To think those high pressure charity street fundraisers should be banned

[startrekk]

This isn't really something I have given much thought to until recently. I always just avoid all contact and walk past the charity fundraisers quickly, ensuring I don't get caught listening to their hard sell.

However recently in the small village where I live there have been a team of around 5 and they are stood apart from each other pretty much blocking the main high street meaning you have to actually ask them to get out of the way as they have taken to hovering in front of you as you get close. I've had them pretend I have dropped something in order to get my attention and comment on my outfit or shopping bags as I've gone past.

I feel sorry for the small independent coffee shop that is located in the spot they have chosen to stand, as everyone avoids this path like the plague now and goes along the path further down.

I know it raises money for charity but I don't feel that is a good enough reason for these high pressure sales tactics to be allowed. There's nothing wrong with standing with a bucket and hoping people give change, but this is just ridiculous! I'd love to know where they learn their 'techniques' for selling.

AIBU? Anyone else who can't stand charity street fundraisers (charity muggers)?

They scream at me from across are
local high street, I find it really embarrasing. Always scream “mum” or worse “mummy” at me because I have my kids with me, to get my attention. I ignore.

Yes.

Charitable giving is a choice and the charity should be a choice too.

They get commission from signing up direct debits hence eagerness to collar you in the street

They are in Liverpool ☺ only useful thing our knob of a Mayor ever did.

hate them with a passion

completely lost my rag with one who stepped across to me while I was trying to catch a bus - it was evening rush hour, Tottenham Court Road.

if you are on social media, do make a complaint. This one burst into tears when I told her I was going to complain - I can imagine it's a shit job to do but if we don't complain, there's no way their behaviour will get any better.

They are the reason I avoid town

Big issue hard sell too

Then leaflets distributors...sky tv...all too much

YANBU, and it’s often people who really can’t afford it who are vulnerable to being pressured into signing up.

I totally agree. They should be banned. Hate them with a passion.

i just tell them i dont have any money spare and im on my way somewhere so please go away they get the message and when they try to do the but but i just walk off i dont care if its rude i choose which charity i give to not them

There are lots of regulations around public fundraising, for example they are not allowed to obstruct your path or follow you for more than three steps. You should always report those who you feel are behaving unprofessionally, as there are some really amazing fundraisers out there and also incredibly charities doing great work.

Charities are under so much pressure right now and are under tighter scrutiny than most organisations. Face to face fundraising is an excellent income stream and saves millions of lives every year. It's a shame that poor management and badly behaved fundraisers give it a bad name.

I've seen some bad fundraisers before and made a point to report them to the charity and the Fundraising Regulator. But I've also seen some wonderful, dedicated people (who don't work on commission - not all of them do!).

Give the charities your feedback on your experience - they need to know if they're annoying more people than they're inspiring!

They have started popping up here in Germany too. Do they think my head zips up the back - no way I’m giving my bank details to someone in the street!

I've taken to just answering everything they say with no.

"Can I talk to you?"
"No"

"Do you want to save starving children?"
"No"

I've also emailed charities that use them to state I'm not donating to them because they hire those dicks. Best way for us all tp tackle it imo.

They don’t bother me. They’re only doing a job

Please report them. I have worked for charities this is not on. It gives the charity such a bad name.

I heard one on the phone to her mum once, after she’d finished her shift for the day. She was all happy and upbeat, the way they are, going “Oh I’m having a fantastic time and meeting loads of great people!” but her face told a different story. I’ve always felt a bit more sympathetic towards them since then. When they approach me I just smile and say, “Sorry, got to get back to work!”

Agree with PartridgeJoan - report persistent chuggers, in many places they are banned.

Report to the charity concerned and if they are one you already donate to then tell them you will stop supporting them.

When my way is blocked by chuggers I ask for their name and ask them how much commission they get for each person signing up to a DD. They invariably lie, I report them to the charity and tell them I will be sharing my experience to warn others.

I've seen so many of my DM's peers bullied into signing these agreements by chuggers that I find the whole species loathsome.

I loathe them, and it does put me off walking along certain routes.

YANBU.

I have social anxiety and find it very difficult to be firm and say "no" so generally try to be polite and make an excuse.

Someone from Shelter cornered me one day and put alot of pressure on me, I tried telling him I had left my bank card at home so didn't have access to my details. He asked what bank I was with and I stupidly told him, he suggested I went in and got my details from them so I could pass them on. I was so nervous I went along with it and he actually follwed me to the door of the bank.

I ended up going into the bloody bank and having to leave out the other exit for the car park to avoid him.

Since then I'm alot better at simply ignoring them and walking past quickly.

A man from the Teenage Cancer Trust knocked my door at 8pm one Friday, I said “I’m so sorry it’s been a long week and I can’t afford to give anything, so sorry” and went to close the door. He shouted “Well teenagers don’t stop getting cancer just because it’s a Friday night and we all wish we were home with our families too”. I was so shocked I mumbled “that’s not nice” and closed the door.

They make me feel so guilty. There’s a woman who sells The Big Issue and I dread having to pass her because she asks me to buy, if I say I don’t have any change she will reply that she has change.

Thewifipasswordis I never knew that and visit Liverpool regularly! What a good idea. In the (very small) town I previously lived in, I used to almost get run over by dashing across the main road to avoid them.

I also read that they’re not allowed to stop you if you’re wearing a uniform. Not sure if it’s true though.

One absolutely yelled at me the other day "Oy lady in the sparkly top"

I do not wish to be screamed at by a chav in the street. Awful it was. What a wrong with good old excuse me??

I thought there were rules about how invasive they can be in the street? Defo worth a complaint to the charity and to council.

I've found avoiding eye contact is the best way to avoid them but some of them don't take the hint and will shout at you normally with a fake jovial voice, a compliment and the comes the "I'm not trying to sell you something" line.
I always say that I don't give my personal details on the street and give to charity in other ways.

What annoys me the most is when they target elderly people and those who are clearly vulnerable.
The door to door ones get told as soon as I open the door. Had one once who started going on about autism and did I know anything about it etc etc. Funnily enough i do as have a ds with autism and it threw him, didn't expect that I suppose. Piss off.

@MissCharleyP somehow some have started up again on Bold St recently but they get away with it as they don't give out flyers I think (banned also).

I had 'ARE YOU THE LADY THAT IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING AMAZING TODAY?' yelled at me.

Ugh.

At least they seem to wear red tabards so they can be avoided from a distance.

We call them charity scalpers. They can all sod off. We give to a few charities and don't need some teenager trying to persuade us to give mor elf our wages every month to a cause they don't even support themselves.