Chuggers - why do people hate them?
Filed under: Work & Careers
This might surprise you, but according to a recent report we don't like being stopped in the street and asked to give money to charity, with the implicit suggestion that if we don't hand over our cash and bank details we are worse than the spawn of Satan. Chuggers – "charity muggers" – are everywhere these days. It's sometimes a surprise to turn around in the shower and not see one. They are also universally hated and a number of councils are banning them after a survey found 500 of them working on four London roads over a six-week period.
But should they? Do they really do any harm?
After all chuggers are a) only doing their jobs, and it's not like that is killing puppies b) raising cash for charities, most of which no-one would object to.
What annoys people is the fact that they are being accosted when they really aren't expecting it.
You're just coming out of the Ann Summers shop and hoping no-one has seen you, when up pops a chap who just wants to know if you want to help stop innocent children dying, or if you are just plain evil.
Your bubble is burst, you can't even walk away, because he will walk with you. You're trapped in the open air.
Some people also object to the fact that chuggers are paid commission to get you to sign up – although it's pretty unlikely they would be doing it for the joy of standing in your local high street in the pouring rain and ignored by people.
Charities watchdog Intelligent Giving recently carried out a "mystery shopper" survey of 50 chuggers from 18 charities.
It found many lied to the public and were motivated more by greed than by altruism. Many also refused to back off when asked to.
The online Urban Dictionary defines "chugger" thus:
Paid "charity" street worker (read: student) who has been trained to believe that they are carrying out a worthy task, improving peoples' lives by conning Joe Public out of their money for this week's Good Cause. Usually an agency worker where the agency takes a hefty cut of the hourly rate that the charity in question has paid for, whilst at the same time increasing profits by selling on details of those foolish enough to actually stop and sign up to said Good Cause.
If you really want to support a charity, do it through their website, not a chugger.
If you really want to support a charity, do it through their website, not a chugger.
It may be a fair comment.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-09-2010 @ 3:26PM
mr grumpy said...
Take a typical charity ..eg NSPCC, to which I used to give my time . . search for the comprehensive financial report .. look at.. executive salaries, assetts, investments, pension scheme value and payments. in this case the last annual report I saw which I think was 2008/9 put the pension scheme at £123 million, income for the year was £157m, CEO salary approx £256,000 plus perks.
I really hate to say this but charity is now big business, look for yourselves. Many banks have billions of pounds invested under the guise of charitable status, a massive tax swindle, and what is done about it .. nothing. They all have their sticky fingers in the sticky pies. Don't take my word for it, search for yourselves.
Reply
2-09-2010 @ 4:40PM
Penny said...
They don't just stop you in the street now. Last week, about 6.30 p.m., I had a chap knocked on the door. Asked for monthly direct debit to support Guide Dogs for the Blind. Sponsorship required for the training period of the dog, two years, at £7.50 per month. Very rude when I said I could not afford that much.
Reply
2-10-2010 @ 2:34AM
David said...
I send a cheque from time to time to Cancer Research, a worthy cause. Last week however they rang me up out of the blue to ask for a regular direct debit.
I said I just couldn't make a regular commitment. Like many of us my income is much reduced by the recession.
Reply
2-10-2010 @ 3:35AM
Neveragain said...
After seeing a Tv Ad, I donated by SO, to NSPCC. Two years later I cancelled. I was literally hounded by phone and Mail. I eventually blew my top . As I saw it, the money I had paid in was simply wasted on Wages ,stationery etc to try and get people to pay more. NOT TO THE CHILDREN, who need it.
Reply
2-10-2010 @ 4:17AM
binconned said...
gave £20 to NSPCC due to thier christmas day advertising, advert pulled all the right heart strings so donated, from that day on i was bombarded with letters, vidieo and requests for further donations, would be accurate to say they spent my donation asking me for more money. never again
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2-10-2010 @ 6:18AM
Big A said...
I know its hard for the charities but " Chugging" gets me in a defensive mood[im 60yrs old Tommorow] im self employed and my work has been gradually declining for the last 2.5 yrs as Labours Antics have gradually destroyed the Society we once lived in. Here are my answers 1, im unemployed. 2.Im still paying back my Student loan. [ that one usually leaves them speechless.
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2-11-2010 @ 3:23AM
wes said...
A lot of these chuggers as we call them are conmen;
workings for bandits.many from former soviet states.
They are pure scum .They use the names of our reputable
charities to meet their own ends.
It is big business as another stated.
If you ask any of them who they work for they wont tell you.
These are not a few poor people trying to make a pound
its multi million pound fraud.
wes/
Reply
3-01-2010 @ 5:38PM
Pete said...
On the other hand though some of us are genuine people who work for a charity to raise funds in which we really believe in. Some are not pushy, are sympathetic and listen, passionate, knowledgeable and purely earning a living doing something worthwhile. I am fortunate to meet many interesting people everyday who either help or don't. Yet when I politely ask someone if they are well, why should I have to put up with the rudeness and arrogance of the general public who assume I am a 'stereotypical chugger'?
Reply