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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want to be asked for charity donations every time I pay for something in a shop?

203 replies

pennyHD · 01/07/2025 14:51

It’s happening everywhere; even at a self serve check out we’re asked if we want to ‘round up’ for charity.

Every single charity shop I go in now does it at the till. I’m always polite and say no, not today when they ask for more money, but a man who works in one of the shops I go in takes a no very personally and starts slamming the till around and shoves my receipt in my hand whilst glaring at me. He once shouted at me for not wanting to ‘help people’ when I said no.

I give a lot to charity but I want to donate when and how I choose to, and not be put on the spot.

And as for shops like Tesco asking for charity donations, they can fuck right off and donate out of their hefty profits.

OP posts:
NC28 · 01/07/2025 14:54

Agree. McDonald’s do it too.

The worst ones are when you go to pay for something in a shop, the cashier hands you the card reader and you need to press the green button (yes) or red button (no) as it’s asking for a donation on the screen.

Either look like a cheapskate, or be forced to give when you don’t want to. I don’t like it.

Passionfloweronthefence · 01/07/2025 14:55

It should be opt in and no need to opt out

vincettenoir · 01/07/2025 14:55

It has only happened to me at the self service checkout. I take the same view as you that I donate to charity in other ways and choose not to donate when I shop. But apparently charities do make a lot of money from this so I guess it has a net benefit effect.

pennyHD · 01/07/2025 14:57

Even Savers have started doing it now. God it pissed me off

OP posts:
Cracklingsilverwear · 01/07/2025 14:58

Channel your inner ‘I don’t give a fuck how much you are crashing about’ smile sweetly and say ‘no thankyou’

thry can only get to you if you if you let them

smile . No thank you. Move on with your day .

TheWorminLabyrinth · 01/07/2025 14:58

I hate it too. I'm skint, 25p every time I go into a shop adds up for me.

I will also add to this how supermarkets now have charities standing at the checkout exits accosting people. In my local Morrisons it's a different charity every week. If I could chuck loose change in a bucket, I would do that, but I am not signing up to a direct debit!

Youllnevergetabetterbitofbutteronyourknife · 01/07/2025 14:59

I really hate it too!

NC28 · 01/07/2025 14:59

Charities will make a fortune because:

  • people hit the wrong option on the self-serve screen and would never ask the employee in the shop to remove a 71p donation.
  • people are aware that the person in the queue behind them might be watching and judging accordingly
  • they are always small amounts of under £1, and when you’ve just bought £30 worth of wine, chocolate and food, the guilt does hit some people.
PhilippaGeorgiou · 01/07/2025 15:01

I agree. At the beginning of each year I decide what I will donate to and that is the end of the matter. A couple of places always on the list, others may vary according to circumstances. If shops or other businesses wish to donate then they can do so from their (tax deductable) profits.

Mintsj · 01/07/2025 15:04

It is incessant. We have a direct debit and also sometimes do something sponsored. We pay thousands in taxes, council tax, we pay university fees. We pay enough. We take next to nothing back - bin collections I suppose. I don't usually give anything in shops and would actively avoid them if I was treated like the man in your shop treats you. Bezos can have my money instead as he doesn't bloody whinge at me.

ohtowinthelottery · 01/07/2025 15:09

They've done it in my local petrol station for years. Sometimes the guy behind the counter leans over and clicks no on the keypad without asking, so I assume nobody donates this way. I also find it annoying.
Go Outdoors do it now too.
I suppose it's a reflection of the fact no-one carries coin anymore, so the collecting boxes on the counter in days gone by are virtually defunct.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 01/07/2025 15:10

He once shouted at me for not wanting to ‘help people’ when I said no.

He would have received a snarky comment from me.

I both resigned myself and hardened my heart a long time ago to this sort of thing. I think charity giving should be like religion… private. I’m not ashamed in any way to say no, either out loud or with a button click to this type of request.

SparklyBrickViper · 01/07/2025 15:11

It is getting ridiculous isn’t ?

4 out of the 5 shops was press red for no green for yes, and I’m not even sure what charities they were collecting for.

Also being asked to give a review for anything and everything, multiple times.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 01/07/2025 15:13

Iceland were doing this but seem to have stopped, maybe enough people complained

PlipPlapPlop · 01/07/2025 15:13

The staff in my local Superdrug all press the red button for “no” before they tell you the price, don’t know if they’ve been told to.
Being asked on seemingly everything now just makes me press no unless it’s a hospice.

UrbanFan · 01/07/2025 15:14

I always decline. I prefer to choose who and when I make charitable donations to. I prefer local small charitable organisations that don't have the clout of the ones selected by Tesco and the like.
Everyone has their hand out these days and the way these big companies have decided to 'show' how good they are and they insist on guilt tripping their customers. Well they can get lost. With their billions of pounds profits they can shore up their chosen charities.

Gonepaddling · 01/07/2025 15:15

Driving me mad too, shops, restaurants and this week even my local charity shop.

But just as maddening is the barrage of questions you have to go through to use a self service checkout in some places. Scan your loyalty card, do you want a bag? how do you want to pay? can you insert your card? do you want to make a charity donation? do you want a receipt?

No I just want to scan my goods, flash my card and walk out for goodness sake.

Persephoknee · 01/07/2025 15:15

I hate it too. Like you have to be joking, how many more ways are you going to think up to get my money? Don’t get me started on subscriptions! Omg.

SaturdayDream · 01/07/2025 15:16

The shops I’ve been in don’t ask but it’s on the card machine as an option.

goingtotown · 01/07/2025 15:33

Poundland do it too.

Velmy · 01/07/2025 15:36

Press 'no' and crack on with your day, it's completely inconsequential.

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 01/07/2025 15:37

I went to Aldi yesterday and it popped up with "rate your experience". So much for a quick till experience. It's really annoying.

TheWisePlumDuck · 01/07/2025 15:40

YANBU.

I have perfected the thousand yard stare and just pretend they aren't there the second I spot them.

I don't even bother replying anymore if they try to call out, as a polite refusal is often met with rudeness or further attempts to engage.

MsFogi · 01/07/2025 15:43

I suspect these shops are also then quoting these amounts donated in the totals for what they (as a company) are donating/raising for charity each year. I would also be interested to know if they are off-setting these amounts against tax.

spoonbillstretford · 01/07/2025 15:43

I'd rather be asked to add a bit onto a bill if it gets rid of all chugging.