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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

F£$^%&g chuggers!

83 replies

babyignoramus · 22/07/2009 16:06

I was in town with a friend today. DS (5 months) is normally v. good natured but was screaming his head off having a bit of a whinge. I am heading to the shop my friend wants to go in, obviously in a hurry to get there so I can hide in a corner and whip him out of the pushchair to see what the matter is. 2 fecking chuggers tried to stop me with a screaming child. Do I look like I am able to stop and talk now you idiot?? Then when I leave the shop, having exhausted all possiblities and decided to take him home another one tries to stop the people in front of me effectively completely blocking the path - again I've got a screaming child and am clearly trying to run for the bus that has just stopped.

I hate them I hate them I HATE THEM!!

I feel better now. As you were.

OP posts:
MrsJamesMartin · 22/07/2009 16:07

What is a chugger?

LackaDAISYcal · 22/07/2009 16:08

what on earth is a chugger?

hercules1 · 22/07/2009 16:08

What's a "chugger"?

Jaquelinehyde · 22/07/2009 16:08

What the hell are chuggers!

SetSquare · 22/07/2009 16:08

a " charity mugger"
keen students trying to make oyou sign up and then making a living out of it

Wallace · 22/07/2009 16:09

charity mugger?

LackaDAISYcal · 22/07/2009 16:09

ah, i see.

well if they have annoyed you that much, take their names and report them to their agency.

I think perhaps HATE is a bit strong.

Frasersmum123 · 22/07/2009 16:10

A Charity Mugger - one of those people that tries to get you to sign up to a charity in the street.

Frasersmum123 · 22/07/2009 16:10

YANBU

wasabipeas · 22/07/2009 16:10

I feel your pain.
I took my very elderly grandparents out for lunch a few months ago.
My grandfather is very frail and can't walk unaided, so had a walking stick in one hand and was linked arms with me on the other side
And a f-ing chugger stepped out in front of us and tried to engage us in conversation.
Do we LOOK like we can stand around chatting?
I hate hate hate hate them with a passion

DesperateHousewifeToo · 22/07/2009 16:11

I always tell them that they are welcome to talk to me about x but I will not give them any money. They usually decline the 'chat' .

I have also listened to them before and argued with the obviously incorrect facts that they were telling me. Can't remember what it was about but was something I knew about and they clearly didn't.

YANBU

Jaquelinehyde · 22/07/2009 16:11

I normally just say, no thank-you and keep moving.

I doubt they intended to block your way, when leaving a shop.

Although I can see why this would have been a wee bit annoying. A loud excuse me I'm in a rush would have done the job I'm sure.

TheCrackFox · 22/07/2009 16:13

YANBU - they are a pain in the arse. Why, oh why does anyone hand out their bank details to a complete stranger on the street? I do give to charity but one I have researched.

JemL · 22/07/2009 16:13

As a fundraiser (I'm not a chugger, btw!) I probably do have do have more sympathy with them than most people. Some of them are lovely, really charming and charismatic, and they do the best - because they have the sense not to stop people who clearly are not going to be happy about it!

In your case, when they were obstructing you and being a pain, I would complain to the charity. It weeds out the bad ones.

Silver1 · 22/07/2009 16:18

Around here they are nearly all "bad ones". They really can be annoying-some accept a polite no thank you, whilst others, and I do mean a good few others follow you up the High St.

Original poster
babyignoramus · 22/07/2009 16:19

Sorry for the venom . I live in a town where they are very prevalent and they drive me bonkers. Today was worse because it was so busy in town and I was having one of those days where everyone around me seemed to be put on this earth to get in my way.

The one who blocked my way was standing on a very narrow bit of pavement right next to the bus stop. The problem here is that 'no thanks' doesn't work - they still stand in your way and say 'it'll only take a minute'.

OP posts:
junglist1 · 22/07/2009 16:20

Oh my God when I ignored one a few years back he called out HELLO?? sarcastically and I went MENTAL. Stormed over, screamed HELLO WHAT HELLO WHAT and told him to fuck off. The kids had been stressing me big time and he got the arse end of it. Now I give them filthy looks as I'm walking towards them and I haven't been bothered since (I do give to charities by the way).

AvadaKedavra · 22/07/2009 16:25

YANBU.

They can be like a dog with a bone sometimes and will NOT take no for an answer and follow you down the road and getting in front of you trying to get you to stop.

What's worse is when there are 4 more a little down the road and THEY try it on too!

frazzledgirl · 22/07/2009 16:32

I had to run the bloody gauntlet yesterday - three of them from the same damn charity accosted me within a couple of dozen yards.

When I got to the last one, I pointed out he'd seen me avoid the first two so what made him feel lucky?

He left me alone after that....

YANBU, BTW, bloody pests.

gagamama · 22/07/2009 17:24

I can't stand them. They give genuine fundraisers a bad name (and actually, the charity they're chugging for). What irks me more though are those hairdressing package ones, just plain-clothed salespeople standing around and reeling you in by telling you they like your hair.

Minshu · 22/07/2009 17:38

YANBU! Totally agree. I hate being stopped whether I'm in a hurry, or just hoping for a gentle amble round the shops. Apart from anything else, I don't like getting my purse out in the street. I give to certain charities on my terms.

If "no thank you" doesn't work first time, I tend to repeat it, just increasing the volume until they get out of the way. Anything else can be taken as an opener for conversation.

GentlyDoesIt · 22/07/2009 17:51

My usual advice - ask them where the nearest branch/project for the charity is.

If they don't have to read it off a card, they might be genuine. If they have no idea, it's all about the £ an hour. Nothing wrong with that, I did it myself as a student (lasted 3 days, it was horrible!), but don't allow yourself to be preached at.

McSnail · 22/07/2009 17:55

I would far rather give my money to Salvation Army type tin-shakers than a chugger. They are all without exception (IME) pushy little shites with stupid wooly hats, who think a bit of pseudo-flirting will flatter you into stopping and talking with them.

ThingOne · 22/07/2009 18:17

YANBU. I can't bear chuggers. Our town is full of them and some are stupid enough to jump in your way as a jolly jape to attract your attention. No, you arse, I've seen you from afar and I'm walking on the other side of the street because I don't want to talk to you. In our town they hunt in large packs, and you can easily have to say no to five as you go down the street and another three as you come back up.

I can't bear the emotional blackmail that some of them try if you even catch their eye. "Do you care about ....?" One once asked me why I didn't want to stop and chat and I said (politely) something along the lines of not giving to chuggers and he told me I was being rude calling them chuggers. Twat.

Sickofbloodyswineflu · 22/07/2009 18:20

The one that chased me literally through the street was neither charismatic or charming...she was an annoying little 18 year old who didnt understand the words 'no thanks'

She insisted that 'of course you have 5 minutes to save a childs life'..

I resisted to offer my 5 minutes to strangle a child (her).

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