Charity 'picket line' tactics

[Twincam16]

Anyone else find the way charities attract attention on the streets rather offensive?

I remember a time when they'd set up a stall and if you were interested in finding out more and donating, you went over and spoke to them.

These days they all seem to have taken the 'cordon off a street' attitude. And you can't get past them without being picked out and bothered by them. And of course, even if you're nice to them, they complain like buggery if they don't get your money. I've been called all sorts amounting to cruel/child-killer/planet-murderer. Sorry, but if they are asking for my money they may as well be polite.

As a result, I've been forced to take on the 'man on a mission' demeanour in order to get past them without being troubled. Sorry, but I have had it up to here with cocky, over-forceful charities. We all 'care', but in our own way.

Anyone else sick of the 'picket line' tactics?

[liszt]

I seem to remember that rattling a collecting tin can be construed as aggressive begging and there is some act or other from late 90's which means that can be nicked for it.

Find a policeman and report them

[pdV6]

Its not coins they're after these days but direct debit instructions...

[dick dastardly]

What really pi$$ed me off is when they jump in your path and verbally assault you no matter what you are doing. On the phone, reading, listening to your iPod or even mid-conversation with a mate they will block you and start to interrupt.

I used to answer politely "not today thanks" but after one of them replied "how about tomorrow then grumpy" I choose to pretend they are invisible and stare straight ahead - that really winds them up!

[Twincam16]

liszt said:

I seem to remember that rattling a collecting tin can be construed as aggressive begging and there is some act or other from late 90's which means that can be nicked for it. Find a policeman and report them

Oh no, they don't have a collection tin, it's a full-on assault with a clipboard - they want your bank account details so they can siphon it out of your account.

I signed up to one - Save The Children - simply because I agree with their outlook and they don't have any overtly political motivations, and I signed up through a student appeal, £100 a year.

However, when you get charities you know full well are backed by the Socialist Worker/anyone trying to force anti-everything bills onto the Parliamentary agenda - and they want direct access to your bank account - getting tetchy with you in the street, I think it's uncalled for.

[TheLemming]

The reason for most of this is that this is paid fundraising.

The majority of the street collecting types (especially those that descend mob handed and stake the area out) are external companies working on the charities behalf.

The charities do make money out of the donations, however they pay for the fundraising activity. As most of these guys and girls are going to be on a basic rate of bugger all and the rest commission, its a true hard-sell operation.

[simpo two]

I tell them I've given all my spare cash to the Labour Government.

[TeamD]

Quite agree, they're a pain in tha @rse!

Every effin' day, outside M&S on City Road, I wonder which crew of antipodean baskets it'll be today?

[zippee]

Their called Chuggers, or charity muggers.
Biggest pain in the ar*e going. I'll be sure to say Hi to your mates opposite M&S, I'm off bowling tonight in Finsbury Sq.

[chris.mapey]

simpo two said:

I tell them I've given all my spare cash to the Labour Government.

Chris

[Twincam16]

I find there are two one-liners that shut them up, actually:

"I write for that magazine"

and

"I've already signed up"

Sad that these days you've got to lie to a charity about your charitable nature, but it's only to get them off your back.

[ARH]

just forcefully say "not interested" as soon as they catch your eye, don't even give them a chance to say anything.

[brainsaw]

I usually find wearing headphones (whether connected to anythning or not) works like an invisibiity shield as long as you can avoid eye contact.
... not white ones tho.. 'cos they'll think your a sucker/hippie with an ipod (although they remind me of the ones that would come with an alba tape player)
Carrying a bike helmet in a threatening manner usually doesn't work for some reason

[michael_JCWS]

Richmond high street is full of them. I used to be polite and say sorry I don't have the time, after all I'd like to choose the charities I give to and not get harrased during my lunch hour.

Given up on that tactic. A small shake of the head and carry on walking. At 6ft 4" and 15 stone, they don't tend to try and jump in front of me

Cheers

Michael

[Twincam16]

There is another option too.

Put on a Manuel-style cod-Spanish accent, look at them, puzzled, and say 'Que?', then tell them the time

[maxf]

I had the anti-hunting campaigners hassle me and call me names for not listening to their blurb. I snapped and told the chap that I went game shooting and that because of his attitude, when I was finished shooting I would unpack my gun and shoot one final animal I wouldn't normally have shot - for him.

I think he actually went purple - which was funny.

*NB I don't really hunt/shoot but resented his aggressive behavior and attitute towards me when I was simply going about my business!

[steviebee]

I worked for Barnardo's in the mid 90's just as this was starting to become popular (started by Oxfam).

Persoanlly, I think it's lazy marketing/fundraising. I successfuly lobied against Barnardo's using the system but note that they have no sucumb.

The "collectors" are not volunteers but paid. they get a basic and a commission.

The trouble is, like direct mail, it works and works excpetionally well.

[Twincam16]

maxf said:

I had the anti-hunting campaigners hassle me and call me names for not listening to their blurb. I snapped and told the chap that I went game shooting and that because of his attitude, when I was finished shooting I would unpack my gun and shoot one final animal I wouldn't normally have shot - for him. I think he actually went purple - which was funny. *NB I don't really hunt/shoot but resented his aggressive behavior and attitute towards me when I was simply going about my business!

I do remember, quite comically, coming across some anti-car protesters lobbying for total pedestrianisation of York (it really doesn't need it), blathering on about the environmental damage caused by cars. They started trying to get me to sign their anti-car petition.

I don't know whether they noticed my Team Lotus jacket, or even my Jaguar F1 T-shirt I was wearing underneath, but it didn't take me long to point them out to them. Clueless barstewards.

[shirepro]

My wide is too nice to say 'No', but has at least learned to give false details. Sorry Sarah Smithers of Pimlico.

[paolow]

TeamD said:

Quite agree, they're a pain in tha @rse! Every effin' day, outside M&S on City Road, I wonder which crew of antipodean baskets it'll be today?

yep - i know the ones all too well. i used to make a game of dodging round them like some kind of furtive escaping prisoner. holding a phone to my ear used to work pretty well too. they obviously had some kind of clever operation going on though as every day thered be a different company after my cash but they never doubled up.