Chuggers

katejo

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

Walking back to tube station last night with me walkman on and bright white headphones(as you do ) I got approached and politely said no without removing my headphones and this lass still followed me talking to me. Could she not take no for an answer nor see me headphones and stop talking. Ticket.

I am currently cursing one. I saw him as I approached Russell Square so made a point of steering clear. On the way back to work my mind was on other things and he jumped in front of me. I had a burning urge to say '!!!! off' or something stronger but I just scowled and jumped out of the way.

katejo

gingin wrote: »

I am fuming!

Is there a limit to the time that these guys can call?

8.55pm and I get a chugger. Daughter is asleep, husband is away, lots of elderly neighbours who would be intimidated at being disturbed at this time.

I only think of the term 'chugger' when they are out on the street not when they do door to door. I just wouldn't answer the door if it were too late.

serious_saver

gingin wrote: »

I am fuming!

Is there a limit to the time that these guys can call?

8.55pm and I get a chugger. Daughter is asleep, husband is away, lots of elderly neighbours who would be intimidated at being disturbed at this time.

One turned up on our doorstep a while back. we live in a small block of flats and there was a loud knock on the door. We assumed it was one of our elderly neighbours and rushed to the door only to find a couple of BHF chuggers. I was really annoyed because they shouldn't have been able to get into the building.

My OH is useless at these things and would have spent all night politely trying to decline. So when they started talking about donations I asked them to hold on for a moment, went to the bedroom and brought back a bag of clothes. Then I told them that I was soooo glad they turned up because it would save me a trip to the charity shop.

The look on their faces was hysterical! They just didn't know what to do once diverted from their script :rotfl:

malkyh

I had an experience recently where one tried to collar me for a charity my wife already gives to monthly. I politely told him my wife already donates.

He then said "dont you feel you should be donating too then"

I not so politely told him to get stuffed.

WhiteHorse

If a chugger obstructs you in the street (actively or passively, but it must be deliberate), and by so doing prevents you from going about your lawful business, then that's a Breach of the Peace and arrestable.

haynick

Vile scum thats what they are - should be shot!!

brightonman123

shouting "get off me you freak!" may put them off for a while... ;-)

Fundamental_2

We have these in our town and my approach to them varies according to the mood I'm in at that particular moment- sometimes I'll engage, sometimes not- particularly if I'm in a rush.

Last year things were tight financially and I was approached by a 'children's charity' chugger. Before they could get a word out I told her I really didn't care about the charity- I was struggling myself and that my own children came first before anything else; she accepted what I said and agreed that charity begins at home. I wasn't nasty but said it all with a smile.

Once I was accosted by one who was very much dressed as the 'hippy' type with rainbow coloured clothing and dreadlocks. Unsurprisingly, she was representing some kind of charity which was opposed to the deforestation somewhere in south America. I engaged her in conversation and asked why they shouldn't be allowed to deforest their own country if they wished to- she explained that it affects the eco system and destroys the habitat for many animals. I then asked her whether she thought it was extremely arrogant for us to object to the deforestation of another country when England had undergone the exact same thing in our past; she had no concept of this- 'I'm just trying to earn some money and haven't a clue!' was her reply.

A lot of the time I will make eye contact with the chugger and say 'don't even bother' with a smile and they will leave me alone. This may be the approach I take, our town having a better class of chugger or that I don't come across as a vulnerable type. I never ignore them though and I'm never rude- perhaps I have this luxury because they are never rude to me.

They do become hardened to rejection - to them it's just a numbers game - the more they approach the more likely they will get a sign up. I can appreciate their position somewhat as I need to canvass door to door to bring in work for my own business as I am self employed; it's numbers for me too but I would never be rude or confrontational; even when people are rude to me I never retaliate as it's my business I would be harming- perhaps this is a difference.

So I would recommend smiling at the chugger and saying a quick 'no thanks' or 'sorry, I'm in a rush' or 'don't even bother'. Most of the time it will work and approaching it in this way will leave you in a better mood. When it doesn't work and they continue to push- you have taken the moral high ground, responded politely and they have broken the unspoken agreement not to push it further than necessary- and they deserve a tongue lashing when that is the case so do your worst!

Good luck all

FDM

d-seven

WhiteHorse wrote: »

If a chugger obstructs you in the street (actively or passively, but it must be deliberate), and by so doing prevents you from going about your lawful business, [STRIKE]then that's a Breach of the Peace and arrestable.[/STRIKE] Punch them in the face.

I had one come up to me in the street a few months back (Oxfam, I think) and told them I wasn't interested. About 20 yards up the road, another sstopped me and I said, "I've already been accosted by your mate down the road, so I'm not interested"
She just said "Accosted?" and looked really hurt. Then went on to accost someone else.

I'm not nasty, but that really made my day!

donnac2558

I did once tell a chugger I would rip his head off and stuff it up his ar*e.:rotfl:

The Oxfam guy wouldn't take no, so I said right, when you stop only paying 10p in the £1 to the starving and paying for the head Oxfam guys 4x4s I might think about it. He said but that wasn't the point. Tough Sh*t was my reply.

The Red Cross lot come round the doors a lot here. I tell them the latest crisis is karma on that country for whatever. Then shut the door.