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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to hate charity door knocking

101 replies

earthlybeing · 01/02/2023 17:16

I dont understand how or why charities continue to send people out canvassing for donations by going door to door.

Does anyone still set up donations this way? AIBU to hate them?

We can't see through our door so I can't see them to be able to ignore them

OP posts:
musicforthesoul · 01/02/2023 17:24

YANBU

I'm always polite to whoever knocking but have never given money to someone knocking on the door. Mostly it's fine and they go away as soon as you say you won't donate to people at the door but occasionally the conversation gets quite uncomfortable if they keep pushing. It actively puts me off donating to charities that use that tactic.

Guess it must work for them though as there seem to have been more charities doing it recently!

Justleaveitblankthen · 01/02/2023 17:56

Get a two squid letterbox/window notice from Amazon.
'No cold callers or junk mail please.'
Works a treat.

Hidingawaytoday · 01/02/2023 17:59

YANBU, they rang the doorbell on Sunday and woke 18m old dd up from her nap. She wouldn't go back down and was a crabby monster the rest of the day 😡

XenoBitch · 01/02/2023 18:00

Justleaveitblankthen · 01/02/2023 17:56

Get a two squid letterbox/window notice from Amazon.
'No cold callers or junk mail please.'
Works a treat.

I have one of those and it does sweet FA.

Timeforachangeisitnot · 01/02/2023 18:02

I hate it too, and tried a notice to no avail.

I just repeat that I don’t donate/ sign up at the door, but if they can name some specific initiatives in my area I will look for their website.

They generally protest that one, but I just smile and close the door.

Fizbosshoes · 01/02/2023 18:10

Chuggers outside the station are nearly as bad, it's like some sort of Gladiators game trying to dodge them all to get inside the station to catch the train.

And they all say "I just want a minute of your time.."
Well no they don't because they dont want to chat about the weather for 1 minute or hear me speak for a minute about the last half marathon I did, they want my name, address and bank details and to set up a direct debit!

I know it's a job and I'd be absolutely shit at it but I'm dubious how successful loitering around a train station actually is. People are either in a rush to get to work, or rushing to get a train. But that seems to be the official place for the chug teams to operate. I never see anyone engage with them, it must be pretty demoralising.

Zippedydoo123 · 01/02/2023 18:12

I have a sign near my doorbell stating no cold callers but people fail to take heed.

Choconut · 01/02/2023 18:17

I had one from Dog's Trust who had this huge spiel about how my neighbours had all been very generous (liar) but he hadn't made quite enough to go home yet hahaha and blah, blah, blah about dogs - it literally went on and on and on. Then about how I must love dogs (as the one I was dog sitting tried to escape) and I literally just wanted him to get to the point so I could say no and shut the door.

SantaBakula · 01/02/2023 18:19

I had o e last week knocking at my door at 8.45 pm , I was not impressed at all.

They were collecting for a large charity that has a couple of shops less than a mile away , so I said I donate at shop on x Street ( big local through road that everyone in the area knows ) they said they don't know the road and seemed puzzled why I told them I donate at a shop .so I explained that it was their charity shop , they said they would prefer me to donate via my bank .
I said no if everyone did that it would put the staff out of work / volunteering.

They did not seem to care at all and just pushed for me to donate via them.

NOPE !

Desiredeffect · 01/02/2023 18:20

I can't stand them either I can't afford to donate and also religious people knocking on my door to. I now have a door cam so that helps to

mumda · 01/02/2023 18:20

Justleaveitblankthen · 01/02/2023 17:56

Get a two squid letterbox/window notice from Amazon.
'No cold callers or junk mail please.'
Works a treat.

Amusingly the arses collecting for one of the charities helping blind people didn't see mine.

Ragwort · 01/02/2023 18:22

People do sign up though don't they .... I came home from work a few months ago and found my DH signing up for a DD to a charity. It is a charity we both have a connection to and we can afford it but I don't think it is a very cost effective way to support a charity as so much of the first year's contribution goes to the 'chugger'. Anyway, I wasn't going to have a row in front of the chugger Grin.

mamabear715 · 01/02/2023 18:22

They do my head in.
I don't do any business on the doorstep. I support several charities of my choosing, as I expect most people do.

Covidwoes · 01/02/2023 21:17

YANBU OP. I just say (politely) that I don't give money on the doorstep, but am willing to take a leaflet if they have one.

Bonjovispjs · 01/02/2023 21:24

I just say "I'm sorry, I don't give to charity as I used to work for one and I know the money doesn't go where you want it to (this is true)" They never know what to say to that and leave straight away 😊

ChilliBandit · 01/02/2023 21:28

We had a woman collecting from GOSH twice in one day. Once around 2pm and I told her no, and then again at 8.30pm waking up my child. DH told her no and she made her displeasure known to our doorbell camera.

I actually contacted GOSH to let them know and got a really pissy reply back telling me they had a right to knock up to 9pm and I should get a sign telling people not to knock and they would continue to fundraise this way. Didn’t address the woman’s behaviour at all. Really disappointed in GOSH for using chuggers which use pressure tactics mainly to get people to sign up.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 01/02/2023 21:32

The Battersea Dogs home man was so rude and intimidating. I didn’t open the door, but he kept shouting and banging. Aggression isn’t going to make me open my door….

I did complain but they weren’t interested.

BooksAndHooks · 01/02/2023 21:32

We have a sign on our door that specifically mentions not to knock for charity amongst other things, combined with a ring doorbell we haven’t had any knock. Even when knocking on neighbour’s doors they have left us alone.

FeinCuroxiVooz · 01/02/2023 21:37

YANBU but it's best to just have a general policy that if someone knocks on your door, you definitely will not entertain the possibility of signing up to whatever it is they are offerig, then you never get put on the spot.

Like Chuggers on the shopping street, the door knockers aren't actually employees of the charity, they will be fundraising for totally different charities every week. The charities have a contract where the fundraising business (which is a profit-making enterprise) take a huge commission which totally negates your donation unless you keep the direct debit going for years. If you believe in a charity, close the door firmly and politely, go to the chaity website, and give there.

Fedupwitheveryone · 01/02/2023 21:57

i so resent anyone interrupting me at the door that I instantly interrupt them (politely) and talk over them to say 'thanks but i'm not interested and my child is in the bath' etc etc whilst smiling and simultaneously closing the door. Don't feel guilty at all due to smiling profusely and pretending to be nice and then shouting 'you have a nice day too' or whatever over my shoulder

HermioneWeasley · 01/02/2023 22:02

It’s annoying but I just close the door on them and hang up on cold callers. I definitely don’t wait for them to pause in their spiel!

LolaSmiles · 01/02/2023 22:04

I don't like charity door knocking or chuggers in the street. It's a method of fundraising that's morally questionable and preys on vulnerable people not feeling they can say no/feeling obligated to give.

People shouldn't feel put on the spot to give money.

Parky04 · 01/02/2023 22:06

They have a different charity every week in the foyer at our local Sainsburys. It drives me crackers.

Motnight · 01/02/2023 22:07

ChilliBandit · 01/02/2023 21:28

We had a woman collecting from GOSH twice in one day. Once around 2pm and I told her no, and then again at 8.30pm waking up my child. DH told her no and she made her displeasure known to our doorbell camera.

I actually contacted GOSH to let them know and got a really pissy reply back telling me they had a right to knock up to 9pm and I should get a sign telling people not to knock and they would continue to fundraise this way. Didn’t address the woman’s behaviour at all. Really disappointed in GOSH for using chuggers which use pressure tactics mainly to get people to sign up.

We have had GOSH collectors 3 times in 3 weeks.

lurchermummy · 01/02/2023 22:07

YANBU I also hate them accosting me as I go in and out of the co-op. I'd happily donate but they won't let you do that, they want you to sign up to a DD.