To report NSPCC child line?

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Every Thursday after I take DD to her swimming lesson, and after her lesson I take her to WHSmiths for a magazine as a treat then walk home. Every single week I am HOUNDED by the NSPCC to set up a direct debit.
Now I am not charity shy and I donate to certain causes each month but I don't expect to be hounded. Today (6th week in a row) they cornered me and actually stood in front of the shop door making it hard to leave. They practically cornered me and my pre school aged child. I said to them that I do not want to commit to setting up a direct debit. They then probed and said 'why?' I said because it's not something I'm looking for. These two men then said 'well why not, you're helping children!' I said again, I don't want to set up a direct debit. I may think about an online one time donation. But that wasn't enough. He then said 'well you can afford it, you come in here every week and buy your daughter a magazine so you can set up a direct debit!' I then snapped and said 'no, my finances are fucked, I can't afford it, now please get out of my way!' (My finances are not fucked, I was just trying to think of something to get them to piss off!)

He then winced and put his hands up to his ears and said 'don't swear in front of your child.' And tried to guilt trip me! They didn't intimidate me but I can absolutely see how they would an elderly person or a vulnerable person. WIBU to complain about them? They've really annoyed me!

That's SUCH a good answer! To ask them how much of their salary / commission they are donating, I'm keeping that under my belt for next time, genius!

I just shake my head and walk away

I put my hand up and say a stern no.
It does get very wearing when you have lots of them in one short stretch.

I would report to WHS Headoffice. No wonder they are having to close down branches if the customers are being harassed trying to enter the store.

NSPCC are registered with the Fundraising Regulator - complain to them as well as WH Smith and NSPCC directly.
The Directory | Fundraising Regulator

I work in the sector - effective responses to chuggers include:

• I always review a charity's accounts before making donations
• ask them an obscure question about the charity accounts
• I work for the charity concerned
• I previously worked for the charity and don;t consider them to be well run

a few charities employ chuggers directly, most are through agencies
to be fair, I have a fairly effective "piss off and don't bother me" face if I see anyone with a clipboard, I rarely get stopped.

The trouble is OP, you didn't just say no, you engaged with them. Just ask them to move out of your way and don't respond to their questions. Just keep repeating 'you are blocking the exit, please move'.

Or just walk around them.

Absolutely report. I really wish they would ban chugging. It is an awful and intimidating way to garner donations. I refuse to support any charity that uses chuggers and I have cancelled any charitable donations we had on subscription if they use chuggers and cite the use of chuggers as the reason for cancelling the donation. Until people do this they will keep using these canvasing companies. I also take a very dim view of charities who send "leave us a donation in your will" begging letters.

As for retorts, if any chugger approaches me I loudly yell DO NOT harass me! You are harassing me! Leave me alone! It seems to work and they usually give me a wide birth and scurry away quickly.

Get your phone out and record them next time or have a go pro fixed and recording next week and don’t alert them and record you saying politely no x3 and their response and then email the store, the charity and post on sm

Next week get your phone ready to record them, that will deter them from pestering you. If that doesn’t put them off at least you can email the video to the appropriate organisation.

Let us know when/if you get a reply to your letter.

I wonder what commission they make from trying to force people to disclose their bank account details for a DD the them?

Awful. They shouldn't be harassing people. Put in a complaint to NSPCC and WHSmith. Wouldn't be surprised if these chuggers are part of the problem with WHSmith 's downfall. I stopped going into the Kingston one years ago because of this.

we had them right in the doorway at our WHsmith today as well (unless of course, we live in the same place). Didn’t say anything to me, but purposefully blocking the entrance to make you have to do a jig around them to get in. Puts me off going back to the shop.

chuggers are the worst!
just say no thank you… if they continue ask for the number of their boss.

Right I've submitted the complaint to WHSmiths, I'll see where this nightmare of a charity is registered too and do a complaint.

I'm still in shock that one set of chuggers tried to come into a PPs home! Worse than bloody Jehovahs!!

Haha I was in the Farnham WHSmiths. They've been there for weeks. Perhaps it's only a Thursday but they've been in for every Thursday since before Christmas. Pain in the bloody arse as I use the post office inside there a lot and like you it really puts me off.

I'd really like to know if these twats are donating from their own salary. (Of course they won't be..)

The 'hello madam how are you today' is so false. They don't give a shit how I am and I hate small talk for the sake of it. I know everyone's got a job to do but if you actually want to help children, go and help them, not hound and pester folk going about there day.

Rant over!

They may be on commissions but they also will gr8 a basic wage coming in. Ignore them . CFs.

Say to them when they ask if you care or not about kids just say “oh so you are doing this for free are you, for the good of the kids because if you are taking a commission then is a bit two faced to be having a go at me for not donating”

I said that to a chugged once, he avoided me after that. Which meant I could get in the co op in peace.

my friend who was fed up to the back teeth of being accosted by the same people over and over again at a train station in London. When they said does she not care about dogs and that looks like a very expensive coat you are wearing she asked them if they are allowed to say stuff like that.

when the bloke said “we can say what we want” she went “oh that’s good as I have been recording you on my phone and since you said you are allowed to say anything I am sure the dogs trust will be so glad to hear you are doing your job properly”. She left him with his mouth open. She never did sent it in but she was never bothered again.

I'm glad you reported them. I used to hate going into town when the chuggers were out. I used to be polite to start with and just say 'no, thank you' but they would follow me down the street asking questions. Thankfully we haven't had any in our city centre for a long time now.

Sounds awful OP - definitely complain.

I find the best way to get rid of them is to say you already support their charity.

I temped in fundraising before (was never one of the ones doing the actual street fundraising) but there's very strict regulation around it, please report! They should never be using guilt tripping language and outrageous they stood in your way - they're not allowed to take more than 3 steps walking alongside you either.

Should be to the Fundraising Regulator -charities should be mystery shopping their fundraisers to check they're not breaking the rules and harassing people or they get fined. It's an awful business really, high turnover among street fundraisers if they don't meet targets so lots of pressure to harass people

Talk to them in a foreign language if you can. It works pretty good. They leave you alone. No one understands my Scandinavian.

And yes complain.

Yes absolutely report.

I actually canceled my nspcc subscription when an incredibly forceful twat turned up at my door 2 days in a row and asked me for proof I donated after I explained I already have a monthly DD

Do they work on commission does anyone know ?

They do, yes.