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?

@Eggies

"I'm really sorry, I know you're looking for donations to this wonderful and deserving charity, but the trouble is I don't speak any English" - in your regular English voice.

LOL. I am so totally going to do that next time!

nowadays even the tin rattlers get paid - unless they are the local hospice nun - they get to keep the first 30 quid in the bucket.

youth of today. I used to shake a tin for free.

Why are so many people suggesting that you thank them? Wise up. No need to say ‘no thank you’, they’re corporate employees, preying on the meek, dismiss them. They usually behave like trash, intimidating women, treat them as such. I donate to worthy actual charities that I care about, none of which use these street harassers.

I never give to random street charity collection. How do you even know they are legitimate? If you want to give to charity, investigate the organization and give what you can afford when you can afford it.

Simpering ‘no thank you, I’m going to justify myself to some corporate employee who’s harassing me in the street:’. Stop this shit. It’s feeding off the assumption that women will pander to and appease street harassers, that we must look pleasing, be amenable, apologise, offer up excuses, fuck that. Some cock is demanding you provide your BANK DETAILS (not a ‘donation’), in a wankerish manner? And you say ‘sorry’ to them? Say ‘nahh’ without breaking pace, ignore them entirely, tell them to fuck off, they could work any number of other jobs where they don’t intimidate and harass the public, I remember what ‘charities’ (what is a ‘charity’s’?!) use these scum tactics and never give them money ever again.

You say:

"Are you a volunteer?"

99.99% chance they won't be. They aren't allowed to lie about that. Watch them try to squirm their way out of it. Then you say, "Oh well in that case, sorry, not today" and walk off.

As a middle aged woman, I flirt with them if they're young, ask if they fancy a drink and generally frighten the shit out of them by doing a very good ‘Patsy from Ab Fab’ impression. Very amusing to see how thrown they are.

If they're old, I just say no, I don't care about children, dolphins, old people, cancer etc..

It must be a bloody awful job and I am never rude, I just smile and say a very firm ‘no thank you’ and walk on. I had a woman from the RSPCA knock on my door the other day. Spotted my cat and thought she had a way in. Again, I’m sorry but not today and closed the door. I do wish charities would wise up to the fact that people HATE being chugged.

If I am actaully stopped (I have an "effective fuck off, don't dare stop me" face), I say that I work in the sector and either don't consider that that particular charity is well managed, or that I don't approve of the fundraising model.
Another tack is to say that I wouldn't dream of making a regular donation to a charity without reading the accounts - if someone persists (only happened once!) I ask them a really nerdy finance question.

Works every time!

I answer “no thank you” to questions when that reply makes no sense at all. This tactic also works in Lush 😂

For example, “do you like dogs?” - “no thank you”
“I really like your coat!” - “no thank you”

I threw the guy in Lush the other day as it made sense the first time and not the second...
“Can I help you today?” - “no thank you” (seconds later)
“Have you tried our shower stuff before?” - “no thank you”

They look confused long enough to just walk away from

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

Why do you need to be polite?

I opened the door to a chugger who said "Hello, you look tired!"
I shut the door.

I got ambushed by one on the way in and one on the way out of my high st. In town yesterday. I just say "no thanks" but still heard them trying to pursue it "it will only take a minute". Will it fuck.

This high street is dying, with shops closing and visitors dwindling. I feel like writing to the town centre manager to say that while I want to support the town, this puts me off visiting.

I noticed they were only stopping women and not men. Do they think women are soft touches? Does that happen in training?

Target women on their own. Ask them if they care about dying children/animals..tell them their hair looks nice, ask them to smile for you. Call them "miss". Women are socialised to be nice and they exploit that.

They don't pull that shit with men do they? Imagine: "Sir, smile for me" "That's a nice coloured jacket, sir"

I have very little time to go shopping. I'm always on a deadline with kids or work, so usually rushing about. My time is precious so stop invading my space!

I walk with purpose, don't make eye contact, and don't stop.

There is no obligation on me to explain or make excuses as to why I don't want to donate to their cause. I have set up direct debits to my own chosen charities, and I specifically avoid any that use street harassment to raise funds.

If they are persistent and place themselves in front of me, I say "no", and walk around them. Stopping people in the street isn't polite, so I'm under no obligation to be polite to them.

Tell them you’re under 18.
They can’t then continue to talk to you.

I am very clearly over 25. I always say “sorry I’m under 18” and walk away. It a) baffles them. But b) they never ever have a come back to it.

My 60+ dad did it at the weekend. Their face was a picture. They still didn’t challenge him!

I ignore and keep walking. I avoid eye contact and if they do talk to me I say no thank you. DH sometimes stops for them, but I just leave him to it and keep going. I do the same with the Mormons who try and stop me.

I feel you. No advice but I've starting boycotting shops that do it. Had a similar experience last weekend, every few yards getting stopped, so when I went in to a store and they started yet more spiel about the charity they was supporting I left my goods on the counter and walked out.

They are a pushy bunch. I'll give if I feel like it? Simple as that. Many of these charities are racking the cash in, paying their executive staff a fortune. Do I want to contribute to their CEO's salary? I don't. Charity starts at home.

I’m always polite because I don’t enjoy being rude. I just say I’m late for a meeting, without slowing down or stopping. If they do manage to stop me, I say, “Just so you know, I never ever sign up to anything on the spur of the moment.” Seems to do the trick.

I started a thread about this a while ago. My local small co-op allows chuggers to stand inside the shop. I’ve started to dread going there.

If you can see you are approaching one, put your phone up to your ear and look like you're talking to someone. They won't come near you. I learned this was the best method to avoid my being rude having had two encounters with chuggers that annoyed me.

One once literally jumped in front of me and said "you're looking very smiley today mate" and I said "Don't talk bollocks, because I'm clearly not smiling, and if you were my mate, you'd know why I wasn't smiling and not to call me mate, you unwashed wankbadger".

I started a thread about this a while ago. My local small co-op allows chuggers to stand inside the shop. I’ve started to dread going there.

I've noticed our have too. I smile politely and say hello as I walk past and then have a good day as I leave so they don't get the opportunity to speak! But it does piss me off.

I do similar to the PP who is wanting a large poo. I am always on my way to the toilet and tell them so.

‘Can I have a minute of your time’. If bored I stop, let them get into midspeel then say ‘your minute is up’ and walk off again.

I like the idea of saying I am under 18, I clearly am not.

If addressed as “madam”, “miss” or “love”, you can just look incredulous and say “Did you just assume my gender?!”

They won’t know what to say, giving you time to make your escape!

Dog charities - "I'm a cat person"
Cat charities - I already support " (Cats Protection kitten)
Other charities "I'm a volunteer, I give my time". (Girlguiding).