Chuggers/fundraisers should take your first "no" for an answer

[Parkingmoan1]

I've just been walking through the town centre on my way to catch a bus and was caught by one of those fundraising groups who accost you in the street.

As soon as she started talking to me I politely said no thank you, I don't have the time to talk and carried on walking. Instead of taking that as my final answer she chose to walk alongside me saying "I'm a fast talker" and continued her speech.

I felt a bit intimidated to be honest, she was quite loud and bolshie whereas I don't like confrontation and hate things like this.

I said I don't have any spare money, she said if I didn't want to make the one off payment to the cause (£25 bloody quid) the magazine they're selling is "only" £5.

I ended up buying the magazine just so that she'd leave me alone.

AIBU to think they should have to take your first "no" as an answer and leave you be?

I agree.

Yes but I imagine they get a bonus for each person they sign up or something. Feel free to tell them to fuck off after the first no.

Most of These people rarely work for the charity and actually a marketing company. They employ people on a commission basis so they end up with a good cut of whatever they sell you. It's shocking how little the charity actually gets. Asking for the charity registration number or the break down usually gives enough anger to say no

I agree- but you shouldn’t have bought the magazine. You’ve validated her approach now, it’s worked, so she’ll do it again.

I tell them I’m not stopping, then I keep walking. They can chase me all they want but it won’t work.

i flipping hate chuggers.

Yes they should.

However, the best way to deal with them is to firmly say "No thank you", as you carry on walking.

Never give them a chance for dialogue by trying to explain anything. The same goes for sales people who knock at your door. Just a firm "No thank you" with a smile as you close the door.

Most are on commission these days (for the big charities, anyway).

Hence the aggressive salesman approach.

And yes, you were very silly to buy the magazine.

I agree. And I hate people coming to my door even more. The other week I was busy and had to answer the door and they told me about their cause. Which I empathise with, but I already have the charities that I donate to regularly and can’t donate to them all. I don’t want to be made to feel like a bitch by some strangers in my own home. Most charities have merit but you have to choose.

I usually ask equally aggressively 'which part of NO do you not understand?' accompanied by a Paddington hard stare. Usually works.

If I make the mistake of making eye contact I will either put my hand up to signal "not interested" or I actually just say I'm not interested.
If I don't make eye contact I just ignore. Totally blank them and keep walking.
It might seem rude but I really don't care.
You shouldn't have bought the magazine if you didn't want to. As someone upthread has said you've made their annoying method work - so they will keep doing it.
Just ignore them. Pretend they are a tree or something.

I had a really bad experience with action for children, two big blokes came up to me in a dark carpark and demanded to know if I lived there, then started trying to get me to sign up. It was really intimidating and I ended up reporting it to the police/neighbourhood team as it seemed really off.

It turns out they legitimately worked for the charity who saw nothing wrong with their actions, because they train their staff to ignore the first two refusals and only accept the 3rd "no".

They train men to ignore women saying no twice, because they expect we will give in before saying it a 3rd time. How fucked up is that?!

^^that!

Theyre not going to stop with this approach when people (like you) reward them for it!

So say 'NO' & mean it! Or don't complain about them doing it when you reward them for doing it 🙇🏻‍♀️

I agree I shouldn't have bought the magazine, I'm annoyed with myself.

She was late teens, very loud and pushy, a part of me worried I might get a truck of abuse if I told her to sod off. Grrr. Never again.

It's something to read on the toilet I suppose.

I ignore them and say no. They try again I tell them I’m not up to being chugged today.

one great thing about lockdown is that the chuggers disappeared but now they’re creeping back even more annoying than ever

I've developed a thick skin for dealing with them. Ones who knock on my door get told I do not under any circumstances donate to a charity who allows cold callers. And any in the street who won't take no for an answer I ask what their cut is, and again I say I won't donate to charities who use aggressive tactics to get people to donate etc.

There should be tougher legislation surrounding this.

@blackberrybat you’re more polite than me - when pressed, I always ask “which part of “f*k of do you not understand?”

Aargh! “What part of f@@k o£f…”, I mean!

I put my AirPods in when walking through town for this very reason.

I hate answering the door to them as well. Usually just do the "no thanks, good luck" with a big smile, but one one guy for the Woodland Trust caught me as I was getting home from work and I couldn't get rid of him. When I finally got a bit shirty he pointed at my car and sneered "it's not like you can't afford it". Yeah mate, that's going to win you customers.

They annoy the ever loving shit out of me.
We get loads round our area knocking on doors, it’s a fairly affluent area but not rich, lots of elderly people, young families etc. which is why I suppose they come here.
I don’t care how rude I am, I just shut the door in their faces, I’m not bothered. I used to be polite, but when it’s the 3rd lot that week you get a bit pissed off.

Similar to @tigger1001 I tell them that I won't donate to a charity who employs cold callers or people to stop you in the street. It puts vulnerable people at risk and doesn't align with my values.

Yanbu. Their behaviour amounts to harassment. You could take a picture of the individual and report them to the town council.

Or you could just be nastier. I've got my 'withering look of distaste and contempt' off to a fine art. I only have to glare at them now and they avoid me. 😀

The only way is to say nothing at all, walk past as though they are invisible.

That or say, 'I signed up last week - don't you remember?' with a grin.

My heart sinks when I see them in the town centre and I hate people cold calling. I want peace at home not people selling me things I don't want or need. I have my charity DD's. Also when they are stationed in shops/ petrol stations that you want to use so you have to get by them.

Magenta82's experience sounds quite scary.

The last one I had wanted me to speak on the phone to his team to say that he hadn't been pushy or something along those lines.

Came home to my parents house one time to find one in the living room with my mum signing up to stuff. She had no idea what she was signing.

My sister had the same with an elderly neighbour. Two men at her door. My sister kept asking them to leave and got quite shaken as they didn't want to go. She was worried she overstepped but the women and her son were grateful.

As someone said up post they work for marketing companies and are sales oriented. They don't care about the charity. I know someone who would ignore the no cold callers signs at the door and say he was dyslexic when challenged and keep going!

Why didn't you keep walking?? They can't follow you so just walk away!

"I usually ask equally aggressively 'which part of NO do you not understand?' accompanied by a Paddington hard stare."

🤣