Chuggers

[lady_p_gold]

As soon as the summer starts our town is teeming with Chuggers (those young people who bound up to you working for Save the Children etc.) they are all trendy looking and working for different charities, but I believe I am right in thinking that not only are they paid quite well about �10-�12 an hour, but that if you sign up to a direct debit with them then the money does not actually reach the charity until about a year after it starts as it all goes to paying for this method of collection. They are very persistent and I think they do not have to ask for permission to collect like other charities with a tin .... although that might have changed, does anyone else find their methods a little distasteful and can anyone clarify exactly how it all works financially ????

[BigMac]

When the summer comes? How lucky you are!! It's impossible to walk on some streets near me (central London) on any day of the week, any time of the year - just try walking past the Royal Courts of Justice on Strand/Fleet Street.

On the finance side, I think you are correct to be concerned - I believe the payment is in the region you suggest and the net effect is that the charity pays upfront for the future income. Now, that's fine as a direct debit for a few pounds a month is very likley to be forgotten and so you have the positive effect (for the charity) of inertia - the same force that prevents most of us changing our bank accounts/credit card supplier and so on.

The charity gets a regular income against which it can budget/forecast which is probably a good thing, but the whole 'chugging' thing is distasteful.

[gary baldy]

You should treat them in the same way you would treat anyone who comes up to you in the street and tries to sell you something.
When i am asked
"Do you care about African Poverty/ Human Rights/ Global Warming/ Sicilian Donkeys etc etc"
I cheerfully reply
"no sorry - i am a complete facist and dont care about anything - good day!"

[redcrx]

As far as i know the collectors are not actually allowed to come up to you and ask for money as that is classed as begging.

They are a pain. I know of someone who was harrassed by one collecting for 'children with cancer' as he was pushing a buggy with a newborn in. When he said he had no money for them they continued to call afetr him in the street saying that no doubt he had money for his own child and what if it was she who had cancer.

These types of collectors (not all are like this though) mean that a person would be less inclined to give anyone money.

[Gef]

I just ignore them. They have no right to try and speak to me in the street.

[Narolines]

Is this a southern phenomenon or have I just been lucky? Never come across it in the MIdlands, and never heard of it till I read this thread......

[Gef]

Lots of them in Glasgow.

[Narolines]

Guess I must be just lucky, then. I pass on foot through the centre of my native city of Birmingham and my adopted home town of Solihull regularly and I have never ever come across them, nor have I heard of anyone else who has until this thread came up.