To think the Co op should not allow this?

[KimberleyClark]

Just been to my small local Co op for a few things and chuggers just inside the door. It was so intimidating. Right there in my face as I walked in. Ignored them as they tried to engage with me as I waked in, they tried again as I walked out and called have a nice day as I left. I do give to various charities but I do hate this.

I'm confident in just walking past and saying no thank you, but for those who are particularly forceful I've turned around on occasion and asked if they themselves donate to this particular charity. Knowing full well they're there on behalf of a fundraising firm, not the charity itself as a volunteer, the answer is always no. So I ask if the cause is so great why should I donate if they don't? One fella said yes once, I asked him to show me his regular direct debit then, if that's what he was expecting me to sign up for. Obviously he wouldn't because it was a lie.

I donate regularly instead through my works Give As You Earn scheme, which is matched £ for £.

Some stock responses:

'Have you ever thought about how charities are complicit in letting the government evade their social, moral and financial responsibilities?'

'Yes thank-you, I love children and have 5 myself but can't afford to feed them due to COL crisis. Are you offering to help?'

'Do you know Jesus?'

I once had to tell one , get the fuck away from me..I was taking money out of an ATM and didn't need someone chirping in my ear

I wouldn't mind if it was just a matter of putting some money into a collection box. But no, they refuse money donations and will only accept a direct debit. Just what I need - another bloody direct debit on my account and a load of form filling with my bank details. So that's a hard no from me.

I hate this, our Morrisons has this a lot. They always make some feel bad as well, with their passions aggressive comments.

Last time I saw one, it was the morning of the funeral of a much loved family member. I’d just done the school run and had gone in quickly to get some tights. I literally just had enough time at home to have my breakfast and get changed before my parents were due to pick me up so we could travel together. He stopped me and I said I was sorry, I was in a rush. He started to get really pushy and I just snapped and said “I’m on the way to a funeral, I don’t have the time or the headspace to deal with this”. Then I immediately felt guilty and felt as if I was just massively guilt tripping him or making it up as an excuse not to stop cf

I just shake me head at them and look away and keep walking. I seem to remember once being told they just needed less than the price of a coffee a day ? when I couldn't afford buying coffee every day

My line is "we are happy with the charities we currently give to", smile and keep walking. Some ask who we give to etc but I don't engage further. I hate being approached on public or at home, and don't owe them anything.

Also, while we do give to charities regularly, I would use this line even if I didn't.

I just say 'is it a monthly donation?' And when they say yes I reply 'not interested'
For some charities I'd happily give a one off donation but as a pp said they're not interested.

People really really need to get over feeling guilty for responding rudely to these people. If people are rudely interrupting you to ask for money you have no obligation to be polite to them.

I've not seen them for ages but when they used to be a daily thing I would just answer "no" to whatever emotionally charged question they would ask, and walk on quickly. If they are doing this inside shops I would complain to the shop.

I just completely ignore the ones in the street. If they call to my door I interrupt their spiel and tell them I don’t sign up to anything at the door, I make the decisions in my own time rather than being pressured.

I ignore them. Nobody is owed engagement, least of all them. I know it's hard to find jobs but it is really unethical to do that sort of work. Work for a charity as a fundraiser, but don't work for agencies that use these underhand, pushy tactics.

As well as hanging around outside popular shops, they are often in railway stations where they can be quite hard to avoid if you have a delayed train.

I fully agree with you 100%! I don't mind when they just quietly stand there and don't bother anyone but when they walk in front of me to try to force me to hand over my hard earned wages or rattle their tins in front of me, it drives me loopy!

And a lot of charities refuse to accept cash in their tins/buckets now, only DD's which is utterly stupid and thoughtless! I've never had a credit/debit card but if I did there's no way I'd give these chuggers, who are total strangers to me, my bank details!

I actually avoid one of our local co-ops now.( we appear to be well- endowed with co-ops around here) A couple of years ago I was offered the big issue by a regular seller in the door way to the shop. I did not want another magazine but gave her some change , a fair amount. She told me she could not afford anything to eat . As I tried to walk past her into the shop she shouted after me that she had no milk for her baby .
More recently I saw the same seller follow a frail appearing woman into the shop shouting after her that she could not afford milk for her baby. The elderly woman approached the security guard and spoke to him. She appeared upset .I had to rush to catch my bus so dont know the outcome but I never go there now. I have charities which I support ,I volunteer and donate to other causes too. I am on a very small income myself.
I am concerned about people who are struggling and I empathise but this felt so wrong.

This. They rely on you feeling obliged to engage and feeling too rude to say no or ignore them. It's in their training!

I would never ever go out of my way to be needlessly rude to someone, especially when they're just doing their job. But if they insist on being rude and invasive, they have it coming frankly.

The easy answer is to look at the charity they are chugging for and say I already donate to that.
Then email the store and complain

I just look right through them and keep walking.

It's arguably even more unethical to hire anyone to have them to do that kind of work.

Incidentally I remember when I was a scout, and every year we were given Christmas catalogues and expected to exhort our parents to order from them because the troop got a commission. My sister's guides gave her one too, so there were always two in our family. The goods were the most dreadful tat even by Christmas catalogue standards. Of course my mum wanted to support what her children did, but she had to scour the catalogues to find anything - just one thing - she could bring herself to order. It was usually a pad of writing paper or a roll of clingfilm - things which in those days cost only pence. But as she used to say, 'there are limits to what one can be asked to do even in a good cause'.