Or just a GOW?

(On a side note, it's astonishing how badly some people pack their own bags. So they won't care if the packers put meringues on the bottom etc)

I always say No, thank you to bag packers, but still usually give them a donation.
It's my choice how I pack my bags and it's also my choice whether I donate, is the way I see it.
I expect some people are happy to have their bags packed in exchange for a small donation, tho.

There were people from the Air Ambulance charity by the entrance to Lidl's when I went shopping this week, accosting everybody who was trying to get in, asking for a sign-up and querying any refusal. OK, it's a wonderful charity but why should I have to explain why I can't donate? I already have several "pet" charities to whom I give by standing order and my budget won't stretch to any more, but it's embarrassing saying this to disbelieving faces. I think it's actually counterproductive for the charity. I used to give regularly to an animal charity who gave out collecting boxes for your small change but they started to ring me up more and more frequently asking when I was going to send them the collected money, followed by requests to know if I was going to leave them a legacy in my will, so eventually I told them (politely) to b****r off and leave me alone, so they lost out through being so pushy.

I donate to two charities, animal and cancer charities. I decline others unless I feel they are particularly struggling however I haven't a bottomless purse and have taught myself to say no. What I find embarrassing and not welcome is bag packers set up at every available checkout in my local supermarkets. Personally I feel it is emotional blackmail and I really don't want anyone packing my bags but myself. Broken eggs, squashed loaves are not my thing so I tend to avoid so supermarkets. Squiffy, can I borrow your tin hat please lol.

I have collected for RNLI (a few years ago) outside a large supermarket near where I used to live. On no account were we allowed to "rattle our lifeboats" or invite people to contribute. I always said "thank you" for donations.

Anyone who rattles a tin in my face had better be able to move fast, I can weild a mean walking stick.

I support many Charities & often drop an odd £1 coin in boxes when I'm out shopping.

Being a GOW has it's advantages even though I'm not really

When I was in a supermarket a while ago, there were collectors for Guide Dogs for the Blind, asking people to sign up.

It's a charity for which I have great respect, and I offered a donation. However, they didn't want that! They wanted me to sign up, giving bank details, to make regular donations by direct debit.

I refused to give details and walked away, and they lost the donation!

A quick search on the internet suggests there are local guidelines or that the charity itself may have guidlines. See below
The Collection

While regulations do not directly state that you cannot 'rattle your tin', the Metropolitan Police's guidance states that:

No collection shall be in such a manner as to cause, or be likely to cause, danger, obstruction, inconvenience or annoyance to any person.

Read the Metropolitan Police's gudiance

Remember to check the conditions of any licence as they may have additional stipulations.

www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk/guidance/fundraising-disciplines/community-and-volunteer-fundraising/charitable-collections/

I always just keep walking and will say over my shoulder, I already donate to others, because I do. So I won’t let anyone make me feel harassed, just be assertive with them, they soon give up.

I agree strongly here, and I have also felt harassed by collectors. I discovered that the collectors who stand in the street or shopping centres with an elaborate stand with brochures etc. are from companies employed to drum up money for the specific charity and if you sign up they take a proportion of your donation EVERY month, not just the first one! I was horrified by that. We donate to cancer research and I had a call from a strident woman who asked if we could up the donation; I explained that we donated to several charities and could not give more. She persisted for a good five minutes asking for 'just another five pounds, just another three' until I had to get quite rude and say that if she didn't understand no I needed to hang up. I also mentioned the cut they take every month and asked if her company did that and she instantly started blustering and moved back to asking for more money. I can see how fragile people end up giving half their income away, and my thoughts went to the poor old lady who sold poppies for many years and ended up committing suicide a few years ago because she was deluged by charity demands.

I agree, I hate having it pushed in my face. And I really to object to be asked at tills if I want to donate to a charity, I feel guilty when I say no, yet they have no idea that I donate regularly to several charities and have done voluntary work in the past. People should not feel pressured in any way into giving money. In fact this actually will put me off going into a shop

Regarding car washers at Sainsburys, does anyone know what happened to them ? they were there one day and the next day the trolleys and washers had disappeared. I have since noticed their container/shed has been removed.

I choose who I give money to regarding charities and it won’t be those who shove tins in my face.Totally agree with you.

I was accosted by someone from Dogs Trust in our supermarket. I replied that I was scared of dogs having been bitten as a child. It took the wind out of his sails!

Free will.

Giving without being hassled is true charity.

That’s why I say not right now.

How do people fee though about being approached by Rumanians to wash their cars outside supermarkets while you shop? This is much worse than charity buckets. I really dislike this, because they are quite pushy. I complained to Sainsburys once about it. They phoned me back and said many people had complained, yet they are still there doing it.

I always give to buskers on the Tube, love the uplifting sound of music in a dull stressful place. And I consider that I am paying for a service. I have been known to remonstrate with a policeman trying to move them on!

I am on a personal mission to persuade French shops to put out charity boxes for all that loose change that you don't want cluttering up you purse, as in UK. Much better than shaking a tin in you face.

I never give when asked at the till even if it is a charity I would support. It will then be 'TK Maxx donates £..m to X charity' when it is not them donating it at all. It hasn't happened to me there though. It did happened at a Spa I went to a few years ago and they added it to the bill and I had to tell them to remove it which was very annoying.
I also haven't seen any chuggers recently. Save the Children were the worst and with that and them having Sam Cameron as a patron, are no longer a charity I support.
I don't really say anything other than 'no' although I say it politely unless they are pushy in which case they should be told forcefully.
They have made things difficult for themselves. It should be easy just to give a text donation but too many charities abused that and sold people's numbers. They try to guilt people by sending you things like a pen or labels.

Couldn't agree more - pestering people when they are out shopping is a big no no. Anyone remember the Bangladesh floods many years ago which led to a stream of Asian women with collecting tins on the streets. One of them pushed the tin right into my face and knocked my glasses off. I was so angry I grabbed the tin and threw it across the pavement. I didn't realise at the time that my face was bleeding. The police were there immediately and had already been called because of their aggressive behaviour and she was charged with assault.
I later found out that much of this money had gone to individuals in this country, not to Bangladesh.

NOT unreasonable at all Squiffy. I give to charities...a lot! but I absolutely detest being accosted whilst shopping.

I love animals, give to so many...but when approached on the street saying....do you love cats? I said ...Nope hate them!!! Have had so many rescue cats in my time. Similar ..do you care about children.?........my response is "Nope" cant be doing with them ha ha..... Had just sent a lot of money to help a school in India with someone I have known who is working for it.

There is only so much you can do! I am not rich....I help where I can, BUT I absolutely detest trying to shop and being pressurised which is why I respond so negatively.

Jalima is correct in saying these collectors are not supposed to say anything to you. All they can do is smile. Even jiggling the charity-box at you is not allowed. Chuggers operate under different rules.

Like Maggie I’ve been accosted rudely by chuggers and felt no compunction in retaliating in kind.

I have twice declined the request very rudely! Once when we had someone at the door who, when turned down politely, said "So you don't care about people with cancer?" and exactly the same, replacing "people with cancer" for "starving children" when we were stopped by a chugger in Vienna, so it's not just a British problem.

I think chuggers are employed on commission to sign up new supporters, but the money then donated does all go to the charity.

GK getting in a state about it ? Hardly!!

I'm quite capable of politely declining the request (and did precisely that!), but am just concerned for those not confident or robust enough to do so - and yes, I do know people who have been made to feel uncomfortable!

Kicking yourself? Gosh Cherrytree I wish I was as flexible as you - or are you Debbie McGee in disguise

Of course it is!
Thanks dbDB77
I'm kicking myself as we speak

Grumpy Old Woman?