Charity door to door collections

She was absolutely impossible to shake off, short of putting the phone down

Why not just put the phone down and block the number then? You dont owe them anything for disturbing your day. I found that once you begin donating to a charity they can often get gredy and keep harassing you to increase your donation.

A few years ago we had a young lady knock the door to ask us to contribute regularly to the Air Ambulance. I invited her in and she made it clear that she would get commission from me signing up. I joined and have been paying monthly ever since. Recently someone else knocked on the door offering the same and I said that I already contributed. They thanked me and left. The air ambulance has been used several times around here (small village) and I'm happy to support them.

I had a persistent lady on the phone asking me to increase my donation to Cancer Research. She was absolutely impossible to shake off, short of putting the phone down. I finally said that I didn't know how to rearrange the words any other way to tell her that I couldn't increase my contribution. I have since learned that the 'Chuggers' in the High Street who stop you, and these cold callers, work for a company, not for the charity, and they get a percentage of your contribution every time you donate - not just a one off.

Since I got the ring type door bell I dont even answer if I dont like the look of them. Not expecting any callers or packages this week (not ordered anything) so Ive dis-engaged the ringer and am working with loud background music. Not interested in thes epeople when I have work to do.

I say no thank you and that usually does it.

biglouis

I believe this only refers to telephone calls.

Get one of those very aggressive notices stating no charity/political/religious or sales callers. Then if you want to be snippy you can ask them "Do you have a problem reading and understanding English?" and direct them to the notice.

In persistent cases Ive been known to follow it up with

"You are obviously one of those people who never pays attention. Perhaps if you'd paid more attention in school you would have got yourself some qualifications and not ended up in a s**t job like this!"

Now I just dont answer the door if Im not expecting callers or packages.

Good grief what a rant!

I simply but politely say no thank you and close the door.

This reminds me of two cold sellers. One in town when I heading for the hospital where my late husband was in the last few weeks of his life, who was calling after me when I said I wasnt interested.

The other knocking at my door the week my husband passed. I think it should have had a lasting effect what I said politely to both them.

The door knocker when I said no thank you tried to continue to engage me. Needless to say he crept away, shamedfaced when I said "I've told you I'm not interested. My husband just passed away now go"

The man in town who kept calling after me as he had done others, got the shock of his life when I turned round and said "I've already said I'm not interested. My husband is dieing in hospital and I'm off there now" He said "Oh I'm so sorry to hear that," to which I responded "If your sorry think on in future and stop catcalling people in future as you don't know what's going on for them"

I then turned and went on my way leaving him rather embarrassed

I was often approached by chuggers in London when I was fundraising myself for a national museum. I always used to smile and say, 'No thanks. I'm a fundraiser and I'm immune.' That always stopped the spiel.

I used to collect door to door for a specific charity. I'd been asked to do it by a local lady from the church. There was absolutely no question of 'commission'. I'd hand in my box and any surplus flags at the end of the stated day.

I had a chugger for alzheimers here yesterday evening.

Pleasant girl with a tag around her neck and a file in her hand. She only spoke a few words and I was very polite to her, she went away but that evening I started to look up video doorbells and may well get myself one.

In the meantime, I will not be answering the door unless I am expecting someone or a parcel

Just cut them short and say you cannot stand for long and then shut the door. Do it pleasantly with a smile, you will still be responding mre politely than naby people.

We seem to get a lot here and they ramble on for ages before getting to their point. I find it hard to stand for any length of time sometimes so I find this really annoying.

Never had any of them knocking for years and years

i donate by direct debit to two charities, when i am asked in the street or at the door i tell them i am sorry but i am bankrupt and can't sign up for anything, it works everytime.

Apart from anything else, what I believe puts people off donating to those who knock on your door, regardless of the charitable institution they represent, is that they insist you sign up to regular payments - and give them your bank details.

It should be fairly obvious to anyone with a speck of intelligence that no-one wants to be caught on the hop and asked to agree to donate money they might not in the future be able to afford. As for giving your bank details to complete strangers - for me that's a definite NO.

Scams, bank fraud and identity-theft are rife - why would anyone take such a risk?

Just a polite comment of Oh we already donate to your charity thanks, said with a big smile, as we close the door.
The phone ones get told the same but we hang up after several minutes of silence. Block the number. Sadly these large charities do cost a lot to run but are often supported well by other sources. Those knocking doors are not volunteers. But paid workers. Often outsorced. Who themselves are under pressure to reach targets.
We much prefer donating via official websites with secure banking rather than hand our bank details to someone who is after all a complete stranger.

Yes it is legal. See the following:
www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/guidance/topics/door-to-door

There are presumably similar rules in Scotland. Your town coucil will know.

You are justified in lodging a complaint about the young man's unfortunate manner.

Agree 100% about the ring type door bells. Mine has the option of replying in your normal voice, a deep male voice or a robotic voice. Ive had some fun recently with these little apps. I find that people give up pretty quickly with a ronot telling them "we dont buy at the door" repeatedly.

When they are persistent, do what my OH does... "I've declined your invitation to donate and now I'm going to close the door because this conversation is over".

And do it.

And before anyone tells me - I know charities have to think of ways to get people to donate. But randomly knocking on people's doors is intrusive and, for some, intimidating. So if they don't understand that, then they will have to learn from the experience.

No means No - and reasons don't have to be given for the refusal,

We had a ‘chugger’ knock on our door in the dark a couple of months ago. I said that I thought it was awfully late to be cold calling in our village, but he airily said that they were allowed to call until 8.00pm. Although it was a reputable charity ( Red Cross) he wouldn’t take donation but wanted to sign us up for a standing order. We already do 3 and so I refused and he was pretty disgruntled.

i tell them, no thanks ,i give to charities in my own time, bye.....

It's not something I get often. I had a new church person giving me a leaflet but I've never in 18 years had anyone from a charity knocking my door. I live in Scotland.

we are in a no cold calling area, we have a sizeable notice in the window already stating no charity collectors etc, and luckily most read it

I have a ring door bell which means I can see and speak to callers at my door through my phone or tablet. It has ended the cold caller problem very efficiently; after all, it is really difficult to do an effective sales pitch when you are addressing a disembodied voice. Can’t recommend these devices enough.

Charities can still call door to door. However when it happens remember that the caller is on your propert, at your front door and you are in charge.

When i get callers like this, and I had one recently, I just smile and say, 'we already have a portfolio of charities we donate to and we cannot afford to donate to any more, Goodbye' And then I quietly close the front door.

I haven't had any rude ones, but I really do not care even if they are, that is their problem not mine and I do not need their approval of my actions, to bolster my self esteem.

Do not forget that most of them are paid and get a commission from your donations. This man was probably disruntled because he was having a 'bad' evening and hadn't earned much commission.