To report NSPCC child line?

[familyportrait]

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!

Yup, we live in the same place! Very intrusive and forceful how they placed themselves - one each side of the door to enter/exit the shop. Luckily, they were busy with another woman/child when I left the shop, so I managed to avoid an interaction! I'll avoid going in with DD then

Tell them you already have a direct debit with them.

That strategy works with any chuggers.

Say sorry I do not sign up for any charity that uses methods like this. If you continue I will report you for harrassment.

I haven't seen any for a while, I'm planning to tell them about a charity I'm involved with and persuade them to set up a direct debit for that. I will be very passionate about my cause.

I had this issue with Guide Dogs for the Blind. They followed me out of the shop constantly talking about setting up a Direct Debit. They were incredibly pushy despite being told no.

Just say no and keep walking away, don’t stop. If they are in your way ask them to move. Don’t stop walking.

also write to WHSmiths, the local manager and the central office

write to the nspcc

Also report them to the council who should have oversight of street sellers

How about telling them you already give to X charity next time, that’s what I do

Never feel guilty for anything you do or say to a chugger OP.

This is not OK. I'm so sorry. You should contact the supporter services department of the NSPCC to make a formal complaint. UK charities are bound in all fundraising activities by the Fundraising Regulators code of practise - in this case, you should mention Section 8 - specifically.

8.1. 2 in the Code of Fundraising Practice You must avoid causing an obstruction, congestion and nuisance to the public. You must not deliberately block the path of members of the public.

8.1.1
While fundraising, you must not:• act in any way that might reasonably cause members of the public to be or become startled or anxious;• act dishonestly or manipulatively, or deliberately try to make a potential donor feel guilty.

Personally, i believe some
charities do need to use public facimg fundraisers, and yes they usually have to use outsourced to other companies - not many volunteers would want to do this, and the costs of hiring permanent in-house teams for face to face fundraising is very high. Sadly this leaves room for external companies to come along and fill the gap. Many of those companies have bad reputations or a few bad eggs. (Though not all of them).
The NSPCC will want to know about your experience, and they WILL he be legally bound to report such complaints to the Regulator each year.

I hope that helps, sorry you had such a shit experience. Especially with your daughter there, really disgraceful on the part of that fundraiser :(
X

Never engage. Don't make eye contact. Walk past them like they are invisible. I do this every time with chuggers. It's rude but so are they so I don't care.

Report them.

If they ask you again, tell them you hate children. That works. There's no point in humouring these people. Just be direct. "No, don't want to donate to dogs trust because dogs are shit." "I won't be helping the nspcc because kids are annoying." "I don't care about cancer." Etc.

You don’t owe them an explanation or excuse. Just a polite no thank you and continue walking past. If they persist then get loud and draw attention.

I just say I already donate and if they get their tablet out and start asking for name (which some do to check) I just say I already give you my money and now you want my time, I don't think so

Different tactic, but I've occasionally, shaken their hand, thanked them for doing a marvellous job, told them I've had a DD for years and am passionate about their organisation. Then walked off .

That’s awful OP! I hate being approached when I’m out or when people come to the door. So invasive! Definitely report them. My stock answer is that I already support the particular charity. So far nobody’s checked!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CIJBTTkSpW8

You are not alone

Report them to the council.

I get that people just want them to go away, but why SHOULD we have to lie? "No thank you " should be sufficient. As for the OP being berated for buying her child a treat - they really are tosspots.

I agree with other posters, just keep saying 'No' and walk past. it's the quickest and easiest way to deal with them.

However, if you feel forced to engage I would either say:

I already give to you

or

I have chosen my charities carefully and thoughtfully and I'm afraid you have not made the list this year, but I may reconsider in January, but I'm in a rush now, so please let me go.

or
Are you fucking kidding me? The NSPCC? There is no way in hell I would give to them. They refused to apologize for a member of staff masturrbating in a gimp costume in the office loos then putting it up on the internet? They were forced to sack him in the end, but called anyone homophobic who thought it was not a great look for a child safeguarding organization to have someone wearing fetish gear in the office. Or fact that they thought Munro Berghof would make a suitable ambassador shows why there is no way on earth that I would give them money.

(For more info do an Advanced Search on NSPCC on the Feminism Sex and Gender topic. The NSPCC has a record of serious misjudgment)

It won't be them, it's will be a fundraising agency acting on their behalf. They will want to know if their charity is being misrepresented in this way and may even stop working with this company. There will be a contact form on their website.

I have never heard of the term chuggers before. I shall use it now!

I once witnessed a “chugger” for the wildlife trust boot a duck, laugh with her fellow chugger and then ask me to support them. I was so horrified I had just witnessed her cruelty and then she had the audacity to ask me for money for the very cause she’d just been cruel to.

I did notify the charity and they seemed to take it seriously.

@familyportrait

It's fatal to get involved in any way. Simply say - if you wish - "no thank you" and pass by without stopping.

Not exactly the same, but years ago I ordered free leaflets online about conceiving and pregnancy.

The company that sent them, called me a year later, to ask how I found the leaflets and how was my baby?

I said that I'd actually had my 2nd MC the week earlier and had no baby. She then asked whether I'd like to make a donation for the cost of the leaflets! I said well no, they were free, there was no indication/request for a donation when I ordered them and I didn't feel it was right to ask me for a donation.

She continued 'Well what about all those that do have babies and found the leaflets helpful. Wouldn't you want to donate for them?'

The direct debit chuggers aren't actually employees of the NSPCC they are working on commission and the first year of your donations actually goes to the company that employs them and to their salary and bonuses.

They are not supposed to block you or to continue to engage with you if you don't engage with them. Strategy 1 is to completely ignore them. Strategy 2 if that doesn't work is to stick to a single non-engagement line eg "Leave me alone. Do not talk to me" - anything you say that gives them a reason why you don't want to donate or anything expressing an opinion they can reply to counts as you initiating conversation and it is legitimate for them to reply.

If they still try to engage with you after you say "Leave me alone. Do not talk to me" is them breaking the rules they are supposed to be operating on and yes it's fair to report them but it sounds like your previous exchanges could be characterised from their pov as you choosing to engage in conversation.