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AIBU?

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Original poster

To report NSPCC child line?

109 replies

familyportrait · 30/01/2025 18:11

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!

OP posts:
2025ishere · 31/01/2025 10:34

I sometimes feel sorry for the polite ones , knocking on door after door and getting rejected. Some of them are probably young people desperate for work. One looked so dejected after I said no, I thought he was quite vulnerable and the young people’s charity he was chugging for should be supporting him not giving young people this kind of work. I emailed and complained that they shouldn’t be involved in what seems to be exploitation of young people but just got a water off a duck’s back kind of response that they weren’t directly employed by them. Missing the point as they contract the employers. Obviously the one’s OP came across were totally out of order.

2025ishere · 31/01/2025 10:41

JC03745 · 31/01/2025 10:14

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?'

So sorry you had that awful experience

OwlInTheOak · 31/01/2025 10:44

That's completely unacceptable.
Especially for a charity working for children, trying to guilt you about buying something for your child and being intimidating infront if a child is disgusting.
I would report it to the charity and the shop.

Mama2many73 · 31/01/2025 10:59

I either don't make eye contact and just walk past or if I get caught I say 'I can't commit to a monthly payment, sorry'.

If I felt intimidated or they stopped me leaving I think I'd do a loud 'please move out of my way' so other people pay attention, or walk back into the shop and make a fuss with a staff member/manager.

WouldIBeMad · 31/01/2025 11:02

Report - when I was on maternity leave (14 years ago) I used to do their £2 a month thing, they called and asked me to up it to £7 - I said I couldn't afford to right now as I was on Mat Leave, and they said that was selfish and not every child was as lucky as mine. They pushed and pushed, and in the end I hung up, called their main line and cancelled my DD and told them why. I was, and still am, so disappointed.

Mama2many73 · 31/01/2025 11:02

Hihihello193 · 31/01/2025 07:43

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

Well I've just screen shot that info!

Thank you !!

Jc2001 · 31/01/2025 11:04

It's a real pet hate of mine when stores allow the chuggers set up camp by the exit. I would complain to the atore.

Mama2many73 · 31/01/2025 11:05

JC03745 · 31/01/2025 10:14

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?'

Wow! Just wow!
How completely shock of her! !

What awful thing to have experienced!

Dotjones · 31/01/2025 11:09

If you have the time to spare it can be quite good fun to mess with chugger scum. Google "fuck over a chugger" for tips, but my favourite method is to turn the tables on them and hassle them into giving you their money and details for a charity that is of interest to you. It's a form of public service, every second of their time you waste is a second they're not hassling some other innocent person.

Remember, chuggers are not humans in the strictest sense of the word, so pretty much any tactic outside of physically assaulting them is fair game.

Mama2many73 · 31/01/2025 11:13

Door step ones.

DH was out, I was seeing to the 2 kids getting them to bed just before 9pm when there was a knock at the door..
I went to answer and it was a young woman and I preempted and said really sorry but I'm in the process of getting the kids to bed, I'm not interested.
Her response was oh how lucky your kids are a warm loving home....at Barnardos we want every child to have that.....it's only £... a moth it's not really much to ask.
My reply was I'm a foster carer, we open our home, and hearts, to these kids, we're here 24/7 for them. I think we're doing more than enough and we dont need to be paying a monthly sum aswell and I really dont appreciate being caught on my doorstep at 9pm.
She left.

WhatNoRaisins · 31/01/2025 11:15

Jc2001 · 31/01/2025 11:04

It's a real pet hate of mine when stores allow the chuggers set up camp by the exit. I would complain to the atore.

I'm surprised they aren't worried about customers seeing the chuggers and giving their shop a miss. Do they get a cut of the money or something?

RaveToTheGrave1 · 31/01/2025 11:30

We get a lot of them around knocking doors where i live, they come here as its mostly older folks and they know they won't send them away, they very loudly get told to piss off now, they've been literally hounding elderly neighbours before

Hedgerow2 · 31/01/2025 11:33

Your mistake is engaging in conversation with them. Just push past if they won't get out of your way. Or say, 'I already donate' and walk on.

Member984815 · 31/01/2025 11:34

WaneyEdge · 30/01/2025 18:14

I would report. They should take no for an answer. I’d possibly contact the manager of WH Smith too.

Yes report to the shop. I'm sure they don't want their customers harassed every time they are leaving the shop .

Daniki · 31/01/2025 11:44

Definitely report them. As they are working on commission that's what they are so pushy. They couldn't give two fucks where your money is going, they just want their commission! Horrible job( I did it for 2 days when I was 18, just walked away one day absolutely not worth the hassle 😂)

murasaki · 31/01/2025 11:45

I had some bar my way on my way back from my lunch break. They were asking if I didn't care about cancer research. I greatly enjoyed the look on their faces when I said that the faster i could get back to my desk, the more actual work to support cancer research i would be doing.

I worked in a science department supporting several people working on cancer research and cancer adjacent research, so it was no word of a lie.

HarryVanderspeigle · 31/01/2025 12:31

I tell them that I am a horrible person and don't care about starving children, abused puppies etc. When I lived abroad I just td them I didn't have a bank accountin that country, but it really only works if you have a foreign accent.

Original poster
familyportrait · 31/01/2025 12:53

murasaki · 31/01/2025 11:45

I had some bar my way on my way back from my lunch break. They were asking if I didn't care about cancer research. I greatly enjoyed the look on their faces when I said that the faster i could get back to my desk, the more actual work to support cancer research i would be doing.

I worked in a science department supporting several people working on cancer research and cancer adjacent research, so it was no word of a lie.

What an incredible 'gotcha' moment and what a title to have under your belt!!

Thank you (from someone dx with an incurable cancer) for all the work you do.

I'd have loved to been a fly on the wall during the altercation!

OP posts:
Original poster
familyportrait · 31/01/2025 12:53

Hedgerow2 · 31/01/2025 11:33

Your mistake is engaging in conversation with them. Just push past if they won't get out of your way. Or say, 'I already donate' and walk on.

They were practically blocking the doorway for me to make an exit.

OP posts:
murasaki · 31/01/2025 12:58

familyportrait · 31/01/2025 12:53

What an incredible 'gotcha' moment and what a title to have under your belt!!

Thank you (from someone dx with an incurable cancer) for all the work you do.

I'd have loved to been a fly on the wall during the altercation!

Show quote history

I was grinning like a Cheshire cat as I stomped past them.

So sorry re your diagnosis, you really don't need this hassle at this time. In fact, if you feel comfortable with it I'd include it or a vague comment in a complaint in that they have no idea what is going on with people's lives and shouldn't harass them anyway. Take care.

Hedgerow2 · 31/01/2025 12:59

They were practically blocking the doorway for me to make an exit.

Then just push past/say 'excuse me' loudly. If - in the unlikely event - they continue to physically block your way, find a member of staff and tell them they won't let you leave the shop.

WallaceinAnderland · 31/01/2025 15:11

They were practically blocking the doorway for me to make an exit.

Practically but not actually. Just move past and ignore them. Do not engage in any way. It's not that hard.

CandidRaven · 31/01/2025 15:33

I hate this behaviour from these people too, definitely report it, a simple no should be enough and they shouldn't be guilt tripping people

murasaki · 31/01/2025 15:41

On a lighter note, the ones who turned up at my door trying to get my direct debit details for a dog charity were told that my two cats wouldn't approve.

Hekett · 31/01/2025 16:40

I had an NSPCC one literally follow me down the street once continually badgering me, he was fucking relentless and just would not stop. His final comment to me was “so you believe in child abuse then?” And I said back “it depends on the child” to make him back off (which worked, although maybe not my finest moment)