Should charities use chuggers?

Quasar

I was walking in Covent Garden the other day and was approached by no less than FIVE chuggers, all from different charities. OK, I say no and that's it so no harm done, but I do think that less assertive personalities would stop and be chatted to and resent every minute of it. Of course some of them sign up, which is the whole idea...

Sorry, I think it's a high-handed method of collection and rather off-putting.

Poppycat

I suspect that the reason why some people are so rude to chuggers is that many of us hate being harassed whilst going about our daily business.

Its bad enough being harassed whilst shopping but when you go home you get it again either phone or mail. There's hardly a day that goes by that I don't get a envelops through my door or plastic bag asking for clothes.

I don't resent helping but come on many of us don't have money to burn and I can only give when I can afford too, I hate feeling guilty for not giving mealy on the basis that I struggle to make end meet myself.

chugalug

Murphy_The_Cat wrote:

Chugalug, I'm sorry but I'm going to post something that you may not like.

I'm sure that your daughter is a nice person, but IMHO, doing the job that she does, she deserves all the verbal stick that she gets.

Be kind !!

I would offer 1 x no thank you, and if she took no notice, then after that she would be entirely responsible for any verbals that she got from me.

Why doesn't she get a real job that does not involve harassing people ?

MTC

Its certainly not a job that I'd do!! Sometimes though we do forget these are people doing a job, earning a living even if they are a nuisance.

Someone somewhere must have researched this and found that it's cost effective - if it didnt bring in the money then it would stop!!

In answer to your question about 'getting a real job', this is a real job, its part of whats available to 18 year olds and she chose it cos she wanted to do 'something useful'. Whether or not she returns jaded and bitter by the experience I don't know but I know she's learning about the real world and seeing a bit of it too. Better than a McJob I say!!

Murphy_The_Cat

chugalug wrote:

Its certainly not a job that I'd do!! Sometimes though we do forget these are people doing a job, earning a living even if they are a nuisance.

Someone somewhere must have researched this and found that it's cost effective - if it didnt bring in the money then it would stop!!

In answer to your question about 'getting a real job', this is a real job, its part of whats available to 18 year olds and she chose it cos she wanted to do 'something useful'. Whether or not she returns jaded and bitter by the experience I don't know but I know she's learning about the real world and seeing a bit of it too. Better than a McJob I say!!

hi chugalug

i think that you and I have a fairly major difference in opinion.
You think that harassing people in the street and getting their bank details is a real job, and better than being at McD's.

I don't jnow which part of the UK that your daughter is in, but in part of the world, your daughter (assuming that she is not as thick as a workhouse butty ) could walk onto any industrial estate, shopping area, hotel and walk away with a job.
She'd still be learning about the real world without getting (deservedly) abused and she'd be doing something useful in a "real job".

MTC

Fifer

chugalug wrote:

Sometimes though we do forget these are people doing a job, earning a living even if they are a nuisance.

So someone is allowed to make a nuisance of themselves to me but I must be polite back? Where's the balance? You also said 'they have to be persistent'. No, that's just rude. I'll say 'no thank you' the first time, but if someone persists, they deserve something substantially more robust by way of rebuke.

Quasar

Yeah MTC and your post just reminded me of another reason to steer clear of chuggers - the fact that if you want to contribute you have to give them your bank details. I'm sure they are vetted etc. etc. but in this day and age you never know who is tempted....

No sorry, it's a bad idea and puts me off donating to charities. Nowadays the charity shop is as far as I go, and making special donations to various appeals on TV.

Murphy_The_Cat

Quasar wrote:

Yeah MTC and your post just reminded me of another reason to steer clear of chuggers - the fact that if you want to contribute you have to give them your bank details. I'm sure they are vetted etc. etc. but in this day and age you never know who is tempted....

No sorry, it's a bad idea and puts me off donating to charities. Nowadays the charity shop is as far as I go, and making special donations to various appeals on TV.

My main contribution to charities is via my (small) company - I support everyone of my customers (who asks me to) if they are having a charitable / fundraising event. Either with goods, cash, time, equipment, facilities or transport.

MTC

chugalug

Fifer wrote:

So someone is allowed to make a nuisance of themselves to me but I must be polite back? Where's the balance? You also said 'they have to be persistent'. No, that's just rude. I'll say 'no thank you' the first time, but if someone persists, they deserve something substantially more robust by way of rebuke.

I never said someone could make a nuisance of themselves and you had to be polite back!! I was just trying to put a different view forward. After all the use of the word ' discussion' in the title implies that all views are welcome!!!!!! Apparently not.

Anyway, I've had my say ................ I'm off to apply to the EU for funding for my minority group!!

Poppycat

Giving to those less fortunate than one's self is a generous gesture, whether its money, gifts or time.

However I do resent being harassed and asked to give when I don't have the money or can't afford too, perhaps its me but I do feel a sense of guilt even though I shouldn't do, a couple of pound a week to me is a lot I cant afford to donate that every week, my time is mainly the gift I can afford to give.

MSE_Martin

Just a quick note. Let's try and keep these not personal. Even if you dislike chuggers, which seems to be the common view, its perfectly possible chugalugs daughter behaves in a way that wouldn't offend you and is simply tarred by the behaviour of others.

If we can keep it to the general - i think it may make a more comfortable discussion for all.

Martin