Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
More charities going door-to-door
Not sure if this is also happening on the Ladder, but we seem to be getting a LOT of door-to-door fundraisers over in SoTo at the moment. I'm really against any sort of doorstep selling (for want of a better word) and personally find the situation uncomfortable and a bit threatening.
I'm also finding the techniques used to be more manipulative than what I'm used to, and in a conversation with a young lady from a charity yesterday, was handed a pen and asked to start signing away my details without having given a direct 'yes' to the question 'will you donate?' - this is incredibly awkward, and leads to a situation where one is obliged to say 'no' quite forcefully and explain oneself. Sure, I can do it but it always leaves me feeling guilty. Their lines of questioning can become quite personal at times, too.
I do understand why they operate in this way but isn't turning up at people's homes a bit of a step too far? I do like to donate to causes and have actually signed up on one occasion, but when I later decided to cancel, I was phoned up and given the third degree by a guy who ended the call on a very sour note saying 'now you've made me feel bad'. All because I didn't want to explain my reasons for not wanting another direct debit when I'd just been made redundant(!)
Anyway, rant over. Any better advice on how to handle this beyond slamming the door on an essentially nice young person's face? I'm not great at that. And my standard response ('I prefer to go online and sort this kind of thing out myself') now doesn't work because they all carry iPads. Arghhh!
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by james walsh on
-
I'm really sorry you had to go through this words cannot express how i feel
-
Permalink Reply by John D on
-
That's really unfair of you James. Door-to-door and street-charity collectors receive training in how to manipulate the consciences of nice people like abster and make them feel guilty.
To abster- just say " NO " and don't get drawn into giving reasons why not. The doorsteppers have a scripted answer for everything so don't get into an argument with them.
-
Permalink Reply by Abi on
-
Oh wait, don't tell me. First world problems?
You know nothing about what problems I may or may not have, nor what I might find upsetting to be put on the spot and asked. I chose not to go into personal details on this post but perhaps you'd have been less sarcastic had I done that?
Sorry for starting a discussion.
-
Permalink Reply by ingo pless on
-
I would complain.
The charity commission has produced some good guidelines on fundraising, think the publication is CC20, quite it at them.
-
Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
-
One of the charities you have given money to has sold on your details. Expect more of this.
You're still better off deciding what you want to give money to and going online to do it. That way they get all of your money and not 50% of it (those slick young doorstep chuggers are working on commission). Then your defence will always be: "I'm sorry but starving animals in Scotland is not a charity I would give to".
I've had to be quite forceful and sometimes they do make it unpleasant. Especially the cancer charities.
-
-
It's really the actual charities in most cases.
-
-
I think the public are fed up with 'chuggers' on the High Street so now these parasitic companies are going door to door. Remember these charming young people do not work for charities and the first 6 months of your direct debit goes straight to their companies. No need to be rude or guilty. I just say, 'sorry I don't speak to unsolicited callers' or similar. I object to anyone calling at my door unannounced but always check what they want first as I wouldn't want to miss any local campaigners or even political canvassers.
-
Permalink Reply by Sharon on
-
I ve noticed them too. We get loads, I'm in N15. I only answered the door to the last one (fri) because he said he was from 'a community project' something I would have been interested in. His charity was to do with deaf children. 'so you are not a community project then?' 'we are...' I just say 'I'm not setting up a direct debit' and they go. annoying nonetheless. Ignore James. I'm sure he has his own white whines on here! ;-)
-
Permalink Reply by Lauren on
-
Gosh I never have a problem with saying no to these people! I just say very firmly 'no thank-you I'm not giving any money' and close the door. I don't know why people find it so difficult. I know that the phone ones are told to ask three times before they consider it a refusal, and unless you actually say 'no thank you please remove me from your list' they will keep on asking and even if it is a no this time they will call again unless you ask to be removed. They work on a basis that if they don't hit a certain target within a certain time they get sacked or warned, so it's not in their interest to keep you on the line if you have made it clear it is a NO. I imagine it is the same on the doorstep.
-
-
Abster, reading your post you seem completely in tune with what's going on. It's very clear that you have no problem standing up for yourself, Well done.
© 2024 Created by Hugh.
Powered by
