I tell them straight that im not interested. I cannot stand them, its an awful job for them and I hate being hounded. My town banned them and it was lovely walking through town without being bothered. They're back now though, years later.
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Should have taken their badge number and reported them to the charity.
Treat them like you would if they were a double glazing salesperson or Sky flogger - they have no interest in the charity, they are probably not directly employed by the charity - probably a third party agency - and if you really questioned them about the fine details of the charity, they probably wouldn’t know the answer. They rely on you feeling guilty that you are doing better than those who need x charity, but you would be better off signing up with the charity direct.
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Especially when they were red and you think it's royal mail knocking.
I was in town on Saturday and they were there. Tall young guy dressed up in a suit like he was about to appear on Dragon’s Den to pitch for investment. He said “hey do you have a minute” and put his hand in my direct walking path as if to say “stop” so I said NO THANK YOOOOOOOOOOU and swerved so hard i nearly knocked my mum over 
About 12 years ago i was a student in a student let house and chuggers were doing door to door. I stupidly let them in because they were a cancer charity and a grandparent of mine had just died. I could only afford 3 pounds a month but signed up for a direct debit. (Whhhhyyyyyyyy). I cancelled it the next month but I remember having to say on the phone “I’m a student, I need the money for food”. Eventually they stopped sending me literature in the post (which must have cost my 3 quid a month to print and post). Therefore I will never sign up to a chugger again. If I want to sign up to a charity by direct debit then I can do it online.
P.s. it’s probably not very safe to sign up to a direct debit with someone on the street, what if their ipads get nicked? Do it online, in the safety of your own home, to a charity of your choice, without guilt-trip. Anyway, I also don’t like the idea of strangers in town knowing my name, you end up standing awkwardly on the spot, etc. Never again.
About 12 years ago i was a student in a student let house and chuggers were doing door to door. I stupidly let them in because they were a cancer charity and a grandparent of mine had just died. I could only afford 3 pounds a month but signed up for a direct debit. (Whhhhyyyyyyyy). I cancelled it the next month but I remember having to say on the phone “I’m a student, I need the money for food”. Eventually they stopped sending me literature in the post (which must have cost my 3 quid a month to print and post). Therefore I will never sign up to a chugger again. If I want to sign up to a charity by direct debit then I can do it online.
P.s. it’s probably not very safe to sign up to a direct debit with someone on the street, what if their ipads get nicked? Do it online, in the safety of your own home, to a charity of your choice, without guilt-trip. Anyway, I also don’t like the idea of strangers in town knowing my name, you end up standing awkwardly on the spot, etc. Never again.
Firstly, I had never heard the term chugger before!
I'm what I would say is a charitable person, if there's a local charity with a collection I'll always give, I'll always buy a raffle ticket, donate a prize etc etc but these street collector people infuriate me. I don't know if they realise how intimidating they can be? Or if that is the aim? I'm quite firm now and give an eye contact "no thank you" and carry on walking but when I was younger I got suckered a few times.
Worst experience was coming out of a shop in a rush as had to pick my mum up from work, I got stopped by a really handsome, well dressed man with some air ambulance literature. He asked if I had a sec so he could take my details to sent some info via email - I said I had 1 minute, he asked my name and email and then said "£10 ok?" I was like "say what?" His response was "or we can do £5?" - I was flabbergasted and ended up giving him my card details for this £5 donation, turned out he signed me up on a recurring payment for £5 a month!!! I was so cross as im a supporter of the air ambulance, I live on the coast and know their value and often donate but that experience left a very sour taste.
I'm what I would say is a charitable person, if there's a local charity with a collection I'll always give, I'll always buy a raffle ticket, donate a prize etc etc but these street collector people infuriate me. I don't know if they realise how intimidating they can be? Or if that is the aim? I'm quite firm now and give an eye contact "no thank you" and carry on walking but when I was younger I got suckered a few times.
Worst experience was coming out of a shop in a rush as had to pick my mum up from work, I got stopped by a really handsome, well dressed man with some air ambulance literature. He asked if I had a sec so he could take my details to sent some info via email - I said I had 1 minute, he asked my name and email and then said "£10 ok?" I was like "say what?" His response was "or we can do £5?" - I was flabbergasted and ended up giving him my card details for this £5 donation, turned out he signed me up on a recurring payment for £5 a month!!! I was so cross as im a supporter of the air ambulance, I live on the coast and know their value and often donate but that experience left a very sour taste.
This must be a last resort for employment. I read an article a few years ago which said they earn around £20 for each direct debit completed. Surely the majority of people are streetwise enough to not give their bank detailsto some random they have met in the street. It can’t have much life left in it surely.
I know and they’re told not to do it- I’ve had the training!
They're also notorious for targetting pensions and getting them signed on 3 different direct debits. I think there was a bit of an uproar about it a few years ago
I applied for a job once after I left uni as a ‘marketing assistant’ which turned out to be a chugger. I passed the interview (which consisted of a load of people in a room, calling me up to a desk to take my name/number/availability, then sent on my way). Came back to the offices a few days later and was put into groups and I realised then that this wasn’t what I thought it was 
I made my excuses that I needed to nip in Boots to buy some water and got the bus home 
I made my excuses that I needed to nip in Boots to buy some water and got the bus home 
I always tell them i only give to three charities every year and they are set up in january the first. Sometimes they try to catch me out by asking which ones but i always reel of the three closest to my heart and the ones i actually donate to on regular. I dont set up direct debits to them though.
Just ignore them. Don't engage with them. You're not obliged to get into conversations with stranger. I act like they don't exist and just walk by.
I’ve had one knock at my door, was a deaf charity. I donated etc but I am always short of money so I had to cancel the direct debit. I feel guilty but that’s £10 towards food order or my electric bill. I now look through my window if someone knocks, if it’s not the postman or someone I know I won’t anseer
I find ‘duck off and get a proper job’ works wonders with them 
Seriously though they are nightmare and some towns and cities have banned them from their streets. Unfortunately the place I live hasn’t. They are always smarmy and aggressive, I really dislike the way they walk in front of you and invade your personal space. I don’t like big National charities anyway and would sooner give to my local ones like the food bank or the hospice etc than one of those huge corporate ones. The RSPCA are a nightmare for actually knocking on your door, even though you have a ‘no cold callers’ sign and will see a cat in the window or hear a dog barking and start with the scripted line ‘I can see your an animal lover’, yes I am and that’s precisely why I wont donate my hard earned money to you scumbags.
Seriously though they are nightmare and some towns and cities have banned them from their streets. Unfortunately the place I live hasn’t. They are always smarmy and aggressive, I really dislike the way they walk in front of you and invade your personal space. I don’t like big National charities anyway and would sooner give to my local ones like the food bank or the hospice etc than one of those huge corporate ones. The RSPCA are a nightmare for actually knocking on your door, even though you have a ‘no cold callers’ sign and will see a cat in the window or hear a dog barking and start with the scripted line ‘I can see your an animal lover’, yes I am and that’s precisely why I wont donate my hard earned money to you scumbags.
A friend once gave me the wonderful advice of whipping out your mobile and pretending you're on a call and it does indeed work. I'm never bothered.
I'm amazed charities still use them. They may bring in some money, but they are trashing their reputations.
I'm amazed charities still use them. They may bring in some money, but they are trashing their reputations.
You don’t have to tell them anything. Just don’t engage, or if that is too brusque, just say briskly no thank you. Never stop, keep going at pace, swerve them if you have to.
Plus they're often for bigger charities which probably take huge admin cuts so how much goes to the cause anyway.
It's uncomfortable enough when they try and stop you but the ones who follow you are the worst! I've had more than one offer to entertainer me to the cash machine if I didn't have cash or when they say they'll wait for you to finish your errand/shop
It's uncomfortable enough when they try and stop you but the ones who follow you are the worst! I've had more than one offer to entertainer me to the cash machine if I didn't have cash or when they say they'll wait for you to finish your errand/shop
whenever this subject comes up with my family my mum loves to tell the story of when she got approached in town by one and I screamed at the top of my lungs STRANGER DANGER! they soon backed off! might teach my children that tactic actually!
The thing is, life has moved on in the last few years. Leaving aside the fact that women are scared of a man approaches them in the street, the result of an extended period of social distancing, people are no longer willing to have people in their personal space, it seems alien that a stranger is trying to talk to you on the street. I suspect these chuggers are going to find it harder than ever to engage.
Don't have a problem with them. If they want to drink their drinks fast, who am I to judge.
Can't stand these morons. They don't care about the charity, otherwise they'd volunteer.
Seen a few who all try to be friendly and cheeky, literally the same script over and over again. One in my town said to me (as he did everyone else)
"Ello Fella, you look friendly!.." to which I replied I was out on license for GBH but thank you for the glowing character reference. (Please note, i was joking about the GBH)
Seen a few who all try to be friendly and cheeky, literally the same script over and over again. One in my town said to me (as he did everyone else)
"Ello Fella, you look friendly!.." to which I replied I was out on license for GBH but thank you for the glowing character reference. (Please note, i was joking about the GBH)