Chuggers

[Phoenix Lazarus]

If approached, I just lift one arm with the palm facing them and say 'I can't stop.'

 

[HotesTilaire]

I did it for 3 days a long long time ago, I’ve also worked at charities who use chuggers.
It was hard work, standing outside all day, getting told no. They did give regular short breaks, and the team were really friendly. They pay was ok a bit above minimum wage.
Most charities buy the service from a company which employs the chuggers in the area. The charity I was at said using the chugger brought in £7 for every £1 spent on them so it was worthwhile even though people generally say they hate chugging.
Having said that, I’ve had some absolute run ins with arseholes trying to stop me including physically grabbing me, putting an arm around me and the abusive comments.i had one follow me round Tesco pretending we knew each other, the store were like oh HER Again she’s been told not to come in

 

[HotesTilaire]

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 escort 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

They’re not supposed to accept cash, that sounds like a volunteer shaking a bucket!

 

[Warpaint]

Sometimes you can go down one street and get asked 4 times by a different chugger for the same charity. Used to incense me when the guy used to say smile, like every other creep on the street. The men target the women, the young females target the men. Supposed to be won over by their charms.

Yeah I always look out for where they are and plan a route to avoid them. The fake happy is another annoying trait they have

 

[emmer_moans]

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.

 

[Taetae95]

They’re not supposed to accept cash, that sounds like a volunteer shaking a bucket!

Seemed dodgy to me too! They said if I didn't want to sign up they'd accept a one-off donation. Maybe they wanted to run off with the cash themselves

 

[emmer_moans]

Some of them do step into your path which pisses me off. Get out of my personal space! I’m much more firm with ignoring them now but I cringe when I think back a few years ago when I let a religious leafleter stop me and 5 mins later I found myself handing over a fiver for a pamplet on Hari Khrisna... I’m not religious but they caught me on a gulliable day, ever since then I’ve decided I won’t be stopped by anyone whether it be a charity chugger, a religious leafleter or a political recruiter. I felt so silly as I walked away.

 

[Phoenix Lazarus]

I’ve had some absolute run ins with arseholes trying to stop me including physically grabbing me, putting an arm around me

That's technically assault.

 

[CheesyMarmite]

Don’t engage, don’t engage. He doesn’t want to chat, you won’t hurt his feelings, he wants to earn commission from you. Keep on rushing. No eye contact.

Normally I don't, but he stepped out right in front of me....next time I'll run him down with the pram haha!

 

[Melian]

I've had some not let me get past. They've ignored the fact that I've got earphones in. I had one tell me its "only £2 a week". As I was on benefits, £2 a week is quite a bit of money.

 

[HotesTilaire]

That's technically assault.

I know and they’re told not to do it- I’ve had the training!

 

[Phoenix Lazarus]

I had one shout after me “don’t you care about sick kids”.

'Yeah, I'm rushing now to visit mine in hospital so goodbye,' you should have said.

 

[Loubywoobywoo]

I have had one approach me for Marie Curie Cancer Foundation. I was prepared to give a couple of Euro, but the minimum amount was 5! I paid up anyway, but made my discontent clear ( you’d probably get more money if people could just pay what they can afford/manage) got my ribbon/flower and went round the shopping centre. When I finished and exited, the same woman was there, and she started making her way towards me. I made eye contact with her and scowled! How dare she come and try and guilt trip me into paying up a second time! Not bloody happening!
When I see people like that now, I do not make eye contact and I just say “No, sorry, I’m very busy/in a hurry”.