BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)

Subject: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: GUEST,Eddie1 (sans cookie)
Date: 06 May 13 - 04:00 AM

I watched one of these TV adverts showing starving children in a far-off land and took up the suggestion of texting the word "CHILD" to a 5-digit number to donate £3.00. I got an immediate reply thanking me for my donation then the phone calls started. The first one was during a meeting, the next 2 while I was presenting a radio programme! Despite my urgency to get off the line, the caller endeavoured to find a time when it would be suitable to call me back but I was forced to cut them off. Finally I did get a call when I was at home from a very sweet young lady who again thanked me profusely and explained that she only wanted to tell me a bit more about what the charity was doing. I could see where this was leading and told her that if I wanted more information I could go to the website. This did not deter her however and she launched into a speech designed to pull at the heartstrings. She then came clean, gave me her name and said she was a fundraiser. I told her that I already donated regularly to a charity but she continued to tell me what a difference a regular donation from me would make to these children.
I am happy to donate money where and when I can but object to being made to feel guilty by exercising my right of choice! These are the kind of people who, if they inhabit The High Street on a Saturday morning, are called "chuggers" and now, in my home town of ReadingUK are limited in their activities. They work from a cleverly written script and receive commission on donations promised.
I know that in the current financial climate, funding for all charities in the UK is a nightmare but the big national or even international charities can afford to pay a horde of "fundraisers" while the small, local charities have to go it alone!
In future my donation to charities will be by popping money in a tin!

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 06 May 13 - 04:19 AM

I suspect that many of the 'chuggers' on the high street are students or unemployed young people attempting to earn a bit of extra cash. I sort of sympathise with them but, nevertheless, avoid them like the plague! Like Eddie 1 above, I don't mind giving the odd 'one-off' donation to a charity of my choice - but I refuse to sign up to any of them for life - which is what the chuggers want you to do.

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: GUEST
Date: 06 May 13 - 04:29 AM

Yes, they probably are students etc and I can't blame them for trying to make some extra cash. I blame the plan of trying to make people feel guilty. Not something thought up by them but by the organisations (not usually charities themselves) who dream up the scheme.
I also feel sad, and a tad guilty, about the young girls who put catalogues for cosmetics through the letterbox and I have to decline when they come back to collect them - not guilty enough to buy makeup though!

Eddie

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 06 May 13 - 04:32 AM

There are now far fewer street chuggers than a year ago. Most charities figured out that bad rep wasn't worth the returns.

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: GUEST,SPB at work
Date: 06 May 13 - 05:05 AM

The problem I have with chuggers is that they fundraise for very large national charities and that in turn has an adverse effect on fundraising and collections by smaller local charities.

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: GUEST,Lavengro
Date: 06 May 13 - 07:34 AM

I despise chuggers, utility sales people, religious zealots, no win no fee accident types, political activists, petition signature collectors etc. etc. Why? Because when I'm shopping, I'm shopping, and when I want to "shop" for any of the above I do so at a time of my choosing.

Can you imagine all the shopkeepers and retailers on your local high street following suit? They jump from the shadows, you try desperately not to establish eye contact (because then you have to talk don't you?), both of you briefly engaging in the military two step as you try to circle around them, all your efforts fail as you get blocked behind a slow moving pensioner with a tartan shopping trolly and your stalker delivers the line "Has sir thought about buying bananas recently or any hand foraged herbs, some wild garlic perhaps?" You would laugh and wonder if you were being secretly filmed wouldn't you?

But anyone from the preceding list is "normal" and we tolerate it. Personally I would love to walk the length of my local pedestrian precinct without being accosted by anyone from the above list.

And don't even get me started on buskers who's sole talent is painting their clothes and faces bronze and standing still :)

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 06 May 13 - 09:04 AM

I just looove watching them in action.

Here in the land of Oz they are mainly backpackers, usually with British/Irish accents, wearing the charity's t-shirt over their own clothes. And they normally hang about in pairs or trios on busy streets.

Normally they avoid little old ladies like me & go for the richer young folks.

I do my best to avoid their eyes cos some do try to get money from old ladies, & either shake my head or ignore their big smile & chirpy friendly greeting.

The one that nearly got what for was the chugger collecting for a cancer organisation who said 'Do you know anyone who has cancer?' I just walked past & didn't tell him I was still being checked regularly in case my cancer came back. I also toyed with sobbing/yelling that my parent/spouse/child has just died/been operated on/had a short time to live & kicking him as I went past. I can dream, can't I?

Several years back one of our newspapers did an investigation & found that the chairty received no money for at least a year - the collector/chugger & the collecting company kept it.

How to ruin a chugger's day!

Charities should mind their manners

The six shonky steps charity parasites use to get your $$

sandra (who gives money regularly to a number of charities & buys badges etc.)

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 May 13 - 01:08 PM

What a co-incidence! I only came across the term today in the book 'A Streetcat called Bob'. The author, James Bowen, points out that 'Chuggers' spoil the pitch for more needy cases - As he was at the time. In his words they were college kids after extra pocket money while he was dependent on selling the 'Big Issue' to keep body and soul together! Not saying who is right or wrong here but it is a valid viewpoint.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 06 May 13 - 02:38 PM

NO WAY will I give my bank a/c and sort code number, to some street vendor.
As for donating on line, by phone, or by any method other than hard cash in a collection tin. To do so, is to get yourself on a list, and to guarantee your mail box will never again be empty. My partner sends to so many, and it all started with donations to Leukemia reseach, as she lost a family member to it.

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: jacqui.c
Date: 06 May 13 - 07:58 PM

I don't give to anyone who 'chases' me for money, either in person, on line or on the phone.

For the street 'beggars' it's basically a smile and "No thank you" for the first go. If they keep on then it gets a bit less ladylike. Phone just gets put down, letters get recycled and emails sent to spam. No problem.

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: GUEST,Spleen Cringe
Date: 07 May 13 - 03:39 AM

It's amazing the ire that kids earning a few quid raising money for charity arouses in some people. Words like "despise" are incredibly strong to describe this. If you don't want to give, firmly and politely say no. It's easy...

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 07 May 13 - 04:28 AM

No it's not that easy Spleen Cringe, they are persistant and don't give up easily, quickly becoming a nuisance, they do respond quite well to the phrase ' fuck off ' though.

Dave H

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 07 May 13 - 04:52 AM

Dave H: Never had to get quite so direct! I usually just say something along the lines of "I don't deal with chuggers, EVER" and walk on. Never had one follow me or get persistent.

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 07 May 13 - 05:03 AM

In the UK, there is long-standing legislation that stops chuggers blocking people's way or otherwise harassing them. It dates back to the 19th century, and was introduced to control the banditry of the Salvation Army. One thing specifically forbidden is rattling collecting tins at people.

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: Megan L
Date: 07 May 13 - 05:17 AM

It is very easy to bandy around statements but I far prefer to have corroborative evidence therefore I looked up the legal advice for my own country and found this Scottish law on street collections


The groups of collectors in t-shirts can be quite annoying but then I guess so can anybody who you do not wish to be involved with.

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: GUEST,Lavengro
Date: 07 May 13 - 09:46 AM

@ Spleen Cringe.

I think you hit the nail on the head there?

"kids earning a few quid raising money for charity"

Yep, for the most part (in my experience) no interest in the charity on their tabbard, just turning a few quid and expecting people to hand over personal details so that they can do so. Part of the reason I despise them.

I had a young lady of about 21(ish) "representing" Children In Need block my path complete with painfully fake smile and well worn opening lines. Personally I do a lot of work with Children In Need locally and when I asked her what projects the money would fund she was clueless. When I told her absolutely truthfully that I don't have a bank account (cultural thing, long story) she got very stroppy indeed and accused me of lying. I could bore you with other similar stories but won't. And yeah, despise (as opposed to hate) reflects my opinion, which is what I was giving in regard to the OP.

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: GUEST
Date: 07 May 13 - 11:42 AM

"Despise".

I really do struggle with the idea that you could harbour such strong negative emotions towards paid charity fundraisers. They're hardly the devil incarnate, y'know. Such ire says far more about the despiser than the despisee.

Dave H, it is easy to say no. They congregate at the end of my street and I get nobbled by them all the time. I just tell them I'm not interested and they generally stop. It they don't stop, I tell them to stop. Problem solved.

To be honest, they're mostly friendly, slightly overenthusiastic kids doing their best to carry out a job that tends to bring out the worst in people who should probable know better. I wouldn't do it because I wouldn't want the abuse. But then I'm not desperate enough to need the job. It's actually people like Shelter and the NSPCC and the rest that anyone so angered by them that they feel the need to act should approach. Talk to the organ grinder rather than taking potshots at the monkeys...

And 'chuggers' is a shit term for them. They're not actually muggers, you know. They don't try to frighten you, threaten you with violence, wave knives at you or anything like that.

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: GUEST,Spleen Cringe
Date: 07 May 13 - 11:43 AM

Me above.

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: GUEST,Spleen Cringe
Date: 07 May 13 - 11:48 AM

One more thing, Lavengro. Our streets are not and never have been purely about shopping and thank god for that. Hopefully all human life will continue to teem there in all its glory and horror, from fire and brimstone preachers to the Socialist Workers Party to morris dancers to charity collectors to street theatre and beyond...

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: GUEST,Lavengro
Date: 07 May 13 - 04:15 PM

Like I said, my opinion. No one is expecting you to share it.

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: GUEST,Lavengro
Date: 07 May 13 - 04:17 PM

And another thing!!!

No, not really, just made me laugh when you did it.

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 07 May 13 - 05:37 PM

Sorry Mr Cringe, but your argument assumes that people are able to 'just say no' or 'tell them to stop'. What about my Mum who is 80 years old and intimidated by the slightest thing? What about the young Mum who is flustered by her two children wanting sweets and cannot afford them? What about the drunk who is feeling generous but his wife and family do not know where their next meal is coming from?

Whatever you say there are 'chuggers', and yes I do use the term intentionally, who will resort to harassing vulnerable people. I have seen it and seen the results.

OK - Maybe 90% of them are reasonable folk who are just trying to make a few bob. But an unregulated assault on the general public by untrained kids is, in my mind, a menace and words like 'despise' do not begin to describe how I feel about people who prey on the weak. And it is not the charities themselves that do this. It is the people on the streets.

And as to "They don't try to frighten you". Just ask my Mum or anyone else with mental health issues if they feel scared of them before you start to feel superior.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: GUEST,Spleen Cringe
Date: 07 May 13 - 06:27 PM

They must be a different breed over in Salford, Dave!

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 08 May 13 - 03:07 AM

No, Spleen, they are just the same. I am in Skipton now, btw, but they are still the same here. And they still intimidate some people.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 08 May 13 - 04:59 AM

I don't feel differently to them than any other salesperson, but they do tend to be somewhat more in your face than most salespeople you'll find on the street. Not significantly so in my experience, but then I'm not too easily manipulated. All pushy salespeople can be difficult for the vulnerable to cope with, whether it be on the door, on the phone, or in the street and I can see how easy it would be for highly motivated and less ethical employees of these fundraising companies to use emotional bullying to make their commission. And that's certainly a powerful sales tool that they have over your average hawker.

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 08 May 13 - 05:12 AM

..Which is to say, I think that's not such a good thing.

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 08 May 13 - 05:20 AM

Iv'e done telesales myself, and hated it! I called a dead man's house and got his grieving widow. Another woman was going spare from being constantly harassed and broke down. Ugh!

I wouldn't mind the kind that involved fundraising for charities by approaching companies, but never the kind targeting individuals.

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: banjoman
Date: 08 May 13 - 06:21 AM

I do contribute on a regular basis to several charities but detest the phone calls and junk mail, most of which I am sure is as a result of the charities which I do support selling on their lists as a means of creating income.. I consider it moral blackmail as I am provided with pictures of starving children, rescued dogs, endangered elephants, lions and gorilla to name just a few.
If I were to contribute the £2 or £3 a month which is all they are asking I could easily use up most of my meagre income and find myself in need of charitable help. I feel strongly that there should be some form of legislation to prevent all this

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: GUEST,Lavengro
Date: 08 May 13 - 07:58 AM

@Banjoman

I think your post raises an interesting point there Banjoman. How many people who do not contribute to charities are actually swayed by TV, magazine and through the door junk mail? It's only a guess but if you are not the type who gives already is yet another picture of a distressed, sad eyed puppy likely to change your mind? Or is it more likely that the pool of people who already give might give a bit more?

I personally think a lot of charities have ceased being charities in the true sense of the word and have become just another business.

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 08 May 13 - 08:11 AM

Did I read right that the fundraising companies that these street fundraisers work for take a 40% cut? Then of course there's the cut the charity takes to fund itself.

I much prefer small charities run by volunteers. It's unfortunate that they get so badly injured by the big operations who can afford to plough such large amounts of what people give them into advertising and fundraising initiatives - including paying organisations huge amounts of money to get more people to give money to them.

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: GUEST,Lavengro
Date: 08 May 13 - 09:12 AM

Not sure about the 40% thing CS. But after a quick Google, a job doing this will pay up to 15 an hour plus bonuses etc. Or to put it another way £28,860 for a 37 hour week. Not bad for an unqualified post is it? Then the companies who employ the collectors take whatever their cut is? Makes you wonder what is left for the abused children and sickeningly (in the ads) anthropomorphised pets?

Basically your £2 a month donation over the year won't even amount to two hours pay for the Chuggers. No wonder they all manage a fake smile! As I suggested, a business not a charity. Gotta despise it.

http://www.jobsite.co.uk/job/summer-charity-fundraisers-recruiting-now-946004659?utm_campaign=indeed_jobsite_feed&utm_source=ind

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 08 May 13 - 10:33 AM

Charity Fundraising

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: Megan L
Date: 08 May 13 - 11:00 AM

£555 not £28,860

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 08 May 13 - 01:34 PM

I'm with you there GuestCS. There are several small animal charities around here run by dedicated volunteers, and I can visit them in person to see their work, and donate what I can afford knowing it's all used properly. I also donate cat/dog food for a rescue charity called Faith, and food-bank tins etc for people in crisis. There's a hedgehog hospital too, Arcturus, and I always attend their open day to buy plants and give a little money. I give clothing in good condition to the Salvation Army. By giving actual goods, directly to the volunteers, you know the stuff is all used for the recipients. And you can get more personally involved.My aid to my husband's family in Ivory Coast also goes directly to them, and I know exactly how they'll spend it, which gives me enormous pleasure in a humble way to have helped a bit in their lives. All this is better for me than a direct debit to an office somewhere in London which pays large salaries to their executives.

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 08 May 13 - 01:53 PM

i dislike the mailshots containing free gifts,some of them quite substantial.i tend to bin those and give to ones that dont use such maipulative methods.

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 08 May 13 - 02:01 PM

I think the £28K is per annum, Megan, not per week. I know it says for a 37 hour week but I suspect that was just poorly phrased.

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Chuggers (Charity Muggers)
From: GUEST,Lavengro
Date: 08 May 13 - 04:12 PM

Thanks DtG. My bad, yes PA.