To hope social distancing puts an end to chuggers?

[dancinguser]

Since moving to a large town 5 years ago I've grown to hate chuggers. No matter where in the town centre you shop it's almost guaranteed you'll run into at least one of them trying to get you to stop by shouting something along the lines of "you look like a nice person!" or "do you care about sick children?"

My method for dealing with them used to be walking just far enough out of their way that they couldn't stop me by law (by keeping over 3 steps away from them, walking within 3m of shop entrances). However after having several charities break these rules and one man even stand in front of me to make me stop I decided to not go out of my way to avoid them, and instead walk in my usual direction and ignore their existence (much to their annoyance).

AIBU for hoping that this is the end for charity muggers? With social distancing sticking around for a while I don't see how it's possible for them to do their job for the foreseeable future. I also think that our behaviours will be a lot different in the going forward even if we are clear of the virus. It's hard to imagine anyone would be happy with a complete stranger making a point to come into their personal space on the street.

@mnthrowaway20202 I don’t think she was being ‘dismissive’ merely saying what works for her...and me...and quite clearly from reading this thread, for many others 🤷‍♀️ Maybe you’re right though and ‘we’ just haven’t met the ‘weirdos’ yet (but I think living and working in Manchester I pretty much guarantee that I have!). Or maybe...and I’m going out on a limb here as I can only speak for myself, obviously...there really is something to be said about a ‘don’t fuck with me pal’ demeanour 😂

They boil my piss. Why would I want to hnd my bank details over in the street?

That would be good. I find them really difficult to deal with, because, as they correctly identify, I'm actually a nice person and hate telling them to go away.

I hate chuggers with a passion.
Ok, I don;t hate them personally. No one says to their careers teacher at school "hey, I wanna be a chugger when I leave school." It is a rubbish job they are doing while they waiting for a job after Uni or something. But I wish it would be banned. like cold calling in telesales. There may be jobs shortages, but surely there are alternatives to these intrusive (and probably low paid) jobs.

I am pretty sure they actualy put people OFF giving to charity. They do me, anyway. I don't want half the high street knowing my bank details!

I miss collecting tins. Then you could put a one time donation in. Not everyone can afford a direct debit per month.

I hope so. I’ve got direct debits to half a dozen small charities which I’ve researched & decided I want to support. I’ve got no intention of handing my bank details over just because of a spiel in the street.

My cousin recruits door to door knockers, she’s pulling out all the stops to gather new recruits by targeting those who have lost jobs due to CV. Though she barely discloses what the actual job is; it’s all about the team work and reaching your life goals, and of course the fun working environment She used to be a MLM hun before this - not sure which is worse tbh! She apparently loves it even though it’s 6 days p/w in different random areas across the UK and they are considered self employed so no sign ups = no earnings.

"I just don’t get how people can get so worked up about this stuff. Just give them a smile, say “not today”, and keep walking. Done."
Wish it was so easy - they grip your sleeve and pull you, hurl abuse at you (“so you are ok with people dying? as long as you are ok, b“.
i don’t give to any charity that employs them anymore, it has reduced my list of charities substantially

it didn't in my area

it's an almost constant stream of them. plus food bank people asking if we need anything (tbh, that's nice), plus university students asking us to fill in surveys.

I do too, OP.

We have a really nice local high street with a good selection of independent shops, a couple of small supermarkets, a butchery, fishmonger, bakery, deli, restaurants and cafes. It's lovely, one of the great things about living here. But when the chuggers are out in force I will drive past all that and on to the large superstore a bit further on, because i don't want to continually have to say no to people approaching me as I go about my shopping.

I've stopped giving to a lot of charities because I don't like behaviour like this. If accosted I just keep walking or say something offensive like that I don't give a shit about whatever they are talking about.

A lot of charities are more like big businesses now. DM signed up to donate £3 a month to a charity and she was constantly getting called to increase her donation, then she started getting letters from other charities asking for money.

They definitely target women and in particular older women. I think it's despicable.

I just feel sorry for anyone who has to do that for a living tbh.

I have never heard the term Chuggers before!
Learn something new every day..

If I've got nothing better to do I'll stop and talk to waste their time and stop them harassing other people in the street. They do tend to go for women, especially those with prams/children. I let them do their thing then tell them i wouldn't dream of handing my bank details over in the street. They get pissed off but it keeps them busy for a bit.

I had one stand in front of me and ask...

"Do you know anything about (insert condition)"?

My dd was being investigated for it at the time.

I will quite happily tell them to go fuck themselves.

I once saw one in my local high street accost a very elderly confused looking man...I actually stood and watched and was ready to tell chugger to fuck off and leave him alone but luckily the elderly man just wandered off.

Despicable

YANBU OP. I once stupidly gave a reason to one why i wasnt signing up and he proceeded to tell me why I was wrong. It was years ago but I still get the rage when I remember it.

Nowadays all they get is No thanks'

I completely ignore them, no eye contact despite them trying to get my attention "Lady in the pink jacket!" type comments.

They are highly corrosive. The constant demand for attention means that if someone legitimately needs my attention such as for directions or other help, I automatically view them with suspicion now rather than being immediately receptive to helping others. Chugging ought to be banned.

I remember having this debate with someone who said all work is a contribution and I said "what about chuggers?" and he was like "oh yeah"

I'd LOVE to see an end to chuggers/utility service hawkers. The aggressive tactics often equate to outright harassment. My city is riddled with the fuckers, who form a gauntlet all the way down the main shopping drag.

I usually give some sort of tasteless response. One that silenced an energy supply tout was:

Him: "Do you pay for your gas and electricity, darlin'?"

Me: "No no, my pimp takes care of all that."

Him: "Do you pay for your gas and electricity, darlin'?"

Me: "No no, my pimp takes care of all that."

I just feel sorry for anyone who has to do that for a living tbh

Nobody has to do that.

I’d happily see an end to chuggers - fortunately they’re restricted in my town now, as it got to a point where there were several sets of them fanned out across the pedestrian area, and you couldn’t avoid them.

I generally just put up a hand and ignore them but I had one ask me if I cared about dying children. I said no, which threw him long enough for me to get away.

Their new tactic is to knock on doors and I summon my best Margo Leadbetter when I tell them to get off my property

And yes, I do hope that a silver lining of covid is that they’re stopped. Sadly I don’t think they will - they’ll be back as soon as social distancing regulations lapse. A friend who works in fundraising says they know that people hate it but the charities carry on doing it because it does bring in the money...