To think charity street fundraisers should be banned?

[Tittletatt]

Not the ones who just have a pot and are asking for small change. The commission earning, high pressure ones employed to pressure you into a direct debit.
My friend in desperation applied to be one and said they were trained in all sorts of manipulative sales techniques and even told to pretend people had dropped money to get their attention.
Apologies if this has been done before but some new ones have just set up in my town. You physically have to move out of their way as they block your path trying to engage you and I just can’t believe they’re still legal.

I just look them straight in the eye and ignore them when they try and interact with me. It takes a bit of getting used to, but works wonderfully.

A lot of the ones near me use this creepy flirtatious tone too.

I gave up supporting Greenpeace many years ago.

YANBU. Also utility suppliers.

Some near me have been withdrawn by their charity due to complaints. They had been using their job to hassle teenage girls.

I have to say that surprises me. Not that they were being arses, but that the charity took the complaints seriously. Good for them.

I always just say “I’m a student I have no money” and walk off. I’m 30 next year so not sure how much longer I’ll get away with that 😂

I've complained about the door to door ones. I live in the middle of a large council estate, on a cul-de-sac built for OAPs and people with mobility problems.

One local charity has actually marked the road as not to be called on, after a couple of years I did get another one knock o my door, I emailed the charity again and got an apology, they have not been back.

I'm a sign language user and I may have signed at a couple in the past that throws them.

At the end of the day they are just trying to earn a living and make money for charity at the same time, and usually a polite no thank you gets rid of most of them, but I dont like the really pushy ones and I dont like charities aggressively spending on professional fundraising. I prefer to donate to smaller charities with lower overheads as a result.

At the end of the day they are just trying to earn a living

Well they can do that without being arseholes. The number of chuggers I’ve met that back off from a polite, “No, thank you” could be counted on the finger of one finger.

We have some really aggressive RNIB ones that I have to walk past a couple of times most days. I ignore them but in return get followed along the along the street with them shouting at me.

I don’t understand how it is allowed.

Idon’t understand how it’s allowed

It’s not, but they ignore the law until it gets reported: www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19316167

The number of chuggers I’ve met that back off from a polite, “No, thank you” could be counted on the finger of one finger.

That's because they get fired pretty quickly if they don't make commissions!

What I can't understand is how they can possibly break even. The only reason anyone does it is that it's got a far higher hourly rate than any other casual work a student might seek (or, it was 10 years ago at least), they seem to employ them in huge numbers, and I don't know a single adult person in London who hasn't got their avoidance strategy down. I'd be surprised if each staff member got more than two sign-ups per shift - how on earth do the number work?

If I’m in a particularly contrary mood , I’ll stop and chat to them . Then I’ll walk off.
Prevents a more vulnerable person being taken advantage of . They’re deplorable!

Good point Purpletigers!

@MerryBerryCheesecake I spat my coffee over my keyboard at that. Now I can't stop imagining a line of bibbed up chuggers waiting to stop DOnald Trump for a "bumlove"

Quim Actually, it really does work, because people rarely cancel direct debits. As a fundraising strategy, it has extremely high start up costs (often a chugging strategy doesn't break even for 2-3 years) but thereafter, you have zero costs and a very long "half life" on donor cancellations. You also have a database who you can draw on for one off appeals/ DD uplifts etc. So on a "net present value" basis, for charities that have what is called "broad retail donor appeal" (basically things like kids with cancer and donkeys) it is effective. That's why they do it.

That said, as a funder in this sector, I am not a fan. I think it brings the sector into disrepute and if charities can afford the upfront costs, there are probably better ways for them to spend the money at that time.

I agree, people would rather just keep up the direct debit than cancel, like the gym.

Brighton and hove used to be swapped with chuggers. They would be in the doorways of practically every shop and cafe in the main shopping areas.
After many complaints the council has now set down a code of conduct and limited the areas where they are allow. ( none in the Brighton lanes) there is still quite a large number around the shops outside Churchill square but are no too aggressive and a polite no thanks seems to send them on their way.
I am very fussy which charity’s I support. The charity I support receives a standing order each month and a little extra at Christmas. I don’t give to street collections or door knockers. Nor will I sponsor anyone’s child to go build a school in Kenya.

I honestly cannot believe that in this day and age they are obviously still being successful enough with this method of fundraising that it's worth continuing. I mean who gives their bank details to a random charity twat in the middle of the street?

LEELULUMPKIN Tue 13-Aug-19 13:54:11

My DH is not vulnerable just daft. We get yearly updates from his Elephant. We could have visited the bugger 3 times over what he forks out.

I just completely ignore them talking to me and carry on walking. If I want to be extra petty I will look them directly in the eyes whilst walking away so they know I'm doing it on purpose.

There's no way I'd be moving away from where I want to go just because they're nearby.

they get fired pretty quickly if they don't make commissions

I'm sure they do, but if someone's already said no it beats me how hassling them, blocking their way or even following them down a street is going to persuade them to change their minds

Sooner or later they'll shoot themselves in the foot with this; the donations will dry up, as will most of their public sympathy (especially with the increasing excesses of the industry's CEOs). Just so long as they don't expect me to listen to their whining when it happens ...

I agree Puzzled, intimidation tactics will surely never work. Either someone has the self-assurance to brush them off in the first place, and won't be persuaded by them being a knob, or they're too shy / anxious / vulnerable to ignore them in the first place. It's hopeless.

I've just braved the dreaded Tottenham Court Rd and had one stand in my path gesturing wildly at me to take my earphones out, mouthing "EARPHONES, EARPHONES". Fuck off

Sooner or later they'll shoot themselves in the foot with this; the donations will dry up, as will most of their public sympathy (especially with the increasing excesses of the industry's CEOs).

I hope so, but I'm amazed it hasn't happened already.

soulrunner I guess that makes sense. The sheer number of them earning £80 or so a day I'd think they'd be losing money hand over fist, but I guess if people end up giving £120 or so year after year, it evens out. I'm surprised there's any left over for the actual cause though

Churglars are literally 90% of the reason I had an intercom installed. My husband always forgets we have it and goes straight to the door and gets stung, the idiot. One time I was in the bath and overheard him through the window getting buttonholed by one for ages (secretly chuckling at what an idiot he is for forgetting about the intercom), then when he finally got rid of the person, thirty seconds later the downstairs doorbell rang and I heard him go barrelling down to answer to the exact same guy (it's not obvious it's two entrances to the same property) No sympathy!