To feel a bit harassed by charity worker

[Hardknocks]

Was on my way back from a meeting in London this evening, had to stop at the ticket machine to get my ticket a charity person came over to ask for a donation - I said I couldn’t afford it (I couldn’t), but I usually do give something. However this guy was so pushy, putting leaflets in my face, telling me he lost his brother to knife crime etc etc. He put £25 into his card reader and just kept saying ‘just tap your phone, tap your phone’. I politely asked him to move so that I could get past and through the train barrier but he said not until I tap.. so feeling completely intimidated I did.

I feel stupid, I couldn’t afford £25. I don’t begrudge giving to charity at all and I do where I can. AIBU to feel a bit upset about the whole thing.

And actually doing some digging it could be classed as conspiracy to defraud

Regulation 7 of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 ('the Regulations') prohibits aggressive commercial practices that would 'intimidate or exploit consumers, restricting their ability to make free or informed choices.' In order for an aggressive practice to be unfair it must cause, or be likely to cause, the average consumer to take a different transactional decision. This subjectively drafted regulation is wide ranging in scope and creates significant risks for businesses who find themselves facing investigation or potential prosecution by Trading Standards for what they considered to be simply enthusiastic practices and showing passion for their products. Consideration of recent cases goes to further demonstrate the potentially severe implications of business' sales techniques stepping over an increasingly thin line.

In 2016 the Court of Appeal considered the case of R v Waters[1] and found that customers being 'bombarded with sales calls and pressurised' amounted to aggressive sales techniques. The court, found that, in determining whether sales were 'aggressive' the commercial practices of the company had to be looked at on the specific facts of each case. The case was prosecuted by Trading Standards and involved the sale of products to customers with mobility needs. The finding of the court clearly emphasised the subjective approach to the Regulations and the need for companies to carefully consider and refine their sales tactics in light of their individual customers.

The case of R v Anas Ahmed[2] involved the sale of airline tickets through a 'sub-agent' company, whose sales were conducted by telephone and email. The case was prosecuted by Harrow and Brent Council Trading Standards department, for offences under the Consumer Protection Regulations, including the use of aggressive sales techniques. When telephone conversations took place with customers who sought to seek a refund for their airline ticket there was deemed to be a 'shift in the tone and mood of the staff who they were speaking to' and that there was often nobody available to speak to. The case highlighted that not only the words used by a salesperson, but the demeanour and manner in which consumers are spoken to may amount to aggressive sales, which, in the present case led to a prison sentence being imposed.

The sales tactics of a Cardiff based building business were recently viewed as intimidating elderly and vulnerable people who felt forced into having work carried out[3]. The tactics of the builders was investigated over a two year period by Trading Standards' 'Scambusters' department. The use of 'deliberate, consistent and cold blooded' techniques to customers, led to prosecutions and eventual prison sentences for conspiracy to defraud, as well as offences under the Consumer Protection Regulations.

https://www.jmw.co.uk/services-for-business/business-crime/blog/aggressive-sales-techniques-trading-standards-investigations

Was this at Farringdon? I've been approached by a pushy bloke twice there over the last few weeks (I've been there twice so it's a 100% strike rate!) and been irritated by the pushy attitide. It's either one rogue guy or a policy decision by the charity to have this up-front attitude.

Agree with previous posters saying get loud - scream ‘help, I’m being mugged’

Yes @1questionfromme it was! It seems like it’s either this guy who is the problem, or they are all the same there

@girlofsandwich my husband was caught out by a locksmith too and he’s absolutely not the type you’d imagine to be ‘vulnerable’ in any way, shape or form. It really shook him up.

I felt so sorry for you reading that (and PPs dad with dementia and very sorry for OP too) I don’t understand how locksmiths and predatory fundraisers of the CIC type get away with it. It’s really appalling and there should be much tighter regulation

The other thing that occurs to me is who do they bank with? If they are acting with potential criminal practices reporting it to your bank might be worth it anyway even if they refuse to reimburse you because it may flag their bank account as carrying out criminal activities. Banks are increasingly wary of this type of thing.

Thank you @girlofsandwich, I really appreciate that ❤️ and I’m sorry you went through it too. It’s the ‘god I could’ve spent that £25 on DD’ that’s getting to me. But it is a real learning moment…

My 17 year old son was at Farringdon today and I just asked if he was approached and he said yes and that the guy was aggressive so he just kept walking. Seems like someone needs to report this so they can be moved on. Wish I'd taken more notice of what he looked like now.

By the look of it, this outfit isn’t actually a charity at all. It bills itself as a community interest company which is not the same thing.

What they offer appears quite nebulous: a lot of vague babble about mentoring and empowerment but no real detail of how individuals can avail of it. There’s also no face to this organisation either.

The whole thing stinks. I’m sorry this happened to you.

Report this to your bank please.

I googled it..it’s not a registered charity. He obtained your money by falsely representing it and he harassed you. I would phone the railway police and report it. Come back and let us know how you got on,

Chuggers are a menace. I think all street collectors are immoral and I think all charities that collude in it are terrible. However, this sounds actually illegal, not just terrible. Can't you tell the BTP you've been mugged on the platform? I mean, it really sounds like you have.

I just called the number on the website. Random bloke answered. No ‘Hello. Uplifterz’ or anything. We should all be calling him!!

Any charity which sends people out to demand donations on the street doesn't get anything from me, ever.

Report them, he sounds awful.

If it’s not a charity are they even allowed to collect on the street? Don’t they have to apply for a licence? ( sorry only know the rules in another country I lived in)
OP is it worth getting an attack alarm and keeping it on your wrist or bag strap. If you’re ever harassed again at least the nouse would drown them out.

I just shout at these guys now. I don’t even care about making a scene. I literally yell STOP FOLLOWING ME! I SAID NO, NOW LEAVE ME ALONE.

Usually works.

I got hassled by collectors for a similar looking CIC on Oxford Street a few months ago. I was early to meet a friend and in the time I was waiting for her I felt really intimidated by the collectors who repeatedly hassled me.

In the end I got quite vocal about wanting to be left alone, tweeted about it linking them in and emailed the CIC's info page. I didn't hear back but it made me feel much better!

Oh now I've read this thread and know who they are I'm going to get very shouty next time they approach me - they are there pretty much all the time at Farringdon 😡

Please report this to the station manager (you should get a better response than the TFL staff). In order to operate any kind of charity collection in a station you need a permit (which this would not receive as it is not a charity). It does no favour to legitimate charities following the law to allow things like this to happen.

When I conducted charity collections in stations we would have had the permit recinded for harrassing people (you can ask once but no more). The legalese is you can not 'importune to the point of annoyance' (which I love as a quote)

Also remember each collector has to carry a copy of their permit at all times - which you can ask to see.

Those who use Farringdon station - I have started using the side entrance on Turnmill st (where nandos and the co op is) to avoid them!

Had a quick look at their companies house, as someone who works in the sector it looks very dodgy - they don’t even have any charitable objects in place. Contrary to what previous posters have said though, not all CICs are bad or scams!

I hope you can get your £25 back OP ❤️

I checked and surprisingly has no social media. No Facebook, instagram etc. I do think it is a scam - watch your account very carefully and set up notifications.

Report him to the police and to charity he meant to be supporting...sounds like a scammer....

Interesting - I was at a tube station in West London today and was hassled by a young guy trying to speak to me about knife crime and asking for money. I was so annoyed that when he asked me if I care about knife crime I replied with “I do not now leave me alone”. There were a group of them wearing blue jackets

export this as others have said OP bang out of order WTAF

Jesus check out this utter shite. You couldn’t make it up
uplifterz.co.uk/post-3/