Should chuggers be allowed to target the financially vulnerable?

djl

we have had two CHUGGERS calling in the last week, the mse "No Cold Callers sign" does not seem to work. It was a Local Hospice yesterday I called to complain can these CHUGGERS not read??

poppy_f1

i dont mind the ones in the street or shops as you can pretty much get away from them its the door to door ones i think something need to be done about it

my 75yr old mum recently had macmillan cancer at her door and the girl was so persistent and pretty much begging my mum and also tryiung to guilt trip her into donating despite my mum saying she was only living on a pension and donated to the local macmillan centre when she could afford to

NBLondon

hello_sunshine wrote: »

Were you brought up to just say "NO! Not Interested!!" and march past when all they say is "Good morning- how are you today?"? I certainly wasn't.

I was brought up not to talk to strangers who approached me in the street :rotfl:

If you don't know them - it's polite to answer "Fine" and walk away. If they pester you again - you've no need to be polite in your next answer.

There should be no need for you to tell them you're a student or your financial situation - its none of their business. The fact that you have responded means you are possibly open to persuasion so you're just giving them an opening - and the pushy ones will try and stick their foot in it.

I am even less polite to the phone/utility company types who occasionally crop up. "Hello, can you tell me who is your current supplier" gets a glare at best.

lincroft1710

Should chuggers be allowed(rest of post title unnecessary)

NO.

sweetstudent

BoGoF wrote: »

I'd go one step further and ban them from our high streets altogether.

In fact if enough people complained to their local authority about the harrassment then they would not be allowed to be there, I believe they need to be granted a licence.

I think that Wolverhampton City Council are banning them and its about time you cant walk 10 meters without being approched by one of them

katejo

Androcles wrote: »

1. Completely ignore them. Look the other way. It is very difficult for them if you show no reaction to their presence whatsoever, as the only way they can then get your attention is to assault you!

2. If you get caught, just ask them how much they are making out of any "sale" and say that they are taking food out of the mouths of the starving children/ fluffy animals/ etc... and should be ashamed of themselves, whatever happened to volunteering, etc.

Personally I can't stand them and have no time for them. I give to the charities I want to give to, in the amount I can afford, and at the time I decide . If they don't like it, tough! My conscience is clear.

I agree. Just steer clear of them and avoid any interaction at all. In the early stages, I tried to make a mental note of the charities using them so I could boycott them but I have given up. Too many of them. I will never donate to any charity through a chugger. I have other ways to do it as and when I want to.

qetu1357

hello_sunshine wrote: »

Financially vulnerable.

Limited experience of money management. Little, sporadic or no income. Unsecured debts. Whether you like students or not, I refer to my earlier point about borrowing money to give it away, i.e. that it's pretty daft.

http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/alcohol-and-you/work-and-study/students

The National Union of Students estimates that the average student spends £675 a year on socialising.

chewynut

I always take my iPod and a pair of sunglasses with me to Notts, even if it's overcast!

Walking down the side streets with glasses on and iPod firmly in works most of the time. I've learnt to completely ignore them, even if they shout after me or step in front of me. I don't enjoy being rude to anyone but I'm not wasting my time or theirs.

The worst one isn't even a chugger. There's a seriously annoying LoveFilm guy on one of the stands in the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre. He's ruder than any of the chuggers outside!

MothballsWallet

Androcles wrote: »

1. Completely ignore them. Look the other way. It is very difficult for them if you show no reaction to their presence whatsoever, as the only way they can then get your attention is to assault you!

2. If you get caught, just ask them how much they are making out of any "sale" and say that they are taking food out of the mouths of the starving children/ fluffy animals/ etc... and should be ashamed of themselves, whatever happened to volunteering, etc.

Personally I can't stand them and have no time for them. I give to the charities I want to give to, in the amount I can afford, and at the time I decide . If they don't like it, tough! My conscience is clear.

You forgot these ones:

3. If they won't take no for "an" answer, bring a rolled-up newspaper or magazine to bear against them.

4. If 3. doesn't work, shout out "thief" and if anyone comes to your aid, say the chugger tried to force your bank details out of you.

BlueAngelCV

I think Chuggers should not be allowed full stop. It's disgraceful the way they think they have a right to harrass people just people they work for a charity.

The ones near us stand on a busy bridge at 5pm everyday jumping in front of people trying to get across and generally getting in the way. I have the head down, headphones on routine down but still some don't take the hint.

If they want to then they should stand clearly to the side of the pavement so that people can see them and approach them if they wish to donate or discussion donation. I do not think that they should be allowed to approach people at all no matter how politely they do it.