Aibu that they make me uneasy.

[Tevion28]

I'm talking about gas and electric sales people standing in supermarket doorways, in the town etc etc not just these but charities etc
Something about them makes me very uncomfortable and I desperately try to avoid eye contact and even walk the other way.

CSIblonde I wouldn't have stood for that I would have reported them

Utilities peddlers:
"My brother is on the main board at Eon, I get all my electricity and gas for free" (they're not). I use the same tactic for Broadband (Vodafone). It has flummoxed every single one so far.
Breakdown services "I'm already with" whoever they're flogging
Sky TV etc can't help myself there "I use IPTV aps and steal it all for free" that shuts them up pretty quickly.

I agree with “no thank you, smile, walk past with no further response”

But I also agree OP that it creates an extra bit of hassle and anxiety in my day which didn’t need to be there. The fact they are nicknamed “chuggers” tells you that others feel the same. It feels like running the gauntlet especially when there are several of them clustered to catch people pincer style.

Bloody horrible

I tell them l rent and my Landlord's decide which provider

HATE them, I always do a scan and if I see one, take out my phone.

@CSIblonde

Pre Covid I did a "sorry, no thank you" to some teen girls in the local Private School's uniform , "doing a survey" (?). They were around 15/16, I guess. They called me a C*. I have social anxiety too, so I was a bit shaken. I don't say anything now to charity or survey people.

I would have contacted the school to let them know. I know our school would take an incredibly dim view of students behaving like that.

I don't engage. I put up my hand and shake my head, not making eye contact. If they remain in my way (which the real cunty ones do) I say "leave me alone". Most of them are a bit shocked as they rely on social norms that you're supposed to act friendly.

To be frank anyone who is involved in this kind of work must get some sort of kick out of getting people pissed off.

I don't have social anxiety and I still hate them and feel rude for not engaging with them. In my old home town the charity workers used to spread out and try to stop passersby - you used to have to literally dodge them. Eventually the council cracked down, but it got very bad before the council stepped in.

Avoid eye contact. If approached, just say 'sorry, not interested' or 'no thanks' to any question that's asked. Keep walking. If someone rings your doorbell, just say 'I don't sign up to things at the door'.

It's unpleasant. But you're definitely not alone in how you feel!

Our small local co op often has chuggers just inside the door. I mean, fine in a big supermarket but in a small local one it’s really overbearing.

Meh. I ignore or depending what it is I use my get out of jail cards for any sales folks in town, on my doorstep or in the phone.

“I rent - it’s all included” - gets rid of utility companies, window/kitchen/landscapers the lot.

“I’m bankrupt” insurance sales, sky, credit cards all disappear at that one.

@QueenBee52

I don't know to be honest.

We seem to get influxes of them then nothing for a while.

Same with the Jehovah's witnesses.

I actually had a lovely letter from the Jehovah witness people. Handwritten! I've never seen hand written letters from them until this one arrived. Was only last month.

I hate that they force interactions even when you say no. I had a woman in Sainsburys today collecting for dogs trust today give me a lecture/guilt trip on why I should donate and carry on pushing when I said no.
However a good trick to make yourself feel a little less guilty is google how much the CEO/ executives of the charity earn. Or Google it infront of the charity people
FYI for dogs trust they earn over 1 million combined.

I’ve never been accosted by gas and electricity sales reps at the supermarket

I remember when they used to knock on doors but that seems to have stopped.

Saying they shouldn’t exist is nasty though, they’re trying to learn a living like everyone else and as long as they’re not being aggressive or lying etc then I don’t see the big deal.

You don’t need to explain, you just walk past, no need to smile, say hello or anything.

@LaetitiaASD charming, just charming. Do you think the people doing it had their pick of a dozen other great jobs? I have always managed to say no without screaming or swearing

I hate this. Especially the charities as I feel like a horrible person for not contributing to them. I don't want strangers stopping me and I wouldn't sign up to a charity out in the street. I remember a man from Tommy's stopping me and when I told him I didn't work he became condescending and laughed "why don't you work?" when I explained he looked like he wanted to ground to swallow him up.

Smile, "no thank you", don't slow down.
It's polite and they're used to it. They will forget you the second they look away.

If you do find you've accidentally stopped and allowed yourself to be engaged:
"I'm emigrating soon, sorry"
"I'm happy with my provider, thank you"
"I already have three direct debits for my chosen charities, sorry"
Walk away without waiting for a response.