Charity fundraisers in the street are annoying
First off, I’d like to say that I know that in general they do a good job. I have frequently given time and money to charities in the past myself and I still think that they are a worthwhile cause. |
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However, my gripe with charities has been triggered by recently having to run the gauntlet several times at a London tube station, as well as a round of recent visits from the charity workers who call on your doorstep. The tin shakers at the entrance to the tube usually aren’t a problem and I have in the past been more than willing to throw some change into the tin and carry on with my journey. |
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I think that their fundraising methods however, have become a bit more aggressive in recent times. Although, maybe that is too strong a word, perhaps it would be more correct to say that they have taken the initiative to be more ‘interactive’ with the general public. Anyway, when you use public transport as often as I do, it gets very irritating when you are repeatedly stopped, often by the same person and asked if you “can you spare some time” for whatever charity. Sometimes more than one charity can be found “manning the gates”, and it feels to me like they are trying to push the public conscience a just little too hard! Another aspect of charity fundraising that I find annoying are collectors that turn up on your doorstep, even though you declined to support their cause the month before. For example, that Christian Aid guy the other evening that came knocking on my door. I sent him away last month but he came back this week so I told him the envelope had probably been thrown away with the recycling. End of story, but no, he asked me if I wanted another one. I should think I would have asked for one if I wanted one. The say charity begins at home, but do they want to move in now as well? |
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Comments from visitors
I usually pretend to be deaf and wave my hands about in make believe sign language. I have never known one not to back off in a hurry yet.
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Charities have become a scourge, both on and off the streets. It they are not hassling you in droves around the town centre, then they are pushing plastic bags through your front door, and even worse, knocking it and in a round about way, asking for your cash! Even the TV news has become a selling point for charities. Find an issue, get it reported and a couple of days later hang around the streets hassling people with the opening selling line ''Did you see the report on TV?'' If I gave money to every charity collector who bothered me, then I would have to set up my own charity to support it. I have given to charity and I still do...but harassing people in the streets and on the doorsteps will only put people off giving. It is a step backwards.
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Dunc -Wolverhampton - 14-Jul-11 20:22
I agree!
Today again, I have been made to feel bad in Morrison due to kids stuffing your shopping into bags without asking. But what else can be expected? Morrisons will be seen as helping charities and also, and mainly in my opinion, as getting customers through the till quicker. Win-win for them, more revenue!! But for some customers, a totally off putting experience!!
As you also state, I have no problem with charity in general. But when it becomes almost forced, its time to say enough is enough. I have email them with a complaint.
Today again, I have been made to feel bad in Morrison due to kids stuffing your shopping into bags without asking. But what else can be expected? Morrisons will be seen as helping charities and also, and mainly in my opinion, as getting customers through the till quicker. Win-win for them, more revenue!! But for some customers, a totally off putting experience!!
As you also state, I have no problem with charity in general. But when it becomes almost forced, its time to say enough is enough. I have email them with a complaint.
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And the same goes for door knockers. If I have to explain my reasoning to them face to face, so be it.
-7
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Harsh But Fair - 13-Sep-10 17:59
Tin shakes get short shrift from me. The more vigorously they shake it in front of me, the more determined I am to ignore them.
I'm all for charity, but I like to give completely of my own free will and with no influence from someone who should know better.
I'm all for charity, but I like to give completely of my own free will and with no influence from someone who should know better.
+5
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Harsh But Fair - 13-Sep-10 17:58
We bought 2 Skoda Elegance 1.9 Tdi in 2006 (56) plate, last of the old model. The previous two traded in as px against the new ones. The deal was £12995 less £6400 px after 42 months and 58k on each. Depreciation of 52% of cost price - not bad. Now I am looking again to replace both cars with the new Fabia 3. Offer for the old cars, same age 42 months old, same mileage 58k- offer £3500 at 3 Skoda garages, Depreciation of 73%. Non of dealers are able or willing to expalin the depreciation. Any talk of future depreciation is bland!
It also seems strange that the 2006 model Fabia both have had door leaks, anit roll bars problems, brake squelling, lights blowing, boot catches sticking closed etc! What are Skoda paying at - dont they want Brand localty? The dealer service - well only to say I dont take to liars or either myself of wife being treated as idiots.
Overall we do like the cars - and therefore may stick another year out. Whopps - just been told the costs of the cambelt replacement at a huge £300+. VW design is awful if it takes 6 hours to change a cambelt.
It also seems strange that the 2006 model Fabia both have had door leaks, anit roll bars problems, brake squelling, lights blowing, boot catches sticking closed etc! What are Skoda paying at - dont they want Brand localty? The dealer service - well only to say I dont take to liars or either myself of wife being treated as idiots.
Overall we do like the cars - and therefore may stick another year out. Whopps - just been told the costs of the cambelt replacement at a huge £300+. VW design is awful if it takes 6 hours to change a cambelt.
-6
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"I don't speak English and this is the only sentence I know!"
With friends, I laugh out loud. Alone, I still laugh, hoping my temporary insanity would curb their attack.
With friends, I laugh out loud. Alone, I still laugh, hoping my temporary insanity would curb their attack.
+9
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One of my local charity shops are always asking for more . I am a regular customer and spend quite a bit with them they have some great stuff. but everytime I go in they are forcing bags on me to fill with donations. Asking if I would like to become a volunteer. Shoving a try full of red heart badges suggesting I should give them a £1.00 or persuading me to write a love note to go into the window...........!!!!! At the end of the day I don't want to shop there anymore they have now lost out on a good customer.
+2
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Stare at the charity muggers in the eye, do not move a muscle and bark out loudly but clearly 'Nein'. Message delivered and received.
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Rider of the Apocalypse - 10-May-10 15:39
There's a good old-fashioned phrase which I always use for the chugger/survey/catalogue agent/clipboard brigade who persist in trying to impede my progress through the local town centre, and it is, "Not todaaaaaay, thank you!" delivered in a Hyacinth Bucket-type wail. Works a treat!
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I noticed the collection tin rattlers are always hanging around the 'Covert Your Change' machine (where you tip your jars of coppers into a machine that takes 8.9% of it and gives you a voucher to redeem at the till) in Morrison's where I live. As the machine is inside the supermarket, obviously they have Morrison's permission to make people feel guilty for not giving the parasites anything. Also they have charity workers who start helping you pack your shopping and then they expect you to give them money for it for their particular 'charity'! When you think most money donated to charities goes on 'admin' and the rest is given to keep dictators in Africa in luxury while the people you gave it for are left living in sh1t, it's not surprising people avoid them like the plague.
+10
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The chuggers have been getting worse, especially since they've started to turn up on doorsteps. I had an encounter with an Oxfam guy who was particularly rude when I expressed my lack of interest in continuing the conversation. Your one doesn't sound rude, just clueless, but if you have anyone being an ass I'd suggest that you complain to both the organisation in question and to their watchdog, the PFRA. Maybe if enough people voice their dislike of this kind of approach they'll eventually get the message.
+12
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irritated householder - 12-Mar-10 15:55
I've got nothing against donating to charitiesblocking the automatic door.On my exit again
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If you live in Manchester you will know St Annes Square is teeming with charity workers. Usually, a polite but firm "No thank you" will work but you do get the more aggressive ones who pretty much run after you. Recently, one did some kind of arm waving dance in front of me, making it difficult to pass. Give these people your personal details at your peril (believe me I've done this). Once the charity have your contact details they will be forever phoning you about 8:45pm, telling you that if you could "Increase your contributions by another £20 a month, we can help even more........". Charity is a great thing and is unfortunately needed in this world. But I know as well as most people that the directors of these organisations are on hefty salaries which is a contradiction in my view. I'll continue to put a quid in a collection box from time to time.
+9
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If you live in Manchester you will know St Annes Square is teeming with charity workers. Usually, a polite but firm "No thank you" will work but you do get the more aggressive ones who pretty much run after you. Recently, one did some kind of arm waving dance in front of me, making it difficult to pass. Give these people your personal details at your peril (believe me I've done this). Once the charity have your contact details they will be forever phoning you about 8:45pm, telling you that if you could "Increase your contributions by another £20 a month, we can help even more........". Charity is a great thing and is unfortunately needed in this world. But I know as well as most people that the directors of these organisations are on hefty salaries which is a contradiction in my view. I'll continue to put a quid in a collection box from time to time.
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A person collecting money for "the blind" approached my friend who is quite clearly blind ( big guide dog). As a joke my friend suggested that he cut out the middle man and just give her the money now. He was extremely huffy and offended. Apparently they don't have a sense of humour!
+6
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I have a friend who worked as a chugger (team leader no less) and was bragging about earning the grand sum of 17k... my husband audited the same charity, and discovered that the average rate which actually ends up in charity coffers after chugger wages, expenses, bank charges, admin etc is 2p in the £, where a straight donation was adding 40p in the £ (still pathetic don't you think??)
+3
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I've got nothing against donating to charities, but my pet peeve is the guilt trip some of the larger charities try and lay on you n the form of TV commercials. I make it a point never to give to any charity which advertises on TV, purely because the money they spend on the commercials should be used for whatever cause they're meant to be supporting.
-9
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I am employed by a charity we are unique in that our wages are paid for by our FOunder, this means that we do give everything collected to our children, knowing that we can do this and seeing how much we struggle with collections, it annoys me that many charities as you so rightly have pointed out skim a lot of the collected money off to cover wages etc.
Maybe its a question you should be asking before you donate, maybe you should only donate to those of us who pay our own way and use all your money in the way you intended your donation to be spent!
Maybe its a question you should be asking before you donate, maybe you should only donate to those of us who pay our own way and use all your money in the way you intended your donation to be spent!
+6
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Remember 'Chuggers' (Charity muggers) are not usually employed by the charity, but by a fund raising company working on behalf of the charity. There was a programme on Radio Four that suggested that the charity only gets a small proportion, something like 25-30% of the amount donated, as the company takes it's cut.
+3
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