Council promise over ‘chuggers’

[Pete]

Just read an article on the DT website about "face to face" charity workers working around the market area of Chesterfield. Known as chuggers (charity muggers) they are known to be very aggressive in the way they approach members of the public and can intimidate ordinary folks going about their business - and the council are looking into restricting this if found to be true.

Well, they can add my name to that list straight away, they really annoy me - not just by their attitude when I have been approached, but also it winds me up when I see one bully some poor person who is not into their confrontational methods.

The article also mentions that these gobby little nuisances keep rather a large portion of money supposedly meant to go a charity like Cancer Research UK.

Anyone here had any experience of this?

http://bit.ly/AExsHJ

[therealjr]

I get regular e mails from jobsites that are looking to recruit these people. Claims of salaries of £250-£500 pw. I assume this is commission based.

[Alsatian]

Just read an article on the DT website about "face to face" charity workers working around the market area of Chesterfield. Known as chuggers (charity muggers) they are known to be very aggressive in the way they approach members of the public and can intimidate ordinary folks going about their business - and the council are looking into restricting this if found to be true.

Well, they can add my name to that list straight away, they really annoy me - not just by their attitude when I have been approached, but also it winds me up when I see one bully some poor person who is not into their confrontational methods.

The article also mentions that these gobby little nuisances keep rather a large portion of money supposedly meant to go a charity like Cancer Research UK.

Anyone here had any experience of this?

http://bit.ly/AExsHJ

Hear hear.......................I seem to recall that the 'Big Issue' people had instructed their 'representatives' to play a passive role, rather than a direct approach. If that's the case they need to tell the bloke who stands outside M&S - he approached me three times on Saturday morning!!

[simondjuk]

We get them in Sheffield on The Moor.  Normally its NSPCC or Shelter.

I have nothing against these charities, but I dont like it when they bound over to me and say 'hi mate'.  Im not your mate, piss off.  If I want to give to charity (which I do anyway to Cancer Research UK), id approach them.

However I must say that The Big Issue sellers are very polite.  Theres a couple I see regular and if you say 'no thanks' the usual reply is 'thank you, have a good day'.

[Eeyore]

One chugger I met was very taken aback that I said I was surprised anyone would give out their bank details to a total stranger.

I know it provides jobs for students - but - I generally like to ask if they are doing the collections for free or are they getting paid, I also like to ask how much a month they give to charity. I think it is misleading and a way of pressurising people into giving.

If people chose to donate to charity this way, I've heard the charity do not see the money raised for many months due to admin, red tape etc. I prefer to donate directly to the charity. Where are the days of the little paper envelopes that came through the door asking for change and coppers?

[Fly]

And the little old ladies who used to come round to collect them. 
They always made me feel guilty, so I'd drop a quid in the envelope and give it them back.
I'll admit, it was usually for the St-Johns or the Woman's thingy who's name alludes me   

WRVS, that's the one 

[Alsatian]

And the little old ladies who used to come round to collect them. 

Oy - Flyboy - I'm getting rather fed up of all the snipes you're making about me...................I used to collect for charity!! 

Seriously, we have one of those mandatory 'little old ladies' who comes round collecting on behalf of Christian Aid - she's been doing it for years.
As I said I used to do it and the number of 'twitching curtains' when you knocked on the door to collect the envelope and then they'd pretend not to be in!!!