To hate having hordes of people asking me for money?

[CruCru]

Whenever I go into my local town centre, there seem to be loads of people who want me to give them money.

Some of it is up selling in shops (I know they have to try to do this but I still hate it), some are chuggers (done to death but there are at least ten at a time, spread out so you can't avoid them), women selling photo shoots for £40 and beggars approaching people for money (the last makes me sound really harsh but they are always quite well dressed and have a story about why they need this money - need a train ticket home etc- but are always there).

Every time I go into town, it's like running a gauntlet. For clothes I buy online so I don't have to browse in person but some things I need to buy in person.

I do buy the Big Issue, it's always the same guy and I think that is really worthwhile.

Grr, chuggers! I could moan endlessly about them. There used to be a load congregated outside the station every single day, and one particular idiot stands out as I was running for a train - it was obvious I was in a hurry - so he blocked my path and opened his arms out grinning, "you're running to see me!" I told him to fuck off, but seriously. The nerve.

These days I just ignore them. Maybe give them my best withering look if they're being particularly irritating.

If everyone gave regular donations like eeek does then charities wouldn't have to spend so much money persuading people to give.

What rubbish. Charities are like any other business, if they can get more money out of people they will. There isnt a cut off point where a charity would say 'right we're getting enough money now, lets lay off the chuggers'. Don't try and guilt trip people.

Agree with most on here - why do we need to give money to whoever? surely government provides funds for the really needy?

I just pretend I don't speak English.

We are paying people to persuade us to part with our money. If nobody gave them anything they'd soon have to think again.

Councils are concerned about the loss of footfall in the high street. I think the poster advising complaints is correct.

brainnotworking you are kidding right?! This government doesn't give a flying fuck about people in need and are cutting vital services etc all over the place!?! You gotta be kidding? Or your user name is more than correct!

Lol at double-glazing MrsDV I have made a similar point myself, just not quite so succinctly

I think what makes it worse is that we've had more and more people coming to the door. It's like the town centre is following me home, I can't escape it.

YANBU.

MrsDeVere your post has made me so angry on your behalf.

Not on the same scale but I had charity collectors knock on the door one evening recently, two young men - I could hear them laughing and joking as I approached the door. When I opened it - a long spiel about breast cancer.

I told them to go away, how dare they stand on my step laughing and asking me for money when I am in remission from fucking breast cancer (I said it without the "fucking" btw!). Felt a bit after but I had the rage!

Yes I'm sick of not being able to do a supermarket shop in peace without being made to feel like a cow when I don't stop to put money in whoever's pot as I leave.

Another thread that makes me feel so happy to live where I do. I have never seen a Chugger in my local HIgh Street (they do frequent the County town but not all day every day). I have been in 2 supermarkets today and no one has asked me for money (other than the check out operator). Yes we do get people collecting for charities, but they are usually volunteers of a certain age and don't use aggressive tactics and are definitely not rude if you pass them by. They still manage to collect plenty of money using this method as there is often a 'Thank You' with the sum collected in the local paper. I only ever remember 2 Chuggers knocking on my front door - and I have lived here over 20 years. I just told them I'm sure their cause was very worthwhile but we had charities close to our hearts that we support and they went away without a fight.

Oh CrohnicallyInflexible -- kitten stew and mmm

This is why I do as much of my shopping online as much as I can. Even clothes, shoes and toiletries.

I particularly hate the upselling. They keep fucking repeating themselves, as though I don't know my own mind

You even get it in the Post Office. Usually when I need to post something overseas really, really quickly. No, I don't want to change my phone provider.

Reminded me of the time me and DP were targeted.
DP being her pushover kindhearted self didnt want to say no upfront but said she didn't have her bank details on her. As we were a few meters from the bank, they told us to go in and find the details and come back

Naturally we didn't go back.
Although that evening as we were going to the pub she was standing by the cash machine.

We went home.

I'm also another one who regularly gives to charity but pretends to be on the phone when I see chuggers
My favourite response i have heard to chuggers was a few months ago in my local shopping centre. It was for an animal charity (I forgot which one) and they were using the tactic of asking people if they liked animals to try and draw them in. This one guy turned round and just said "no they are all cunts."

In their book 'Going South: Why Britain Will Have a Third World Economy by 2014' Larry Elliott and Dan Atkinson describe this phenomenon as "a sure sign of incipient third world status. The pavements are clear in well-ordered first world cities. Street hassle is commonplace in developing countries."

bettertogether this is so true.

the parameters of acceptable behaviour have changed dramatically.
And a law was passed (by blair's govt?) to stop "aggressive begging", so now its illegal for collectors to shake that money box.
But its now become ok to have an assault course of chuggers on the highstreet? Stop!
Yes. Agree with a pp. i/ we should complain to the council.
The others hawkers/ selling Sky, RAC, baby photos etc are also v irritating.
Many of the shops in the high street are derelict (until a betting shop moves in), ppl cant afford/ dont want to pay the rent and so a high street pitch is much cheaper.
Sky etc. Can fuck off! Rent a shop and if i want to buy your product I will go to that shop.
I wonder if the pitches in high streets/ malls should be available to small independent traders (the likes of which never harrass me) or promotions in the interest of the public.

mrsDevere so sorry.