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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 · 09/10/2015 17:48

Are their chuggers still getting a generous commission for each person who sign's on to a direct debit? Because while that practice continues the chuggers will always push beyond the boundaries and their training

As mentioned, MC said their fundraisers are employed by themselves, though the way it's written isn't entirely clear. Whether that involves them receiving commission I couldn't say, as the website isn't very forthcoming on the issue

Personally I agree about the massive value of their work (I doubt anyone wouldn't) and have fundraised extensively for them in the past ... but I really can't admire this

UncertainSmile · 10/10/2015 20:51

Right, from now on they'll get fuck all from me.

Sockattack · 10/10/2015 21:21

Wow its not a mistake then. Well bye bye helping marie curie with any fundraising.

jorahmormont · 10/10/2015 21:31

I'm another one who will no longer be donating to Marie Curie as a result of this. Perhaps contacting them on Twitter, publicly, would spur them into reviewing this policy?

FloraFurball · 10/10/2015 21:31

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

giraffesCantDoThat · 10/10/2015 21:41

Disgusting

FloraFurball · 10/10/2015 22:11

I've tweeted them. Disgusted by this. Totally inappropriate and hugely insensitive.

SocksRock · 10/10/2015 22:21

What a terrible response from Marie Curie. I'm bolshy enough to not be bothered by this, but I would hate anyone to feel more vulnerable in place that should be safe. No money from me to them any more.

Baconyum · 10/10/2015 22:23

I've today received the same email. I've replied telling them how disgusted I am, that I will not be giving them any more donations (I'm not a direct debit donator but used to always donate whenever I came across a tin, or someone doing something sponsored for them, plus always bought their pins every year for me and dd. Maybe not much ££ but I'm thinking if they lost everyone that did this they would lose a fair chunk of support!).

I have also told them I'll be telling everyone I know and will be taking it up with my MP, fundraising authorities etc and I WILL!

I am SO FED UP of large charities preying on people and thinking its on because its for a 'good cause'!!! Angry

jorahmormont · 10/10/2015 22:27

Also tweeted them.

Baconyum · 10/10/2015 22:36

I'm so angry I've also already tweeted, placed a status on Facebook and emailed my MP. I am currently trying to find online who the most appropriate person regarding regulation and guidelines is to email. Utterly disgusted by this.

MNHQ would love to know your thoughts on this.

Doublebubblebubble · 10/10/2015 23:05

Well I've just read the whole thread. Chuggers make me (I am a healthy 28 year old) turn and run in the other direction. I couldn't imagine if I were a frail, vulnerable person in a fucking doctors surgery where I am at very least expecting to be safe and relaxed having to deal with them. I'm disappointed in both your surgery's response and MC but I am disgusted by what Marie curie has to say... I will not be donating to them in future Could someone (I dont have fb or twitter otherwise I would...) forward a copy of this thread to MC? A pp also mentioned about going to the press about this... I'm not sure what would happen but I sure it would kick up something - even if it were just the local gazette x

Baconyum · 10/10/2015 23:09

4 likes on my stat already one a nurse.

hiddenhome2 · 10/10/2015 23:10

They're disgusting to do this. I feel very angry. They don't have a fucking clue Angry

HelenaDove · 10/10/2015 23:23

Unfuckingbelievable Angry

HelenaDove · 10/10/2015 23:34

There could also very well be an ill person sitting in the surgery whose ESA has been sanctioned. Something like this could well be a final straw.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 11/10/2015 11:05

Could someone ... forward a copy of this thread to MC? A pp also mentioned about going to the press about this

I've already sent them a link to the thread - and while it was me who mentioned the press, I'll be away for 12 days from tonight so wouldn't be able to deal with it until I return

It seems to me one issue here is that they're such a worthwhile charity and I doubt anyone would want to compromise their good work. That said, surely even the best must be held to decent standards of behaviour ... as I said, it's a difficult one

hiddenhome2 · 11/10/2015 22:17

Chuggers in a waiting room full of sick and stressed people is a sickening thing regardless of which charity it is.

It's like something from a Monty Python sketch. It'd be funny if it wasn't so awful. A cancer support charity trying to get money from people, many of whom are undergoing tests for cancer or being treated for it.

"give us ya money 'cos you'll be needin' our services in a few months eh?"

Unbelievable.

OnlyLovers · 12/10/2015 10:52

Appalling. I'd write to Marie Curie's chief exec.

Whatevva · 12/10/2015 11:13

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34489206

I was reading this on the BBC website - it is a report by Trading standards saying that the average age of people falling victim to junk mail scamming is 74.

There has been a lot of concern recently about people who give regularly to charities being targeting by other charities with their details being passed on. It is an age group that is generous with charity and unfortunately there are a lot of vulnerable people who do not like to say no

Targetting in doctors surgeries implies legitimacy from a trusted source and makes it harder for these people to say no.

Charities can make much more money by signing up people for direct debits - just look at how many people do not cancel gym membership Hmm and how many scammers this works for. It is all arm twisting these days.

Events and coffee mornings and flag days raise very little money in comparison so things are changing. But they do provide people with a sense of community and something to do together and so are giving back as well.

I am not impressed with the reply at all.

jorahmormont · 12/10/2015 12:50

I've had a tweet from Marie Curie to say they are now reviewing their presence in GP surgeries in response to complaints.

Baconyum · 12/10/2015 13:08

I've had the same tweet. But I'm sceptical in light of their email response and the fact their response on twitter (public) is different to their response by email. We shall see.

purplemunkey · 12/10/2015 16:19

Delurking but have been following this.

Their copy and paste job to all tweets on this issue is very poor practice. I've worked in social media for brands and this kind of impersonal reply is very frowned upon. However, it at least shows that they are aware this complaint is gaining some momentum and they have been forced into addressing it.

Don't drop it though, they're probably hoping that complaints will just go away if they say they are 'reviewing' it.

giraffesCantDoThat · 12/10/2015 17:53

tweeted

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 12/10/2015 18:17

Could someone tweet someone like Jeremy vine? This would be excellent on his show as he has done several features on chuggers