who was with me if she would like her mum to sponsor another dog on her behalf for an Xmas present. I told them no, I wouldn't be sponsoring another dog on her behalf. He tried to convince me so I walked off.

[Dogsmom]

Our local Morrisons is a pain in the arse for it, there's usually the aa or rac outside that get you on the way in and out then always a charity one inside plus scouts wanting to pack your bags.

Today some cancer charity had 3 people in a line across the way out so you couldn't avoid them.

I go there every day as it's the closest but if we're every passing a different store I'll pop in there instead deliberately to avoid the chuggers.

I spend my time shopping the offers to save cash and don't want to feel pressured into giving to yet another charity.

[StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes]

I told mine that yes of course I loved dogs.... but I couldn't eat a whole one unless it was very small or I was very hungry, he stood there like for a minute then had to laugh as I breezed off

[CyclopsBee]

On a different note, a pension something or other company rang me this afternoon, she told me I really should have my pension reviewed yearly, and almost accused me of lying when I said I had no pension.
I asked her how she got my number as it's ex directory, and apparently I filled in a lifestyle survey I would never do this!
I told her I wasn't interested in whatever she was trying to sell me, she said she wasn't selling.
I continued to say no Thankyou , she then gave a huge sigh and said "come on cyclops, it's not hard, just stop being aggressive" I was and asked her not to phone again and put the phone down.