The answer is NO!

It annoys me when shops (Uniqlo is one) add an extra sum for a charity, as a sub-total and leave you to delete on the payment pad. I have to find my glasses, to be sure on pressing the correct button.
This is also like restaurants and hotels adding tips to the bills and leaving you to decide whether to delete the extra or not, and leave a tip on the table.

Sago - you are quite right to feel indignant . It always feel like you are doing wrong when you refuse to. The only one I have ever said yes to was Wilco who have gone, as only 5 p . I also donate a lot to different charities . It’s an infringement to ask every time one shops .

I donate reading books to my teacher daughter's primary school to help get children interested in reading. I think that's better than cash donations to big charities as it goes directly to the children.
I also support the RNLI with a small monthly donation.
I would resent being asked to donate in shops. If I wanted to donate to their chosen charity I already would.

We only donate to animal charities. They get no gov’t support or funding. That usually stops the interlude dead in tracks.

Totally agree with you. I only donate to small local charities or charities where I know the money will go to . I’m thinking of starting a new charity called the me charity.
Almost every thread that come up on social media these days is a begging thread for various charities.

No you're NOT being unreasonable. The server had no right to say "it's only a small amount " thereby (a) trying to force you and (b) attempting a slight humiliation.
This stuff is voluntary.
You might think that Charities deflect responsibility from Government , who properly ought to fund some areas of need. That's not an unusual view.
I donate to Charities of my choice , when I want and how much I want.

I'm with you there
I volunteer for a charity shop that will remain nameless I understand others do the same On our till we have a would you like to round your bill up.I as most others do don't ask, how can you ask in a charity shop if you would like to donate even more 🙄

I asked the shop assistant if they could tell me the charity. The answer was no and so was mine. I did say thank you though!

Baggs

When I hear about struggling charities I do wonder if there are simply too many, or if they are trying to do too much.

Alternatively, people are increasingly feeling insecure about their own well-being – for a multitude of reasons political and otherwise – and are holding back accordingly.

It's not a simple issue.

I fundraise online for small animal (mainly dog) charities.
Rescues are currently especially overflowing due to 'Covid dogs' - dogs taken on during Covid; during lockdowns; working from home periods. They have often not been socialised very well and, even if they have been, as people have gone back to workplaces, the dogs are given up to rescues (or worse).
Most people who give a dog up to a rescue do not offer any contributions to the rescue to cover their costs - including food, vets check fees, neutering, rehoming checks etc.
But, we are very careful how we fundraise. As already mentioned, many already give to their special charities or simply cannot afford it.

I have done volunteer work for various charities in the past, but I resigned from one because I didn't like how they expected area managers, who we liked and trusted, to reapply for their jobs, and one really good hard working manager was not re-employed. Also I used to give to a charity who do really good work in war zones etc, but gave the sack to the wife of my nephew, who worked on the organisational side of things, because the lunch which she had arranged for senior organisers was not up to scratch for some trivial reason. She was probably over qualified for the job any way as she is a graduate of the LSE and Yale! You can't go wrong with donations to your local Hospice, where I have also volunteered. You never know if you too might need them.

I dislike any pressure approach, whether it's by a charity or a company trying to sell me something, so much that I will stop donating or shopping with them if possible if they do this.

Chuggers = charity muggers

I too get very annoyed by this. A charity shop asked me if I wanted to round up the price to the whole pound. This would have been 75 pence! I don’t shop in charity shops to give 15 shillings away like that! Equally our local shop is Booths and their card machine asks for 25 pence each time. I a,ways press no which my husband berates me for being mean but I shop there several times a week! I say I think Mr Bmean should donate himself as the prices are quite dear anyway.

eazybee

The reason goods are priced at 95p or 99p is so that change has to be given so the till has to be opened and the transaction recorded. I put the penny in the charity box but not the 5p; I save those and donate them to the charity of my choice. Have done for years.

It’s also a good ‘shopping psychology’ tool. If the price were £1 you might think twice about buying … 99p somehow sounds so much better… illogical, but it works.
Same with £6 or £5.99… and so on…
I am happy to VOLUNTARILY donate the 1p change into a collection box at Charity stores, but I’ve not yet been asked to ‘round up ‘ for Charity at a till yet. Not sure of my reaction …. I will find out. But like others I dislike being coerced!

Colls

Baggs

When I hear about struggling charities I do wonder if there are simply too many, or if they are trying to do too much.

Alternatively, people are increasingly feeling insecure about their own well-being – for a multitude of reasons political and otherwise – and are holding back accordingly.

It's not a simple issue.

I fundraise online for small animal (mainly dog) charities.
Rescues are currently especially overflowing due to 'Covid dogs' - dogs taken on during Covid; during lockdowns; working from home periods. They have often not been socialised very well and, even if they have been, as people have gone back to workplaces, the dogs are given up to rescues (or worse).
Most people who give a dog up to a rescue do not offer any contributions to the rescue to cover their costs - including food, vets check fees, neutering, rehoming checks etc.
But, we are very careful how we fundraise. As already mentioned, many already give to their special charities or simply cannot afford it.

This is very sad, Colls. I fear people do not always think enough about their responsibilities. I wish you all the best with your careful fund-raising.

I don't mind rounding up a few cents. What I am wary of is giving to someone I've never heard of . It's hard to trust that the money is actually going to the cause and not into someone's pocket. I guess you can never be sure.

No I don't think you are being unreasonable at all. We decide which charities we wish to support and keep to those and if anyone tries to pressure us into giving to them, we just say we have aleady donated. Stick to your principles and don't ever feel pressured as you know in your heart you have already chosen your charities.

Yes superdrug ask for marie curie. I give because they were wonderful when my husband was dying, and my son may need them too. I do direct debits to other charities as well. No big deal.

I will only buy The Big Issue because the young man selling it outside at our local supermarket is polite and friendly and not pushy. I have not found much of interest in it but it does make good fire lighters. Win, win.

We recently stayed at a hotel in Manchester and paid the room tax in cash. We were asked if we wanted the change!

I agree, but have no problem refusing. I support my own chosen charities regularly and do not want bombarded by requests for others either when I shop or walk down the street.

Does anyone remember going to the cinema and a charity bucket being passed round? That was back in the Pearl &Dean days when there was a small break before the main feature. I always thought it was unfair on a ‘captive’ audience.

As a pensioner who does support one of the less popular charities with a standing order every month , I feel embarrassed to be asked for more money especially online when completing surveys to address poverty, old people's rights etc. There is no spare money. I attend a Sunday lunch every two weeks through the winter which is free but I make a point of saving up 10.00 to pay for it while I still can. when I can no longer afford it then I will be happy to accept it. The volunteers have said to me don't worry about paying but totally understand my view that while I can then I should.

I spent quite a lot of time and effort researching which charities to support based on how much money actually goes to the cause they are supporting. I would never randomly donate to something in a shop, I need to know that the charity is doing good work. Even less likely to sign up for a direct debit.

When I buy petrol the card machine in shop asks me if I want to donate to charity and I always click 'no'. No idea which charity etc, maybe that's revealed if you click 'yes'. Noticed recently that the shop assistant actually clicks 'no' for all customers before they even have a chance to decide - thank goodness.