AIBU to hate charity door knocking

[earthlybeing]

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

If anyone's interested, the full rules from the Fundraising Regulator are here: www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/code/specific-fundraising-methods/collecting-money-or-other-property

Even a quick glance shows that any number of these are regularly broken, but luckily it has a "make a complaint" tab too ...

YouJustDoYou · Today 13:46

Just had a guy today do this for some charity hike he's doing, I said I don't sign up to anything on the doorstep but I'll take a look online so he said well I'll give you this leaflet as if you;ve signed up and come back when the hike is completed. When I looked at the leaflet he;s asking for £25 pounds.

Before lockdown, the B&M next to us used to have people, often schoolkids, packing your bags, to get your change for charity. I'd often give something, if I liked it; local kids with cancer, donkey sanctuary etc.

One time, I asked the lad what he was collecting for - a ski trip! They needed 2 grand each! He was obviously middle class, (no that that's bad!) and I looked him up and down and said, "Kidda, your jacket cost more than everything I'm wearing, boots included."

I'm assuming the parents could have bloody well afforded it.

They really annoy me! I feel like the last few months they're coming in droves. They all have the same boring small talk too: 'you look young I bet you're still in your 20s aren't you' or asking about my dog who's kicking off in the room behind me, mentioning the neighbours by name. Tonight I opened the door holding my baby and after all of the above started asking me about him and again mentioning I don't look old enough etc etc. I opened the door and told him sorry I need to see to the baby's bottle - 'no worries I can see you're busy I'll be quick'. He wasn't quick.

I chase them and tell them to GTFO out when I hear them. They are always in a loud gaggle, walking down the road before splitting up to target different areas of the village. I message people to warn them they are here. They come to this tiny place because a lot of the villagers are very old people living alone. They target them.

I have a porch…”can’t find the key’ 😂

I get very angry about this and feel very strongly (I am usually a very very laid back person-honestly!) I absolutely detest them and have no qualms shutting the door in their face. As far as I'm concerned, my home is my safe space and I feel strongly about people invading that without being invited. Also, we live in a poor area and get loads, and so I hate the fact that they obviously target around here. There are a lot of vulnerable people, with mental health issues, addiction issues, elderly people etc and I feel that this approach is so so wrong.
Not to mention that money is incredibly tight and I begrudge having to explain to a stranger that I really can't afford a couple of quid a month when I shouldn't have to.

We had one once - I pointed out that we have a children’s hospital in this city and we support that one. And yes, I know GOSH does handle serious cases from around the country but I’ve always assumed that it’s better funded than regional hospitals in any case.

I hate it too. I will never give in this way, so to save all of our time, I just announce a cheery “no thanks” and shut the door. If DH and I spot someone chugging nearby we let each other know to avoid answering the door. All these PPs making excuses and giving apologies - it’s not acceptable for someone to come to your door, interrupt you and ignore you turning them down, so don’t worry about being rude.

Yes, that's definitely not okay.

I’ve got a cheap security camera and don’t answer the door when they appear. I’m surprised they still send them out because in my mind I just see them as potential scammers.

Can't stand them. I'm really blunt now, as soon as they start I just smile say " oh sorry I'm not interested thanks" and then shut the door in their face.

Why?

Because

It is one of the most effective forms of fundraising - it works

It has a good long term return on investment - which helps charities plan and budget.

It provided charities with unrestricted income which is really important to fund core services.

I will never engage with any one who cold calls, whether it’s a charity or selling stuff.

"Justleaveitblankthen
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.l

I have one and it works a treat for me too.

It’s a grumpy, No thank you from me and I just shut the door.
i especially cannot stand the small talk… hi, how are you? How was your day?
as soon as they start that it’s No thank you.
because delivery people don’t ask that.

Going to people’s doors to get people to sign up for direct debits ought to be illegal.

The people who sign up are those who are least able to fend off the chugger - elderly, vulnerable, people worried about being rude, people who feel guilty or fearful. Disgraceful exploitation.

@wlana you are exactly right.

When I used to rent in a cheap area of town where there were lots of low income families and elderly, the cold callers were almost daily at times. They would peer into my living room window if I didn't open the door.

Later I moved to the suburbs and I don't think I have ever had chuggers, only political people and Jehovahs Witnesses.

I find it really intrusive. I have found the best way for me is to say "Oh, no thank you" as soon as I have opened the door and can see who it is, and close the door with no further interaction. I am not rude and I don't slam it, but equally I definitely do not want to talk in this manner.

I just say bye and close the door without further discussion. They are rude by coming uninvited. If I see chuggers on the street I just ignore them and I have bitchy resting face so they don't tend to follow me.

My no 'cold callers' sign works but if it didn't I'd report every single chugger who called.

Hate them with a passion.

It's morally questionable and preys on vulnerable people.

Any that knock on my door are told I don't donate that way and ask for the name of the charity as it's one I will no longer donate to as they use questionable tactics to get donations.

If the person is aggressive or rude then I tweet the charity concerned

Doorstep chuggers "persuaded" my then 87 year old Dad - who had dementia - to sign up for a quite sizeable monthly donation. We only discovered this on going through his bank statements.

I rang the charity and made them remove him from their database (after cancelling the DD with the bank) and told them in no uncertain terms how deeply unethical it was to sign up vulnerable elderly people.

YANBU. I find it intrusive of someone to walk up my driveway and demand my time on my own doorstep.

They are like a rat up a drainpipe.

I once had a knock at my door by a sales person who was let into the building by one of my idiot nieghbours.

She starts talking, and I was in a good mood that day so when I managed to get a word in edgeways I just told her "there is a sign on my door" she was just very apologetic and left.

She continued to knock on other doors in the building before she eventually left.

The sign says strictly no sales people, canvassers, charities or religious callers.

Most of the time at home I don't getdoor knockers, so this was a one off.

For chuggers, once they see me I nodd my head to indicate 'no'. This stops about 90% of them, the other 10% I just have to say no ( closed answer) and continue walking past them. They are an absalute pain in the ass

I've just this moment done that! 🌹