Pressure selling

Arthien

Hi, I wasn't sure where to post this but I thought someone here might be able to advise.

At tea time this evening, my husband answered a knock on the door and ended up facing 2 men who tried to pressure sell him into signing up to donate to the RSPCA.

They asked leading questions and were very rude and insistent, basically telling him that if he didn't sign up there and then he was an animal-hater who didn't care if animals died. I was making tea at the time and didn't know what was happening or I'd have given them an earful and told them not to bother our (elderly and vulnerable) neighbours. As it was, they were gone when I went outside to check.

Is there anything I can do? Can I complain to the RSPCA or do they use a different company to send these people round?

Any help gratefully received

bluenoseam

"damn right I don't like animals, I don't like humans either, but unlike animals I don't think twice about punting them in the nuts!"

Savvy_Sue

Complain to the RSPCA, even if they do use a different company, they need to hear how inappropriate the methods used are.

You can also talk to the local police if you feel they are putting vulnerable people at risk.

Horace

Complain to the RSPCA as there are rules with regard to folks who collect for charity.

Also ring your local police 101 (listen to the message as there are often more than one force using the 101 number) click the number for the force you are trying to contact and report these two chaps - it may be that they were not collecting for charity at all but were scam artists.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

Use the RSPCA facebook page and tell them on there how their representative field agents have acted give area location and time, as all reps are dropped into an area and this is recorded with their company so will give them a list of possible names in the group that was dropped in the area.


I would also call 101 to report suspicious RSPCA reps in the area so tomorrow the plod can keep an eye in the area for the group and stop them and check them out if they spot them.


Its not the first time.


They tried it on with me last year, the fellow started off nicely but when I told him I don't donate to RSPCA due to the fact they have never helped me or anyone I know in the past in regards to animal cruelty or suffering, he became pushy telling me that because of people like me with a one sided view of the RSPCA and don't donate they don't get to have the funds to respond to calls like I had put forward to them and people like me are making the service suffer for others because I don't donate, I told him i'll break his jaw he speak down to me like that again and to quickly get out of my sight before I change my mind in giving him a chance to leave.

Georgiegirl256

I think it's totally wrong too, especially when they realise you're not going to be signing up and so turn funny with you. This sort of pressure selling towards vulnerable and elderly folk who are too polite to tell them no shouldn't be allowed.

Last time they turned up on our doorstep asking for donations my husband pointed at the cat (who we got from the RSPCA) and said "you can have him!" :rotfl: The guy wasn't amused, and soon realised he wasn't going to get anywhere fast with us and so made a quick exit.

Arthien

Thanks everyone for the advice.

I'm going to see about posting on the RSPCA FB page today and see what comes of it. If they don't respond to my satisfaction then I'll raise the complaint higher, and I'll speak to the police on 101 if I don't think it's being taken seriously.

The thing that really gets me is that it's bad enough to pressure sell to someone who at least has enough confidence to say 'no thanks, it's not for me', but if that someone is elderly or vulnerable, or has a 'no cold callers etc' sign then that should be enough to stop them, but it doesn't seem to be!

I never used to think badly of the RSPCA, despite the recent negativity towards them, but this has put me right off ever donating in the future.

1886

Why put yourself in this situation in the first place?

We never answer the door unless it is somebody we know, the same goes for the mobile. I have a look out of the window, see it's somebody I don't know so I don't answer the door

The British Heart Foundation had a Chugger come round to my Dad's house when I was there last week. When his Rottweiler appeared at the window they soon did one lol

Kastanie

I absolutely hate this high pressure tactic (along with high street chugging). The charities say it's successful, but don't they realise the bad feeling it causes?

It's always early evening when they call. A few months ago I answered the door to two guys representing a charity. A third was standing behind them at the gate. I found it really intimidating especially as it was getting dark and I was alone in the house. They were really persistent with their leading questions and guilt-tripping. Eventually I shut the door in their face and complained to the charity. Since then I do not open my door to anyone without looking out the window first, I don't care if they see me.

You should complain to the charity and mention it has put you off donating.

I will donate in my own way if I want to but high pressure techniques irritate me and the fact is that these charities pay a fortune to their execs and employ young people to chug who don't know the first thing about the charity they represent.

his_missus

I agree you should report to the RSPCA, they may have been scam artists and they should be able to advise you if indeed they were. They can then be reported if necessary.

Personally, when people ask for me to donate on the doorstep or the chuggers in town, I usually say, "I already donate to you, thank you" whether I do or don't.

teffers

I find the multi-purpose phrase "!!!! off" works best.