Charity collectors in supermarkets

I’m uncomfortable with it as well. They stand where it’s difficult to get passed without being accosted. They use such emotive language as well like “don’t you want to help a family whose child is dying’ etc of course I would like to but I cannot afford a monthly donation. I could afford to put £2 in a money box though but as you say,no option for this 🤷‍♀️

A young man once stoped me in th street and asked about making a will. I told him I was an 800 year old vampire and did not intend to die. You should have seen his face.

I've been 'accosted' a few times by chuggers with them calling out, 'Can I ask you one question' ?

I (feeling very smug) reply, "You just have," and go on my merry way.

This is an old post and made me realise how long I'd been back on here!

Theexwife

I was approached today by a charity collector at a supermarket , they said ' you look like a kind person", I just said " no I'm not", nothing much they could say to that.

A similar thing happened to me. This women came up to me and said "You look like a kind old lady" to which I replied "Appearances can be very deceptive" and walked away.

I do however regularly give to charity but on my own terms.

I got stopped in January of this year while walking along the high street in our town, excuse me madam can I have a few moments of your time have you made a will, I looked at him and said, I’m not going to die. Seriously though we have had our wills drawn up years ago. 🤣

I don’t agree with being stopped as you go into the doorway of your supermarket as you do your shopping! Some are plain rude and step right out in front of you to get your attention, I have my own fav charities that I give to and never give to any of them at the supermarkets

Yet another one in Morrisons last week (this is a new one to me)

It was * have you made a Will * They had all the paraphernalia out, posters, tabards on etc. Not sure what is was all about, but I chose my moment to skip past them (both of them)!

I have collected for charity on many occasions. We had strict instructions not to rattle tins , not to ask for a donation and always to thank people.
Sitting on the other side of the fence I strongly object to being accosted as I leave the supermarket, If I am asked to give a donation I simply walk away. Collectors are standing there voluntarily I appreciate that but there is a correct way of collecting!

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Dickens

This is an interesting read.....,

charitycommission.blog.gov.uk/2021/10/28/what-new-research-tells-us-about-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-charities/

And I guess it's good to appreciate also that COVID/Cost of Living Crisis has not only been responsible for a loss of income, it has also been responsible for a loss of volunteers who do amazing work, both behind the scenes and on the frontline.

MissAdventure

It really annoys me that the charities refuse one off donation, and will turn you away if that is "all" you are prepared to offer.

Well of course, you signing up to direct debit donations does make it a lot easier for them, admin wise.

You sign up, it comes out of your account automatically, and they forget about you - on to the next,

I do wonder though, given the state of many people's finances at the moment, just how much they are losing in donations. Many people would be prepared to make a one-off donation, but are understandably reluctant to commit to yet more direct debit payments.

How many people have sufficient disposable income to be able to, on the spur of the moment, agree to another monthly expenditure?

These charities can jog-on as far as I am concerned. I've already committed to the charities of my choice... ones I've never seen 'chugging' either...

Chuggers. Charity Muggers.

Can't stand them. As part of their licence rules they're not allowed to stand in the way or approach you in a manner that's annoying. I'm sure if the councils went out on a check, half of them would be given a ticking off.

Only charity I will support infinitely is the RNLI. (But even they send extra letters through my door)

We never used to get chuggers in this small town but now we’ve had the odd one coming to the door. There was one today, not a local man, and I just asked if he was here on behalf of a charity (the clipboard and high-vis jacket were a clue!). He said yes and I said I wasn’t interested and he left straight away. I don’t even know what charity it was. I don’t like this new habit of coming to your door.

It really annoys me that the charities refuse one off donation, and will turn you away if that is "all" you are prepared to offer.

Spuddy

I donate to charities in the way of going into a physical shop and buying things with cash and donating things but there's absolutely no way they're getting my name, address etc.

As for the arseholes that block customers from getting in/out they get a VERY loud mouthful from me!

I once had the "don't-you-care-about-xyz-people's-suffering?" type comment when I declined to engage with the chugger - there were two of them, both looking expectantly at me. I didn't say anything, just stared hard at them for a few seconds before walking away. Deliberately goading - and in that split second I felt like slapping his face but common sense prevailed.

This article is old, but pertinent... "The Secret Life of a Chugger". It explains a lot.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/04/secret-life-chugger-charity-fundraiser

I donate to charities in the way of going into a physical shop and buying things with cash and donating things but there's absolutely no way they're getting my name, address etc.

As for the arseholes that block customers from getting in/out they get a VERY loud mouthful from me!

Some of them are an absolute sods and should be sacked. AND refusing certain donations!

I've had those like them, I refuse point blank to donate anything to them and if they pester me twice then I speak to the shop manager and contact the charity HO.

What I'm reading here is that the public are basically often being harassed and intimidated - being 'door stepped' in public places.

As maddyone says, it's wholly unacceptable.

If it's not curtailed, chuggers will become increasingly bold and continue to over step the mark.

And I'm of the view that they should be legally prevented from going around door to door, it's intrusive and, for some, intimidating.

I've heard that even if you have a notice indicating that you will not entertain sales people on the doorstep - they ignore it. It should now be illegal.

The British public, on the whole, appear to be charitable and as these comments illustrate, already donate to charities of their choice (I do, too). Are charities shooting themselves in the foot with these tactics?

Very often there is a stall for Dogs Trust in the foyer of our large local Morrisons. They don't approach as such but they make eye contact and say a cheery hello to people whom I suspect fall into a certain demographic.

I don't mind. Animal shelters are groaning under the strain at the moment and it is a heartbreaking situation. I already support the Dogs Trust along with other charities through direct debit but I do think it's a shame that modern day collectors don't take donations on the spot. I am sure many people, like me, would give something there and then.

I think since the pandemic it’s got better in supermarkets, as up to then there were loads of them every week both inside and outside shops and supermarkets and even standing at the back of the tills so you had to confront them to push your trolley out.That and the cost of living since then has seen less of them, at least where I live.

Fortunately few charity chuggers come round my way, it’s a bit rough so probably puts them off.😁

People should speak to Store Managers if they feel collectors are either too pushy or intimidating. They should also report if they are standing inside the store as that is not allowed, only the foyer or outside.

Store Managers receive loads of requests from collectors and just rush them through but they would not want to lose money because shoppers feel intimidated.

I think it’s unacceptable to approach people in supermarkets and ask them to sign up for monthly payments. There are rules about this kind of selling in other areas, and a cooling off period, I think fourteen days, because people feel pressurised by this kind of selling.