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.

You can complain here

www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-the-regulator-of-community-interest-companies/about/complaints-procedure

Get onto your bank and explain

Very similar happened to me last week outside Euston. VERY pushy bloke who wouldn't take no for answer. I didn't give them anything but can see how easy it would be just to get them to stop following and harassing. Don't know the company as I kept moving but he did mention knife crime.

You are nicer than me, I say "fuck off".

"a bit harassed"?

You were mugged! Please do report the individual collector to the charity as this is outrageous behaviour.

I actually think this could qualify as crime, as I don't think it could be argued that you gave this money willingly, though I am not suggesting that you pursue this.

I hope you are feeling better tonight after what must have been a really unpleasant experience.

Some of these people are horrid. I remember being pressurised when I was visiting a friend in Oxford once. When I didn't give anything, he made a sarcastic comment about something I was wearing.

Don't forget they could have used anyone's number. The person who owns the number may nkf even knkw ots been used.. supoosing you suddenly started getting hundreds of calls out of the blue from a nest of angry mumsnet vipers

@Hardknocks - if you are up to it I would phone the charity / whatever and say you were pressured into it and can they refund. & then email them and just complain until you get your money back

Ask your bank if they can reverse the charge, say this guy cornered you and basically mugged you into paying him. They should be able to claim your money back. It's a "donation" after all not a purchase.
I'd also get a new card.

I got stopped by the same charity in Shoreditch about 2 weeks ago, said he needed £25, wasn't pushy or aggressive though

You should have the thread title updated with the name and the place so that people searching for it in Google will see this thread come up with the scam straightaway.

Pretty much the opposite of an honest living, Jesus Christ. So frustrating for you OP, try not to feel bad yourself, you were completely intimidated and pressured by him.

Just in case anyone wants to spend hundreds of pounds on Uplifterz booklets... https://uplifterz.co.uk/shop/

No way should this be happening on station property. I haven't read the entire thread but find out who operates Farringdon Station and post on their Twitter/X account.

I had this in Farringdon in the summer - about 4 teens, looked like they'd just come on shift, asked me if i wanted to help stop knife crime, one of them said her cousin had been killed. I said i was a tourist, didn't live in London so not bothered about supporting London charities - it was bright and there were lots of people about, but still intimidating, and they did argue the toss.

i wish i'd said i'd say a prayer for them, i expect they'd have left me alone more quickly!.

“Legit” charities can still be a scam. No one from charity commission checks anything. People who run charities can take huge salaries for doing basically nothing,

I'm really shocked that TFL turn a blind eye to this - i thought i was just unlucky to be approached, shocking that they're at the same station all the time.

They and British Transport Police seem to turn a blind eye to all the beggars / "tissue beggars" that walk through trains these days, asking for money, so I'm not surprised they turn a blind eye to this kind of thing.

I’d ring the charity and say you only donated as you were intimidated, late for a meeting and he was blocking you from getting through so you want a refund, if they won’t then say you’re going to report them to the police, charity commission and TFL. For future reference I regularly tell these people to fuck off and that I don’t care about their sob stories. I donate to several local charitable causes through direct debit that I’ve chosen to support, I’m not going to be bullied into giving more donations to randoms harassing me on the street

Sorry if repeating here as I haven’t read the whole thread, but placing undue pressure on members of the public to donate and causing an obstruction when fundraising are both breaches of the Code of Fundraising practice - in case it helps to know that when you contact them @Hardknocks! Hope you’re feeling a bit better now.

Tbh if it’s just one guy working for them doing this then you’ll be doing them a favour bringing it to their attention, as it could get them in trouble.

Put on your headphones. Don't make eye contact. Give them a wide berth. Do not engage. I just walk purposefully head down and shake it with a hand out like they are paparazzi to get past them.

I have said really loudly at one "Back Off" when he started to block my way and strode past him. He did not expect it from lil 'ol petite me. There were lots of people around so I guess he would not make a scene.

throughout lockdown these guys used to only be around Brixton and would harass anyone within sight. It got very intimidating. They’ve now branched out to other areas of London. Not sure how they’re getting away with it when they aren’t a registered charity.

This - as soon as I saw the OP’s message, I thought it would be them. They're a scam operation and can be really aggressive. Sorry you were harassed OP

That’s disgusting. Get onto your credit card company and tell them what happened, they should refund you the money.

Yep, same guys. Blue uniform and prolific around stations.

£25 donation fucking hell. Report him. I dont pay anything to the big charities as its mostly going towards CEO wages 😟