Street Charity Workers.

[SmoothRB]

OK I'm sick of the professional ones who seem to inhabit every high street going.

You know the ones who are probably students, wear coloured bibs, and adopt (very) annoying tactics to get your attention. Normally the work for Greenpeace etc or other big 'charities'.

I really wish they would go away.

I like to walk down the street w/out my personal space being violated in this way. They are like cold callers on the phone.

It's the way they try and get your attention that offends me. They make eye contact when you are still miles away from them, move towards you, make some comment which is usually a question and so designed to 'ensnare' you....and most try and act 'zany' and larger-then-life...no sure why but I suspect it is a compensation or way to deal with the rejection then must get a lot.

I'm proud to say I have never given them a bean (no doubt would actually be a credit card number in reality).

I see lots of people talking to them and I don't understand it.

They are just mercenary sales-people in effect, no doubt on a bonus.

Is what they do legal? Harassing people on the street?

OTOH I do give loose change to more dignified volunteer types.

[SmoothRB]

ewenm said:

amir_j said:

ewenm said:

It's not hard to politely tell them you're not interested. If they push it, just say you don't give out bank details to strangers in the street (all they want is for you to sign a standing order). Information security and all that...

You get that far?

A firm no thanks and dismissive body language will stop them at the first sentence

Occasionally I might waste their time by getting them to do their entire spiel, ask loads of questions, chat for ages and then refuse to sign a standing order, but only when I'm bored.

LOL I did that once with a cold caller selling mobile phone contracts. I said at the end I couldn't find my bank details...should have heard the sigh...

Still I wouldn't make it a hobby.