To think charities shouldn't do this?

[Chromatographer]

I live in a small/medium sized town of about 35,000 people.

Generally speaking, the most expensive houses are in two areas near the centre. I live in one of these areas (relevant).

In the past 2 months, we've had at least 8 charity envelopes dropped through the door, and then someone comes round to collect them. We've had the local town charity, Christian aid, a local hospice, and several other national charities.

I wouldn't mind one or two, but it just gets annoying after a while. I never have any cash on me in the evenings, and I have to root around to try to find a few coins. And then they always want you to giftaid, so it takes ages, when I'm often in the middle of something else like the kids' tea,

While giftaiding an envelope yesterday, I asked the lady who had come to collect it how they find enough people to give out and collect envelopes from the whole town. She said, "Oh, we don't, we just do my area and the other expensive area".

AIBU to be annoyed by this? Just because people are living in more expensive houses, doesn't mean they have more spare cash. Often they need the extra bedrooms because they have bigger families, or (like us) have a humongous mortgage.

Would it be unreasonable to refuse to return any more charity envelopes? I just feel like they're taking advantage of us.

I think you're suffering from an acute case of first world problems op....

We get the charity bags through the door at least two or three times a week.

They make great bin bags - very few of them are for genuine charities. We are definitely targeted as an affluent area.

How dare they inconvenience us! Don't they know how difficult our lives are? How would the Africans and the homeless like it if we went around giving them envelopes every week?? The cheek of it!

The small print on the back of those plastic charity clothing bags makes interesting reading. They are almost always commercial companies promising to pay a proportion of the profit over to the charity but usually they make sure that there is no profit. Once they've paid themselves fat salaries and taken all their expenses out, there's not a lot left.

Chuggers coming to my door find me shouting 'Smithers, release the hounds!'

Haven't seen those envelopes for years, I had forgotten about them. Used to leave them on the side and ignore the door or put them on the doorstep (sealed) under something to hold them in place where they could be seen and collected (or stolen). Imagined the disappointment when they were opened and found to be empty

The plastic bags for the charities that are mostly not charities at all but clothing re-sellers or thieves get put in a pile, turned inside out and filled with donations to a shop or animal sanctuary of my choice. That way I know where it goes to.

How dare they inconvenience us! Don't they know how difficult our lives are? How would the Africans and the homeless like it if we went around giving them envelopes every week?? The cheek of it!

actually, people have a right to live in peace and not be disturbed by unwanted callers. If you fall for the scams and give to some random knocking at your door it's your problem, but I agree that charities have better ways to raise money, the real ones at least.
I never give to anyone who comes to my house on principle.

Again, I make an exception for our local kids - in school or various club uniforms. They are local, they ask local people, it's a community thing.

I work with a few charities and am not a fan of door to door collections. These are usually done by outside companies that are hired by the charity and they are quite expensive in my opinion. Its very likely that all these envelopes you are getting are distributed by the same company so by giving them money you are encouraging them to come back.

I suggest you note down the charity if its a cause you would like to support and give through their website or phone number.

Christian aid envelopes are distributed and collected by volunteers from the congregations of local churches.

You don’t have to open the door, you know.

Just put the envelope so it is sticking out of you letterbox, then you dont have to engage with them

Entirely reasonable to say you don't give at the door and your charitable giving is already in place