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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To complain to doctors about chugger

134 replies

Doodlekitty · 28/09/2015 18:40

Hi all.
Took my lb to docs thus morning. Waiting room was rammed and people were queuing for flu jabs. There was a woman there from Marie Curie going round people in waiting room to tell them about all of the good Marie Curie does in our area. She was then explaining this could not happen without support and trying to get them to sign up for a direct debit.

To be fair she was not giving it the hard sell but it felt very much like emotional blackmail in a place where people are very likely to be vulnerable. If I didn't love my doctor this would make me consider changing. Aibu to write an email of complaint about this being permitted?

OP posts:
Puzzledandpissedoff · 06/10/2015 12:06

I complained and the response is basically "Marie Curie do good work, people can say no"

I almost never say this, but honestly feel this is one of those times where it would be worth getting the press involved - especially given how much they love to cover this sort of thing

These chuggers are becoming like a pack of jackals and need to be stopped

Muckogy · 06/10/2015 12:11

complain to marie curie.

when i was a home carer for an old lady, this chugger strong-armed his way inside the house to set her up on a direct debit. she had alzheimers, would open the door to all and sundry and hand over her purse. it was very difficult to get him out of the house even after i explained her condition to him. he was very aggressive.
i later rang the organisation involved and complained to the chief director. the director took it VERY seriously. i think the guy was fired.

MyFavouriteClintonisGeorge · 06/10/2015 12:14

Take it further. Really, it isn't right.

Sockattack · 06/10/2015 12:33

Charity commission

FoodPorn · 06/10/2015 12:59

This is so inappropriate. I would be fuming. I cross the road to avoid chuggers so finding them in a waiting room would bring out the full on rude and angry in me Grin. To say that people can say "no" ignores how inappropriate it is to make sick and vulnerable people feel uncomfortable and pressurised in a place that they've gone to for care.

You should take this further. I think the next step would be to raise it with the local NHS trust but I'm not 100% sure. I would actually call the practice manager and ask who you should raise your complaint with if you want to escalate it.

Baconyum · 06/10/2015 15:22

OP who did you complain to? Needs to be practice manager at least I think initially then escalate as necessary plus I agree complain to Marie curie and cqc. I really think this should be illegal. Sorry the onus is on you OP though I would definitely feel happy contacting Marie curie myself if you were willing to say where this happened, even a county? Surely they could then check to see who exactly did this? You know what I'm just gonna contact them anyway and say I think targeting ill and vulnerable is well out of order.

Baconyum · 06/10/2015 15:29

Done! Awaiting feedback.

2rebecca · 06/10/2015 15:35

I think this is unreasonable. People are unwell and vulnerable in a GP waiting room. It's not an appropriate place for chuggers. I'd write to the practice about it. Why Marie Curie and not numerous other health related charities? The waiting room could be full of them and there are never enough chairs anyway!

Puzzledandpissedoff · 06/10/2015 15:50

Also just left feedback on their site, querying whether they consider this appropriate

Aeroflotgirl · 06/10/2015 15:54

I would complain to tge practice manager, this is unacceptable, in a place where people will be physically and mentally unwell.

PacificDogwod · 06/10/2015 15:55

Who did you get that response from, OP? Shock

Of course MC does good work, that does not make having a chugger in the waiting room any more appropriate.
I suspect you are best complaining to MC directly - I wonder whether they know that this is what's going on in that surgery?

Rhine · 06/10/2015 16:07

"Chugger" an offensive term? Since when? I think it's fair personally, although "emotionally absive, pushy twats" does sound better.

Starkswillriseagain · 06/10/2015 16:58

Lots of charities do good work, so should there be umpteen chuggers next week to represent them all?

Definitely complain higher, some sick people could be vulnerable and find it harder to say no.

TiredButFineODFOJ · 06/10/2015 18:00

This is deplorable. I think a complaint needs to be made to Marie Curie. Is this the future, now that there has been action taken over begging phonecalls instead you can be bothered at the Dr's?
I've been a street fundraiser (chugger) but this makes me really uncomfortable

Original poster
Doodlekitty · 07/10/2015 09:15

Sorry for delay replying. My response was from the practice manager. I'm going to complain to me today and I'll look into qcq. I was wondering if local councillor would be interested. I'm so happy I wasn't overreacting.

OP posts:
Original poster
Doodlekitty · 07/10/2015 09:17

And bacon I'm in Tyne and wear

OP posts:
Puzzledandpissedoff · 07/10/2015 11:10

I was wondering if local councillor would be interested

I imagine they'd simply love to pick this up and run with it. I don't doubt the excellent work some councillors do, but in my experience it's exactly the sort of touchy-feely community issue they use in their "look how much I care for you" campaign

2rebecca · 07/10/2015 12:50

I wouldn't involve councillors that sounds OTT. A brief letter to the PM is fine, then wait for a response.

horsewalksintoabar · 07/10/2015 12:58

She just needs to leave a collection pot with reception.
I doubt your GP even knew!
I was a receptionist in a surgery for many years and you'd be amazed at the number of people we had trying to do this sort of thing. I would just send them away the practice manager's number to discuss. "Call on Thursday when she's on duty and you can ask her if you can come in and perform a merry dance in front of the patients." A nice firm 'no' from upstairs is the best way forward. You should tell the practice manager.

That being said, Marie Curie is a worthy charity.

Dollymixtureyumyum · 07/10/2015 13:02

Thanks for complaining OP and taking this further. I work with people who have learning disabilities and the amount that get targeted by chuggers is disgusting. You can tell most of them have learning disabilities and they activily target them in town. We have got to the point now when most of them feel confident in town saying no but Most of them would find it even harder to say no in a doctors surgery

horsewalksintoabar · 07/10/2015 13:04

Oh just read ahead... your complaint should start and end with the practice manager. Complaining beyond the surgery will get you the title of "Chairman/woman of the Spare Time Committee". No one wants that title OP.

Put your energy into positive stuff. Now you're just beginning to look a bit mean spirited. It is Marie Curie after all- a very good charity and one many people give to regularly. And it's not like this annoying collector was that terrible. OTT, yes. Bad? No. You're really gunning for this lady. Confused

Puzzledandpissedoff · 07/10/2015 13:20

Can I just mention to those suggesting OP deals with the practice manager that this is exactly who the brush-off response was from??

It's not for any of us to tell posters what they must do of course, but personally I wouldn't be happy to leave it at that, especially as I can also echo dollymixture's experience of the very vulnerable being targeted. Nobody's suggesting that Marie Curie are anything other than an excellent charity, but even the the best should expect to be held to decent standards of behaviour

Sorry, but for me this just isn't it

Original poster
Doodlekitty · 07/10/2015 14:36

Just to be clear I'm not "gunning" for anyone. I support this charity and their right to fundraise. I support the woman in her right to earn a living working for this charity. Just not places like this. My mam is just the type of person who would be ill and would not go to the doctors "in case that woman is there" because she is slightly socially awkward and would struggle to say no.
I was perfectly happy to have my say to the practice manager until she totally fobbed me off

OP posts:
UncertainSmile · 07/10/2015 14:50

Put your energy into positive stuff. Now you're just beginning to look a bit mean spirited. It is Marie Curie after all- a very good charity and one many people give to regularly. And it's not like this annoying collector was that terrible. OTT, yes. Bad? No. You're really gunning for this lady.

Don't be so fucking ridiculous

FarFromAnyRoad · 07/10/2015 15:00

I'd be bloody gunning for anyone, chugger or otherwise, who made the Doctor's surgery a place where people dread going. And as the OP pointed out - her own mother is exactly the sort of person who would be affected like that. It's completely out of order and inappropriate and if it was my surgery I would be going all the way with this complaint.
Wishing you good luck OP - keep us updated please!