Chuggers (Aka Charity Muggers)

[Bbbananas]

Our high street is plagued with them.

I was approached 3 times yesterday by 3 different ones. They position themselves so you can hardly avoid them. Their training and tactics are so obvious; the false smiles, the 'chat-up lines', the extravagant gestures. One complimented me on my sunglasses, another on my choice of carrier bag fgs...

I feel sorry for the elderly who can't refuse them or ignore them. I snapped at the last one (the carrier bag comment was too much) who did back off when he knew he wasn't going to get anywhere.

I give £8.99 a month d.debit to the NSPCC and that is all I can afford. If I want to give to any other charity I will put myself forward to do so - I do not want to be accosted on my way to Marks & Spencer by a grinning unsincere 20 year old who has a degree in false flattery.

Am I mean? Uncaring? Selfish?

[LochNessMonster]

One poor sod got me in a bad mood. I said "Look if I want to hear an a***hole I will fart,.

He has avoided me ever since

Nessie 0 :- )

[tigerlelly]

Almost as bad are the doorsteppers and the never-ending succession of plastic bags through the letterbox asking for donations of things, mostly clothes. One memorable week we had 7 in 5 days. If I gave to them all I'd have nothing left in the house and be walking around naked. Not a pretty sight!

[atalanta]

Tell them you are on your way to the bankruptcy court

[daffy654]

I always used to put a hand up to stop them as soon as they launched into their spiel, then loudly declare "I'm not interested" whilst walking past and not looking at them. I may have seemed quite rude to them but I really don't care :)

[Bbbananas]

I did that yesterday daffy, quite forcibly. He still followed me !!!!

[daffy654]

That would then be when I swore at them salla ;-) I may only be little but can appear quite threatening when I really want to. lol

[Bbbananas]

You think that puts them off trigger? It doesn't.

[sandyRoe]

Worse still, they're coming to peoples houses now. I already give a little to charities that interest me and I don't want to be asked on my own doorstep to give more.

[rockyracoon]

One of these idiots earned himself a good shoving off my OH a few years ago, he pestered him from one end of the street to the other, jumping in front of him and persistently blocking his path, he must have been a fool as my OH is a big man. A Community Support officer saw it all happen and said she'd arrest him for assault, he told her to FRO as well.

[Bbbananas]

I had a young lad from the WWF (world wildlife fund - not world wrestling federation) on my doorstep last year. I told him I already gave regularly to NSPCC and that if I could afford to give more (I can't)' then I would choose to give to humans, not animals.

I had to almost forcibly remove his foot that he put in my doorway - he seriously thought I was going to hand over all my bank details ?!!!!!

[Sparkles62]

I know that seb, I still dont deal with people on the street or those that come to the door. I do my donating by dd through the bank. X

[Sparkles62]

And I NEVER EVERive my bank details to anyone at the door or on the street,
If I am interested in what they are doing then I ask for a leaflet or details of how I can contact them.............its amazing how many of these 'charity collectors' dont have them,
or are not allowed to give them out
Oh yeh.
I dont think so.

[daffy654]

I used to give to Asthma UK via direct debit but I got so fed up of them hassling me for more money via phone/email/text that I cancelled it.

[Eve]

I seem to have developed a "look" though it was getting ridiculous in the city centre, like running the gauntlet between them, street vendors, beggars, Big Issue sellers, free papers, survey people, preachers, non-chugger charity people.....

Chuggers re now restricted to certain parts of the main shopping street (both ends so you're safe in the middle) and some other areas and only one lot at a time, restricted numbers etc...

Makes them a little easier to avoid though I have resorted to having to be quite rude on occasions and usually front out asking them if they are being paid (which, of course, they are) and make a point that I object on that basis and that if I want to give I will do so directly.

[Eve]

I've also resorted to banning phone numbers I know are from people trying to sell me things I'm not interested in. I can block numbers from my mobile phone.

I usually try and be polite but have ended up hanging up on some of them. Hard sales people annoy me.