...to loathe charity-muggers, a.k.a. Chuggers.

[TheNightingaleComplex]

Why, oh why, can I not walk down my high street without being pounced on by a team of Chuggers trying to persuade/make/force me sign up to a direct debit to the latest charity.

To make things worse, when I say I'm not interested I either get a disapproving look or back-chat. Even worse, when it's a children's charity and you're made to feel like utter dirt because as a parent you're not helping all the children of the world.

Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against charities - and I do donate to charities - but only to the ones I've chosen.

Am I being unreasonable?

it takes a good long time (a year) for the charity to get any money from your donations at all, it all goes to the Chugging company first.

so don't feel bad for blaking them.

It's all a matter of approach. I hate that mock-flirting they do. And they do target women with children, which is a bit daft, because we are normally stressed up to our eyeballs on a shopping trip.

Generally speaking, I don't like salesman coming to my door, and find it very intrusive, but i did sign up to one charity because of the excellent approach of bloke. He actually worked for the charity concerned (one that helps victims of torture)

YANBU I'm also getting a little tired of charitys putting plastic bin liners through my door for old clothes etc. I've had 6 in a week!

Doesn'tMindGivingToCharityButThinksIt'sAllGotABitMuchTiggaxx

I tell them I give to the charity directly, to avoid the charity losing out by the commission they are paid.

....and while we are having a good rant....what fuckwit at Chugging Central ever suggested that finding a point in common and exploiting it was going to reap rewards? Only it was bad enough to have your leg in a sodding plaster cast and need a stick without some eejit pouncing on you because "you'll understand the problems of the disabled".

YANBU. I employ the firm "no" with a hand up method. Usually works.

I had a guy from a Braille charity knock at the door once and his opening line was "do you know how much it costs to produce a book in Braille?" to which I answered "yes actually, I work in book production". Totally took the wind out of his sails!

Over the summer while I was waiting for my operation I enjoyed listening to their speil about how wonderful X charity is, nodding enthusiastically and agreeing it sounds great. Then I said "I'm on long term sick" "so I have no money, but do have lots of time - do you have a number where I can phone about volunteering?"

I can't be bothered with them, I donate to Tommys and am about to run a 10k for them. I am a volunteer counsellor for childline which as well as taking calls involves lots of training/meetings etc. And will sponsor anyone doing a run/jump whatever as a one off. I think thats plenty and thats all I can afford. I have tried to logically explain this to them before as I used to think they got a hard time from people but they are determined to get your details "Just £3 a week" they do not get that i.do.not.have.any.more.spare.cash!!

We had a woman round formt eh St Johns ambulance service. She stood there and gave me a spiel about them and their good work, then said "And you can pay as much or as little as you want, you can set the amount"> To which I replied (with no real intention of setting it up) "£2 a month". She then said "oh no there's a minimum of £4 a week"
SO she lied then didn't she, she originally said that the donater could set the maount they wanted to pay and what maount they could afford, tehn changed it.

Now, when they knock on the door they say "Oh I've just been talking to Bill and Ben next door and they were really keen, whats your anme by the way" sotring it up so they can go to silly bitch next door and tell her saltire is really keen on signing up to this.
I just say that I already give, they have no way of knowing

But they don't irritate as much as bloody talk talk do.

I had a good one the other day.

Oxfam knocked on the door. Started spiel.
'Are you asking for money' I ask.
No, says she, For a subscription.
'So that's money isn't it'.
'Well yes'
'Bye'.

I find you have to be very firm with them. I look them in the eye and I say "I will never ever give my bank details to someone who accosts me in the street / knocks on my front door." and I increase the steelyness in my eye and add "never"

and they go all meek and say "ok"

ninedragons - the Hare Krishna's don't have anything to do with children with cancer, I'm pretty sure you are mistaken. The Hare Krishna's run a worldwide charity called Food For Life where they give out free food to the homeless people. I know because I use to volunteer for them.

The other day a smarmy overly-touchy-feely (incl to my kids) chugger for VSO told me I looked too well dressed not to be able to afford a direct debit. Tw@t.

Hate chuggers with a passion. Many of them know nothing about the charity whose name they are carrying, because, as has been indicated, they're not like someone in a charity shop (where only the manager is likely to be paid, and they care about the efforts of the charity) but aiming for a signup so they get their commission.

I was somewhat pleased to hear some woman from Oxfam on radio4 last week saying that they have 'stopped using them', then dismayed when she added 'for the moment'.

I avoid a couple of local stores that from time to time have collectors inside.

Charities are emplying top PR people at massive salaries ("the market rate" is how they are justified) to get us to cough up several billion pounds a year.

Some of the charities have reserves running into tens of millions (though the Iceland banks problem may have lost funds, for big and small charities).

Personally, I give when I can, and have been working on a website where community groups and small local charities will get money, while excluding the very big national charities which spend on "marketing".

I'm aiming at groups like PTAs etc, which could do with a cash injection of 250 to 5000.

I either
a) Just say 'NO' politely and firmly
b) Tell them I don't have a bank account
or
c) Go the long way back to my house/car to avoid the street they're 'working'. Which is ridiculous really, I shouldn't have to figure out a different route just so I'm not accosted and made to feel like an arsehole for not contributing to their 'buying wheels to replace the missing limbs of humpback dogs with migraine' charity.

Do you think they really are counterproductive? Because they've been around a while, so I would have thought that their effectivenes or otherwise had been tested. I don't have a problem with just saying that I'm not interested and walking on, and they don't really bother me.

Do you think they really are counterproductive? Because they've been around a while, so I would have thought that their effectivenes or otherwise had been tested. I don't have a problem with just saying that I'm not interested and walking on, and they don't really bother me.

And I really mean that...

LOL.

Well, they certainly seem to have annoyed enough people to have complaints about them. Even making up the name 'chuggers' which some charities have been miffed about... Maybe the fact Oxfam (and perhaps others) have stopped using them is because Oxfam at least understands the public considers them bad...

It may take a while (unfortunately) for others to accept they are counterproductive (by which time Oxfam might use them again!)

I do think that a lot of people will cancel DDs (current economic situation) and if they knew that a chunk of the first year might go in commission, would think twice about signing up in the street.

Perhaps the schemes should be handled in such a way that the person acting obo the charity could give a leaflet with some 'code number' which would allow them to get some commission, so they would only need to say 'are you willing to help ' and if yes, they give you a leaflet and talk about the charity At least that way they wouldn't annoy so many people.

Doesn't get away from the fact that they get commission and so it is used as an option if someone cannot get a job, and does reflect on them as they are not altruistic, but trying to earn cash for food, music, booze etc.

Even the nick 'chuggers' says it all!

Gone from the innocent days of being a 'charity collector' into a nearly mugger...

Oooooh this thread would be just perfect for the Daily Mail.