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?

In a perfect world yes. But that's how they get paid.

But how do these people maintain such a genuine veneer of respectability, when harassment and intimidation is such an integral part of what they do - actually part of their training?

Are people just blindsided by the excuse that they're somehow helping charity? Why isn't it officially acknowledged - preferably with laws put in place - that they're a menace and a scourge? You sometimes see official sings saying 'Warning - pickpockets/thieves/criminals operate in this area'; why wouldn't chuggers be considered just as worthy of similar official warning signs, removing any doubt as to how welcome they are?

I'm specifically talking about the chuggers - absolutely not the actual genuine charity collectors who stand there with a smile, holding a colleting tin, thanking anybody who approaches them and gives and, of course, passes on 100% of what they collect direct to the charity.

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll I wasn't aware that they were seen as respectable. I've always known it as a job students do when they can't get another job because they'll hire anyone 🤷‍♀️

I just say no and walk on. I just was reasoning that they're quite harassing because they want to make money on their shift instead of being out there for no reason.

'Don't you care about the sick children?'.

'No. Good bye.'
Said cheerily preferably.

I’ve found it very effective to say “I don’t sign up to direct debits on the street/at my door.”

Getting my late FIL off charity mailing lists has been a nightmare though. The number of begging letters he received, from charities he already donated to regularly, asking for more. Tried using the charity mailing preferences service and they ignored it. Wrote individually saying “he has died please stop mailing” and one snotty cow wrote back saying she would not do it without seeing ID from me and confirmation I had his power of attorney (no love, he’s dead, so nobody has that now). Our probate solicitor had to write to them telling them to lay off. It shows how desperate they are to keep mailing at any price once they have their claws in you.

I think "chuggers" should be banned outright. There's many reasons why town and city centres are struggling but faced with aggressive chuggers while trying to do your shopping is one of them. They aren't allowed in out of town shopping malls so I can't see why they are allowed in town shopping disctricts either.

Wheel round, clasp your hands over your head and hiss in a stage whisper: "DO YOU HEAR THEM.

This made me cackle.

Nasty isn't it?

What me and DH have experienced a number of times, is 'do you care about the welfare of animals?' As if anyone doesn't FFS! And 'do you like dogs sir?' (My husband was asked this.) He said, 'yeah, especially on toast!' The man scowled at him and said 'oh yeah very funny.' Literally glared at DH as we walked off.

And one time, we were coming out of a particular well-known store, and someone pushed their charity booklet in his face and LOUDLY yelled the charity name at him. He then asked loudly 'will you sign up now???' DH ignored the man, and walked off. I was about 10 feet behind DH, and heard the man say 'miserable ignorant bastard.'

I caught up with DH and told him to go get in the car and I will be just a few minutes. I went back into the store and made an official complaint about the man. This charity came to the store 3 or 4 times a year, and were usually there a week when they came. When this happened, they were on their second day on this visit. They didn't make a third day.

I never saw them again at that store. Not sure if it was my complaint that was the reason, but it probably was. I don't care. We went out to get food for our family, not to be insulted by rude, obnoxious, aggressive chuggers, because we didn't kow-tow to them.

The experiences shared above are absolutely appalling. It's no wonder they get such a bad reputation, trying to claw money from a deceased mans account, swearing at/about people in the street.

Horrid, horrible behaviour.

Ig they ignore my ‘No thanks’ I usually say quite loud and firm ‘I said NO!’ I couldn’t care less if I seem rude they are already rude. I had one follow me into a shop as I tried to escape and another and follow me along the street.

The worst was the morning after my father died, I was going to the station to get home and one wouldn’t leave me alone despite the fact i was crying and openly upset. I did tell her to fuck off or I’d knock her out. Not my finest moment but I had 2 hours sleep after my mum called, I was trying to catch a train, upset and this fucking idiot couldn’t get out if my way.

I wasn't aware that they were seen as respectable. I've always known it as a job students do when they can't get another job because they'll hire anyone

Maybe 'respectable' wasn't the best word to use; I know most people hate them, but I was thinking from an officially-sanctioned pov. At the moment, they are allowed to do it as long as they (theoretically) abide by the rules put in place to clip their threatening wings.

To be honest, I'd like to see them banned and treated as the outright nuisance that they are, should they persist. We don't currently have signs up saying "Warning, pickpockets.... who are legally only allowed to help themselves to a maximum of a tenner" or "only permitted to dip into your bag or pocket if you've forgotten to zip it up" - it's officially clearly acknowledged that these people are a scourge, up to no good and totally unwelcome in any capacity whatsoever.

I am so sorry about your father. AND that you had to experience this shitty behaviour.

Thank you. It was 13 years ago now but I remember feeling really panicky when she kept jumping in front of me.

It's disgusting, filthy behaviour, trying to keep taking money from a deceased person, but from a practical pov, they wouldn't be able to, however much they might want to. Once a person has died, all of their accounts are frozen until probate and nothing apart from funeral costs can be paid out.

If she were a little bit cleverer (although still completely morally bankrupt), she would have turned on the charm about how much your loved one was determined to keep supporting them each month and maybe suggested that you might like to take that over yourself in 'tribute' to them. Nastily barking at you that they refuse to stop trying to take it (and failing to do so) is the equivalent of stamping on her own foot in stilettoes.

Lol I just keep walking like I don't understand English and then they start with sarcastic comments.

Chugging should be illegal. I used to work in a massive office in a busy area of London. You couldn't walk out of it without getting chugged. They knew several thousand people worked in there. I think it still goes on because, like the OP, many will give in - especially nice or younger people. I wouldn't give in these days. Not a bloody chance. But I did get talked into buying something on the doorstep 20 years ago that I didn't want. Never again. Chugging always gets the more vulnerable people, not the seasoned middle aged battleaxes like me .

When I worked in London I had to run the gauntlet of chuggers as soon as I walked out of the office - I worked near St Paul's so it was a prime area for them to hassle unsuspecting tourists. I usually stalked past with a very strong 'NO' if anyone tried to engage, however one made the mistake of berating me saying that it was people like me who were the reason the planet was in the state it is. I turned round and said, very loudly, 'sorry I think you're mistaking me for someone who gives a fuck' and left him standing.

This is precisely my approach!
Parasites.

Fortunately it wasn’t money - I think someone earlier misread my post. As you say the direct debits had been stopped as soon as his bank account was frozen.

It was endless direct mailings. Letters from many supposedly respectable big name charities begging a 93 year old man who was already donating a tenner a month to each of several charities for yet more money. This particular charity was so keen to keep chugging him by letter that they would not accept any request to stop the mailings unless he personally asked or the person asking on his behalf could prove they had power of attorney.

Even when someone told them he was dead and the leaflets were now going straight in the shredder.

Thanks for clarifying that, @DelurkingLawyer - and apologies for any confusion.

Do any of these nasty people ever stop to think about what charity and compassion for your fellow humans means in the first place, and how their behaviour goes against any reasonable understanding of that simple concept, I wonder? Utterly appalling.

I tell them I will not donate to a charity that tortures animals. You know who they are...

I think I either look really poor or my area has very polite chuggers and salespeople. If one of them tries to stop me, I say no thank you, with a big smile, and keep walking and they never argue. I’d love an argument with one!

Hassling people is ‘not very nice’. This type of chugging shouldn’t be encouraged. There are plenty of real jobs around.

I'm ashamed to say I did this job for a few months, 15 years ago. We signed up people to make monthly donations through their bank accounts, and were told that the first 10 months of donations went to my company, as it was their 'fee' for signing the person up!! (I saw about 10% of that money). I felt like a right scammer after learning that, and quit soon after.

I always ask what charity it is then say I'm already signed up to that one.

Easy. They fuck off instantly.