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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to shut the door on chuggers?

111 replies

LittleSausageFingers · 09/12/2016 16:13

Apologies if this has been done to death.

We've had a spate of chuggers knocking on recently and it's doing my head in. They tend to knock at 5ish, almost always when I'm giving DD her tea so I've had to drag her from the high chair to the door to answer. I know that of course I could just not answer, but I've done almost all my Christmas shopping online this year and we're getting a lot of packages. I don't want to miss them and have to go collect them.

I've no problem with walking past chuggers in the street with a 'no, thanks', but it's so much more intrusive at the door, and they don't seem to take the hint that it's a bad time, even with a food splattered baby on my hip. So AIBU to say 'no, thanks' and shut the door in their face?! I generally cut them off quickly and explain that I don't want to waste their time, but I am not going to donate to them/sign up because I don't agree in principle with door-to-door chugging, and it's nothing personal or against the charity. Which is fine, and doesn't take me long to say, but some of them are very persistent.

OP posts:
Shiningexample · 09/12/2016 18:56

This collecting of UK bank details for charity giving
I was caught by a chugger once several years ago, he asked for my bank details,
wtf
give my bank details to some person in the street
who does that??

Ladydepp · 09/12/2016 18:58

We have had a few scams round our area and it has completely put me off. We also have people trying to sell things ("I've just got out of prison..."). I now just say "sorry I don't buy anything at the door" and for chuggers "I support several charities already" and then close the door.

They are SO annoying.

wotsitsorcheetos · 09/12/2016 18:59

We had Jehovah's witnesses knock on our door on CHRISTMAS FUCKING DAY!!! I told them to do one and not to dare bothering my neighbours who are either elderly and would be frightened by strange knocking on this one particular day of the year or there would be families not interested in your rubbish.

Itchyclit · 09/12/2016 19:02

Tell them to fuck off.

lilyb84 · 09/12/2016 19:02

I hate being asked in the street or at my door, but I don't understand the amount of ire directed at the chuggers themselves. There are enough posts on here from people in dire situations who are promptly told to get a job - any job - and I imagine many of the people employed to do this have done just that! Don't blame the employees, blame the charities and agencies who condone this type of activity. I work for a charity and I know 'we' have door-to-door fundraisers employed by agencies on our behalf as I often have friends and family telling me about the usually less-than-delightful experiences they've had with one of them (incidentally I don't even work in fundraising so have no direct link to this myself).

These are tough times for charities so I guess they do whatever they need to to raise funds, but we as a population need to start making it clear these methods aren't appropriate any more.

Becca19962014 · 09/12/2016 19:08

lily I think the problem is they can be rude, intimidating and, in my case, lack of understand that people can be unable to afford to give no matter what the charity is. They should accept this and move on. It's hard for a lot of people.

I too have been told if I was in a hurry or needed to be somewhere I'd be walking faster - I can't! If I could I would.

Becca19962014 · 09/12/2016 19:09

(I'm not suggesting you are like that)

I've complained repeatedly but nothing really changes.

BlessYourCottonSocks · 09/12/2016 19:09

I understood it was illegal to either approach people or rattle a tin at them in the street - I know when my Ma collected for a local charity (and roped me into doing her shift one day when she was poorly) she gave me STRICT instructions about it, making me swear not to do any of this. You just have to stand outside a shop with a fixed and hopeful smile on your face apparently...

Anyway - this now means that if I'm targeted by tin rattlers in the street I always state loudly 'It is against the law for you to approach people and ask for charity donations and I object to it' - but then I'm a stroppy cow.

lilyb84 · 09/12/2016 19:22

Becca you're right of course, there's no excuse for the unacceptable behaviour of some of these staff - I should have said that! I guess I just meant that overall the issue isn't with the chuggers but with the system.

Pretty shocked to hear some of the stories here tbh, I'd be raging if anyone said anything similar to me!

Oh, and I'm not a chugger, I work in marketing - a whole different kind of evil Wink

Sybys · 09/12/2016 19:35

I did door to door chugging for a while. Tough job, and it was a flat wage, but if you didn't get enough sign-ups you would be let go. I apologetically interrupt them and turn them away these days, explaining that I already donate regularly to a couple of charities and am at my limit.

ScarletForYa · 09/12/2016 19:37

Yabu to open the door to them in the first place.

Becca19962014 · 09/12/2016 19:38

lily it's ok, I know it's with the system, and actually I even understand they are people doing a job and in a difficult situation. But, I'm fed up of being used as a soft target because I am disabled.

Marketing... Oh dear... Good luck with that Wink

bless it is against the law but it doesn't stop people doing it unfortunately. That is until they get seen and get into serious trouble for it.

ChickenVindaloo2 · 09/12/2016 20:41

Don't open the door until you know who it is. Especially alone with a baby.

formerbabe · 09/12/2016 21:00

Don't open the door until you know who it is. Especially alone with a baby.

Absolutely agree. I'm amazed how many people open their doors without knowing whose on the other side, especially if you're not expecting someone.

DailyMailyFaily · 09/12/2016 21:05

Putting a sign up worked really well for us. It's small and tasteful. I still get the occasional chugger but they tend not to be from the bigger charities but from the ones that claim to be ex-cons who are wanting to sell cleaning items. I just point at the sign and close the door.

WoopityBoopity2 · 09/12/2016 21:16

We've had them after 8pm before, and I gave them a speech about the time and why it was inappropriate and damn wrong to be waking up children. I'd have just ignored that one, but he knocked so loudly I had to answer it incase he knocked again

MerylPeril · 09/12/2016 21:31

I answered the door once when I had a vomiting child - you could hear her crying. It was fairly late already - so I told them I had a poorly child and I wasn't interested.
'Can I come back later'.....slammed the door.
They are all thoughtless fucking students here.

I will never ever ever ever sign up to a chugger. They are wasting their time. People need to stop signing with them and do it independently themselves if they do want to give. Otherwise they are never going to fuck off.

We did sign up on the doorstep with someone from the local hospice as I do know they are all unpaid. volunteers.

user1471545174 · 09/12/2016 21:41

I had a dishcloth guy start on his hard-luck story recently and stop when DH spotted my expression and came out to the front door - it makes me think they only try this on women. It was vaguely threatening.

Normally I say immediately that I don't buy at the door. If alone I don't even answer it (unless it's a neighbour).

IJustWantABrew · 09/12/2016 21:44

For those asking - yes they do get paid, either a salary or commission only. I used to do this during my student days and it's the worst job ever! The charity I worked for had 2 payment plans either £6 or £8 per month. The charity would pay the company doing the fundraising about £40 for a £6 direct debit and about £60 for an £8 direct debit. The door to door seller would then get paid about £5/£7 for every 'successful' person they signed up. So as you can see you get fuck all for walking up and down a street for 8 hours a day! We would normally sign up 2/3 people per day, but then you would have people who didn't give the correct info so you wouldn't get paid on them. The amount of people signed up will vary on area obviously.
Most people would sign up for on average about 3 years so the charity get back that initial investment they pay the company.
The door to door people don't usually work for the charity they will work for a 3rd party company.
They are allowed to canvass up to and including 8pm.
Just get a sticker for your door saying no cold callers and if they do knock (which they shouldn't) report them to the charity. They charity take it really seriously and the company won't be allowed to work on behalf of the charity. The company have to have a 'licence' to work in a given area. Or just don't answer the door.

Suttonmum1 · 09/12/2016 21:49

I am completely convinced the dish cloth sellers (aka Nottingham knockers - google it for the truth behind them) really only try it on with women. Every one I have had call has become abusive and started swearing no matter what approach I take to saying no. My husband has never had the same sort of behaviour.

KingJoffreysRestingCuntface · 09/12/2016 22:45

I love how the dishcloth guys buy white from Poundland but sell it on for £4.

If it actually works it's a bloody good profit. No tax, either. I'd try it if I could be arsed.

I imagine most of these callers are scammers, anyway. Anyone can knock up an ID on a computer. When they offer to show you identification it literally means nothing.

Powergower · 09/12/2016 22:50

The ex offenders ate definitely the scariest. We've had lots recently and it's because someone on the street bought a long duster and the street must have been marked as a soft target. They always look rough and are very persistent and often intimidating.

mummyofmoomoos · 09/12/2016 23:18

I read it as shut the door on cheggers, was thinking what is keith chegwin playing at now- must have a spot on my glasses- sigh...

MyWineTime · 09/12/2016 23:29

The No Cold Caller Sign has drastically cut down on the number of calls we get. There are still some who ignore it or think it doesn't apply to them but then I just point to it and close the door.

Don't open the door until you know who it is. Especially alone with a baby.
Why?

ForalltheSaints · 10/12/2016 07:06

Of course you can say no. if it is one charity that is largely responsible then complain to them as well.

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