Ambushed by charity workers

[Berrylove]

What’s a polite way that actually works to get the charity collectors on the streets to leave me alone?

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve given plenty to charity in my life, given food to homeless on my way hone from work etc. But now I’m a young mum struggling to make ends meet, my ability to ‘give’ has obviously changed. Not to mention on the rare occasion I do donate, whether it be to a charity or a busker, it’s a guarantee I’ll be asked for yet another donation only a minute walks away.
Yesterday in my city centre I was walking with my parter and dd, when a mental health awareness person came to ask for a donation, my partner gave to them, which is fine, but then only about 100ft away we were asked again by the same charity, and then again on the next corner! We told both we’d already given to the first guy but the last guy didn’t seem happy still.

I love the idea of charity but AIBU to be sick of being asked and people getting in my path stopping me in the street to ask? I’ve done the old sorry I don’t have any change as it’s just quick and easier than explaining I can’t afford to keep giving my money away to be then told they take card. (Said card guy also said minimum donation was £2.50, shouldn’t I get to choose the donation? He made me feel bad for not wanting to pay that much, I even said that it was a bit expensive for me).
If I gave to everyone that asked I’d need charity myself.

What do you guys do in these situations?

Don't make eye contact and deviate your course to avoid them. If they see you walking to the opposite side of a wide pavement to avoid them and still follow you, they are incredibly thick skinned! I find if I avoid eye contact I am left alone.

If one stepped out in front of me I'd just walk round them and carry on.

Isay no thank you and walk on if they are young men who pretend they are throwing me a cheeky grin I tut and just walk on ! There is no polite way they are paid to hassle you.

Just walk away. Don't give your bank details out in a public or pubic place.

@QuestionableMushroom - how awful for you, I hope you have someone with you supporting you physically and emotionally. It's crap.

@draftcatflap, crying with laughter. Thanks.

I got stopped the day I was made redundant. I told him but he still wanted my bank details! (a water charity)

Another one was for a child sponsorship charity - I told them that I already sponsor a child ‘well just sponsor another one!!!’ (Plan international)

A third tried to stop me as I was pushing a (rarely) sleeping DS along in his pram ‘I’m rushing to get him home, can’t stop!’ I said in a friendly way (this was a while ago) cheeky fucker bellowed after me “you don’t have to lie to me if you don’t want to speak to me!!!” (Red Cross).

I just say I'm in a hurry and keep walking. Same when they come to the door. I say I'm in the middle of something and can't talk. DP is a softy as he listens to the whole spiel. And then says no

Oh another option if they’re particularly persistent is to say ‘oh I already have a monthly donation set up for that!’ (Insert whichever charity name it is).

We give quite a bit to charities we believe in, but I just say no thanks to the ones in the shopping centre

Ignore or say no thanks. No eye contact and don’t slow down

Don't be polite

I had one leap in front of me and say 'lady who cares?' once. I snapped back 'lady who doesn't give a shit'.

That worked quite well although my posh colleague with me was open mouthed in shock. I agree you just have enough. At one point where I used to work you couldn't get to the sandwich shop without being ambushed by about 5 of them. If they were standing with a bucket Imwould probably keep some change in my hand and chuck it in but they want you to stand there for twenty minutes giving them your bank details so they can take every month and keep harassing you for more no doubt. No chance.

Blank them

You're under no obligation to speak to them and under no obligation to justify why you don't want to engage with them.

I once told one that I hate charity.

Or whatever the cause is say "brilliant, I'm affected by that, how can you, as a charity, help me?"

That'll shut them up

Where I live, we have one 4-day stretch a year where the volunteers for a particular charity stand in the middle of the road at intersections and solicit donations.

Apparently, this is also the weekend where many drivers have the ability to drive wiped from their brains. At 7am last week, at 2 consecutive intersections, drivers passed through the intersection and then jammed on their brakes so they could make a donation. The first time, it was a car, but the second one was a city bus!

I am gobsmacked that more of these speedhumps volunteers haven't been hit or killed.

I just buy most things online now. I don’t give to charities that test on animals either.

I don’t think I’ve been to a major city centre in 4 or 5 years actually.

I just carry on walking past and say, " no thanks." Dont get into a dialogue with them.

If everyone just walks on by and ignores them then eventually charities will stop using this immoral way of raising money. The only people I ever see signing up are old people who can’t run fast enough away from them. It’s despicable.

Depends on which type.

If it is the bucket collection, then they do not seem as aggressive. Either avoid eye contact, smile and keep walking or a 'no thank you' works.

If it is the sign up kind, my go to response is 'I do not give out my bank details to strangers in the street'.

I used to be polite but it doesn't work. Now they don't even get a "No thank you" it's just a stern "No!" and then ignore if they try to say anything else. Whatever their opening gambit is. "Do you like dogs?" "No." "Do you want to help children?" "No." "Do you care about the environment?" "No."

BTW I do like dogs, children (in the abstract at least) and the environment. But I'm damned if they're going to get to use emotional blackmail on me.

I give them a big smile, keep walking firmly and say 'I'm in a hurry, sorry.' Generally they seem to take it with good grace and say 'Have a nice day' and similar (although they probably mentally add 'bitch' )

I hate them too. I volunteer in a charity shop and the charity sometimes has chuggers in the city centre. I know they can't tell by looking at me that I work for a certain charity, but I get really offended when they ask me to contribute. Because I'm contributing FAR more already than they are by standing in the street harrassing people.

I said on here before, but I pretend to be French and I can't understand.
It's worked a few times now.

I do give to charities by the way, I also help where I can when I see homeless people. But I hate those Chuggers. The final straw for me was when one was opposite a young homeless woman, and I swerved him. He followed me and patted me on the shoulder asking me to donate to a dickey charity. I said no.
He then saw me give a fiver to the homeless woman and shouted at me "oh so you don't care about donkeys but you can donate to another charity" trying to shame me.
I walked straight back up to him and said that frankly, I didn't give a shit about fucking donkeys when there are homeless people and hungry children who are vulnerable on every street.

He stood with his gob open as I walked away. I did actually report him to his charity who half heartedly apologised.

We get them knocking on the door at gone 9pm as well here. They get told what for.

@JaniceBattersby

I agree with you especially about the old people. I once saw a chugger speaking to an incredibly frail and confused looking elderly man. I actually stood close and watched the whole thing...and I was ready to intervene but luckily the man ended up walking off and the chugger got no details.

Oh and I reserve a special loathing for the people who stand in my local high street and say "I'm not selling anything... who supplies your energy?" First, don't lie to me that you're not selling anything because you sure as hell aren't standing in the cold for the good of your health.
Second, do I look thick enough to change my energy supplier without researching because some numpty jumps out in front of me on the way to the chemist? JUST FUCK OFF and get a proper job.