Asking for a donation.

I had someone approach me in the street asking for donations to a sick children’s charity. I said no thank you, very politely, and then she said very loudly,’so you don’t care about sick children then?’
I said I don’t give to street collectors’ but must admit it upset me.

I do charity work but I never accept donations unless people take something [mostly jewellery] with it. You are already giving a donation when you buy from a charity shop, because they get things for free.

I give to my chosen charities by monthly donation. I’d support more if I could. Being asked to donate more is a cheek. I hardly ever visit charity shops now as their prices are too high.

Next time, tell them you find it off-putting, you make your own arrangements to give and if they persist, you will be going elsewhere!

Calendargirl

^I’m sure most people do this^

I don’t. I donate goods, I buy goods, but I don’t offer any more donations.

I donate decent goods to charity and I also buy from charity shops. We are being bombarded with TV adverts to give to charity. I used to give through my payroll (Give as you Earn) but had to stop when the recipient charity started to contact me every month by letter asking for more money. I asked several times for them to stop these requests as I couldn't afford more then told them I was stopping the GAYE and not to contact me again. So they shot themselves in the foot - they got nothing instead of £10 per month. Now OP says I can't go into Tesco to get my shopping without being accosted by someone (a chugger) to donate, just like used to happen when I worked in my local High St. If this happens to me, I will complain to the store Manager. I don't have a big budget but, even if I did, I don't want to be guilt tripped into donating when I just want to get my shopping. This is the sort of silly behaviour that pushes people to online deliveries to avoid the issue and devastates high streets

Mojack26

My pet hate are the ones that rattle tins at you going into or out of a shop! 1. I have direct debits for charities I support. 2. Makes me feel bad when I say no, gyess that's the point. 3. I don't carry cash very often now.

Having done street collections until Covid hit, I can say that rattling the collecting tins is illegal, as is approaching anybody. All you could do was stand there and smile in the hope somebody would donate. It was hard enough back then, I'd hate to be doing it now with fewer people carrying any cash.

I never pay extra at the till. Nor do I put money in charity tins in the street - except for buying a poppy. We donate monthly to charities, always have. Each year we each pick a charity (often a local one) and decide how much we will donate each month.

We once had some chuggers at the door who were fairly insistent on us taking out a monthly donation. When I told him we donate to charities that are meaningful to us he quickly asked which ones. I told him that year we were donating to Parkinsons (my father had Parkinsons) and the BHF (both in-laws died from heart disease) and a local women's refuge, and he shut up. He obviously wanted to catch us out in a lie.

Here no charity shop would dream of asking for donations.

Some supermarkets, small shops and kiosks have collecting-tins from well-known charities, so you can drop some change in if you want, but no-one serving in a shop has ever asked me to do so.

I support my chosen charities and would object to being pressured in a shop. For most of us there are limited funds available to us and we give where we can. There are so many charity appeals and so little to go around.

Charity giving is becoming so intimidatory, especially when donatinwg in charity shops, that it must be counter productive. I wouldn't return to any of the several charity on my local high street if they start pan-handling me when I'm dropping off items

No, I don’t give any extra if I buy anything in a charity shop or when I drop off goods there. I do pay a monthly direct debit to a charity and find I get asked to buy raffle tickets etc on top which I don’t do either.

I give to charity shops and buy from them too, but have never added a further donation. Like others I support a few charities regularly, one by monthly standing order and others approximately annually. I also volunteer with our local foodbank, delivering bags to people who can't collect them themselves. I don't claim expenses for the petrol as I see that and my time as my donation. I rarely donate goods as I can't really afford to buy extra when I'm shopping. Most of the requests I get in the post go straight in the bin as I have already budgeted my charitable giving. I wish I could afford to give more but I just can't, and I refuse to be made to feel guilty for carefully choosing who I donate to.

sleepygran, I had the same thing happen to me outside a shop, a young girl asked for donation for some charity, but didn't want money, she wanted bank details so the money would be taken every month, when I refused she shouted " oh don't you care about the starving people....I told her I certainly won't give my bank details to anyone standing shouting in the street..and I did not feel guilty or embarased. I give to charity shops and shop there too often..

didn't mean I shop there too often...I meant I shop there also....often..

I also hate the begging adverts on tv asking you to give specific amounts - St Mungo, £20; Crisis, £29-something.
My feeling is that they should appreciate any amount of money someone can spare, not tell people what to donate!

Last week I popped into the M&S food hall for one item and reluctantly went to the self service checkout as all the others were busy. The item refused to scan and the young man supervising the till area came to my rescue.

He entered the barcode and the question popped up on screen inviting an additional charity donation. When I said no thank you he replied in a loud voice “oh you don’t give to charity, tut tut! I suppose he thought he was funny but I was embarrassed.

I totally agree notgoneyet I avoid the charities that say they want a fairly substantial sum ie £15 or £20+ they shouldn’t ask for any amount, they should be glad anyone donates full stop
I am also happy to put any odd change in a shops charity box but I don’t appreciate being asked by the computer

That’s unforgivable grannynannywanny I think I would have felt like putting a complaint in about that young man

Superdrug asks for a donation every time I go to pay for goods it’s very annoying, also some well known restaurants do it as well.

Calendargirl

^I’m sure most people do this^

I don’t. I donate goods, I buy goods, but I don’t offer any more donations.

Same here.

sodapop

I support my chosen charities and would object to being pressured in a shop. For most of us there are limited funds available to us and we give where we can. There are so many charity appeals and so little to go around.

I just say no if asked.

Sleepygran

I had someone approach me in the street asking for donations to a sick children’s charity. I said no thank you, very politely, and then she said very loudly,’so you don’t care about sick children then?’
I said I don’t give to street collectors’ but must admit it upset me.

They have no right to say anything to passing the strangers and I wonder if some of them are actually scams.

To passing strangers

At charity shops I often tell them to round it up or put my change into the box on the counter, but if they ask I refuse and keep the change.
I am happy to give, but won’t be pressured. I am also concerned about the people who really can’t afford those extra few pennies. If those of us who can afford it refuse, hopefully those who can’t won’t feel so bad refusing too (and maybe it’ll stop the management guilt tripping people into giving )

It annoys me, as does being asked to buy a raffle ticket. (I can see it, I'll ask if I want one). I feel mean if I say no, but I support them by donating items and buying things

I donate monthly to a well known charity. I’m getting really annoyed with them as they are sending begging letters every month or so, asking for more.