I'd like to suggest a campaign to regulate charities use of 'Chuggers'.

[belledechocchipcookie]

I know they do a worthy job, generating income for the charities but there needs to be some sort of regulation as the chuggers are often intimidating and rude. I walk through the city centre and I see a different charity asking people for their bank account details every day. If I say 'I don't have time' because I'm running late I sometimes get abuse.
I'm also concerned that they are taking money off people who are vulnerable because they are not strong enough to say no. As there's a different charity every day doing the same thing then I imagine a lot of people's income can be taken away which defeats the object of the charity itself.
I'd like to be able to walk through my city centre without having to avoid them. I also receive visits whilst I'm in my home and I am bombarded with adverts whilst reading magazines and watching the TV. Life is hard for a lot of people at the moment and Chuggers using intimidation and guilt to get hold of bank details is a step too far.
They managed to raise funds before they used this method so why not revert back?

What do you think?

How much of every donation goes to fund the chuggers? It's like when they send the junk mail with the pen included - it is all paid for using money that someone donated to the actual cause the charity is supposed to be for, NOT to pay for glorified muggers to harass and intimidate people in the street as they go about their daily business. If I want to donate to a charity I will, I do not need to be stopped in the street and bullied into it.
One recently took the as when I said "no thank you" as she tried to hand me a leaflet asking for "just a minute of your time", she tried to hand it to my 4 yr old DS saying "give this to the lady". Being an observant sort of a child he just looked at it and enunciated very clearly "Mummy TOLD you she DOESN'T want any" and walked off.
I dread to think of the effect that these bullies have on people with depression, or other MH issues, or the elderly - they are quite upsetting sometimes to me and I am technically- an adult who knows that "words can never hurt me" and they still manage to make me feel terrible sometimes with the shit-- things they come out with. If I had my way they would be banned outright and any collectors would onyl be permitted to stand with a tin, and not speak until spoken too or approach anyone in any way. The only reason I'd allow the tins is for Poppy Day, otherwise, ban them all!

Well said Pom!

What Pom said!

bump.

bump

Aaaaargh this drives me crazy. Especially when they come to the door. Think it is just awful and it is harassment. But would it be a mumsnet campaign subject as it affects everyone equally, not just parents and children?

Agreed. I think they can very unscrupulous with who they sign up, I've seen them approaching elderly people who might not know quite what they are agreeing to, which is worrying. It's done very cynically by some charities who seem to employ attractive young people who then chat up passers-by who are flattered by the attention and agree to sign up. I also know of someone who signed over his account details whilst drunk (I know - his own silly choice to get drunk, but surely they would know he wasn't making an informed choice at the time).

I also find it annoying when there are lots of them all down one street and they see you say no to the first, yet all the others try as well, as though eventually you will be worn down and give in. Obviously I'm not averse to giving to charities, charities shops, collection boxes etc are all great but it should be a decision that you make independently, not something you're browbeaten into.

I'm currently engaged in a long running battle with my manager.
Our company has chosen a particular charity to support, and we are basically nagged to ask each customer if they have any spare change and would they like to donate any odd coppers. I disagree wholeheartedly with that. Fine to have a charity box and point it out to people when they ask if we have one, but not to mention it to every single customer.
This charity also uses Chuggers- I have been stopped by them directly outside work.
My point being I cannot ask customers to donate to a charity I know pays huge sums to agencies to hire these chuggers. The money raised is not going where donors believe it to be going and I cannot in good conscience ask them to continue funding public nuisances.
Lets just say, my manager is getting fed up of telling me. I just keep reiterating my argument. I'm hoping the broken record technique is working- she hasn't mentioned it to me since Monday's comment of "Ooh, the boxes weren't very full. I go on holiday and nobody asks". I shrugged and replied that she knew my stance on it and turned my back to the task I was engaged in.

I knew a former ringleader of chuggers, he said they charged the charity £30 for everyone they signed up on a £3.00 a month dd. So the first ten+ months go to pay for marketing before anything charitable is done. He justified by saying they have a budget and make money in the long term but I was

Regarding the cost to charities of the chugging companies, the charity that plagues us on our doorstep pays one million pounds for it's door to door chuggery.

I don't know, maybe you could say it is generating jobs or something, but I still hate it.

You're right, it's not just parents they accost in the street/at home. How do I get more people involved in this? Maybe it could be a joint campaign? Age concern, MIND etc.

I hate it. Personal space violated every time you go into town.

It's horrible Sparklingbrook.

So how do people start a campaign? Our city centres shouldn't be like this.

Maybe get some advice from your MP? As it is detrimental to the quality of life of their constituents and presumably it will require a change in the law to make it illegal to solicit for direct debits (I just read Wikipedia on it, which seemed to suggest that is why they get away with it, because they ask for direct debits not cash).

That's a great plan. I'll make an appointment and print this out if that's OK. I really hate to think of them taking advantage of vulnerable people like this. It defeats the object of charity and goes against all they stand for.

Thank you

I totally agree. It is such a waste of precious funds and what angers me the most is that, for example, if you agree to a £15 pcm direct debit, that pays for about an hour and a half of the chugger's time, so hundreds of people's donations which they think are going to help homeless/ starving/ vulnerable groups are simply paying someone's wages. Next time I see a chugger I will tell them I don't support charities which employ chuggers because if they can afford to pay them £10+ p/h, which is more than I get doing care work with vulnerable people, then the charity clearly has too much money already!

I don't mind a few people shaking tins. They are often volunteers though, and don't pressurise people who cannot afford it, unlike chuggers.

This issue has a long loooooong history. This briefing note from the House of Commons (July 2011) sets out lots of the background and issues.

Also some interesting info here on the arguments for and against, and how chuggers are regulated.

I'd suggest you write to your MP and ask him to ask Nick Hurd, the charities minister, what plans he has for tighter regulation of chuggers.

I've noticed quite a decline in the numbers of chuggers recently and they seem confined to certain spots - do they need permission from the local council to operate?
If so, lobbying local councillors to stop them getting permission to chug in your area might work.

Also they seem to have moved to 'just providing information' in some cases - wasn't sure how true that was but one I said 'yeah right' to said 'look! No direct debit forms! Just leaflets for people to take away!'

Given the anti-compulsion bent of the current government, I suspect poking councils and the Charities Commission into creating better 'best practice' is most likely to get somewhere.

Thank you. The briefing note link doesn't work.

I'm going to gather some evidence, do some research and have a chat with my MP. I think it's every other city as well as mine which has them so I'd like to help others also.

Oh god I hate them. I particularly hate that they've started coming to the door at 5ish to bother me in my own home. (VSO tonight).

I will never ever give out my bank details in the street/on the doorstep.

Sorry about link! Here's the House of Commons briefing note (I hope!).

The Charity Commission doesn't directly regulate street fundraisers, and wouldn't create best practice on the issue. As this note, and my other link, say, it's done by self-regulation. The House of Commons note sets out the existing regulatory framework, and the bodies responsible. Agree that in the current political climate you are very unlikely to get the government agreeing to more regulation - in fact there is a big "cut red tape" drive, with every piece of new regulation / legislation having to go through loads of hurdles to get through (see www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/home/index/ this "Red Tape Challenge" for example from the Cabinet Office).

Good idea to do some background research (using my links!!!).

Gr - typing and posting too quickly! Sorry! Red Tape Challenge

Thank you, I was once a Lawyer so I'm good at research and understanding jargon.

They are awful! My mum has about 20 direct debits coming out of her account each month cos she has signed up to every one of these things. She doesn't particularly know anything about the charities or their work or where the money goes, just blindly assumes she is 'doing good'. She probably can afford it (just about) but I imagine there are lots of people who sign up and really can't afford to do so.

I hate the guilt tripping thing. I hardly ever give to charity anymore because those bloody chuggers have pissed me off so much. ( I know...I'm an old meany)