Door to door chuggers

Hobbes

Not content with harrassing me on the street it appears they have now started going door to door.

Chuggers #1 showed up a month or so ago. I was not well and opening the door unshaven, hair in the mess from getting out of bed and they asking me with smiles "How are you today" I reply "Dying of a cold and just got woken up to answer the door" thier smiles dropped and apologised and left.

Chugger #2 (last week) tried to continue to talk despite saying not interested.

Chugger #3 showed up last night. Saying "Not interested" thankfully made her go away.

I'm hoping the frequency is a fluke. 2+3 were both from Gorta, no idea who the first lot were with.

lostexpectation

does anyone that this forms a part of cold calling ? even though its charity

maybe out on the streets its 'take yer chances' but perhaps its time for a block addreses list of some sort, maybe tied in with that junk mail block list that is supposed to exist?

It must be this lot http://www.nixers.com/ApplyForJob.aspx?Id=237256

Home Fundraising Ltd DMG Business Centre 12, Camden Row, Dublin 8, Ireland

please be brave call and complain and ask for your name to be blocked ?

i71jskz5xu42pb

Hobbes wrote:

Not content with harrassing me on the street it appears they have now started going door to door.

I had one come to the door a few months ago. Respectable looking guy, paperwork with all the (well known) charity's branding etc. Gave him a tenner. Had the cops around to the house a week later - apparently he had a gambling problem, got himself into a bit of trouble and was caught doing this scam door to door. So if you get a charity calling door to door, it might be an idea to give the charity a call to see if they even collect door to door.

tba

I don't bother answering the door unless I am expecting a package or service of some type.

Karl Hungus

Well, if it makes you feel better, I once punched a Jehova's Witness in the stomach when he put his foot in the door.

LundiMardi

tba wrote:

I don't bother answering the door unless I am expecting a package or service of some type.

Likewise, I never answer the door or answer my house phone. And i get stuff delivered to work:)

LundiMardi

Karl Hungus wrote:

Well, if it makes you feel better, I once punched a Jehova's Witness in the stomach when he put his foot in the door.

I'm sure he saw the light then.

OT - Loving the siq Karl, heh heh.

Binomate

I almost got chugged on the street the yesterday. They camp outside our college to prey upon the young defenceless and mostly poor college students. I have to zig zag down the road changing from one side of the street to the other avoiding them all. Yesterday I was walking fast and didn't scan the area for them and there was nobody around me. I look up for one second and there was that shinny blue jacket and those hippy trousers that had seemingly come out of nowhere. I tried turning my head away to pretend I didn't see her but she caught me out on that one and stuck out her hand. I automatically went in to shake it, it was like a reflex or something. I put in a good fight for about 2 minutes by ignoring what she had to say, but after that I gave way and simply walked away. Actually, that gives me an idea. I might try and shake every chuggers hand today and keep walking past them. That should get on their tits a little.

DaBreno

These guys are quite populous out in Lucan so we have evolved to deal with them. You open the door, person with a clipboard says "Hi..." and starts into something. While fixing on point in the distance, I drone "Not interested" and slam the door. You can chart their progress along your row of houses by the slamming of other doors.

Phone chuggers is where its at now.

Lindaloo

My bosses mother has someone knocking on her door a couple of years ago on behalf of a charity, she gave them money but wasn't 100% sure about them, she said it to me and I rang the charity. Turns out these people are just going door to door but are actually scammers not chuggers, so if you are planning on giving money or what have you, check them out first.

connundrum

Ring Ring...

Chugger: Hello?
Me: (10 seconds later) Hello.
Chugger: Hello Sir, this is Amy from X Chugging service, have you got a minute to talk?
Me: A minute? Yes, go!
Chugger: Ok sir, can I just get your name and details there for our records?
Me: What? Why? You're the one to ring me, surely you have all the details you need, 45 seconds left..
Chugger: 45 seconds??
Me: Yes, you roused me out of a lovely day dream and said you wanted a minute of my time.. you had 45 seconds left, and now you have 30 seconds left.. tick tock
Chugger: Uh uh.. em.. ok sir well this is highly unusual, my supervisor has given us a list of things we have to ask when calling an unknown person, and I kind of have to follow proceedure.
Me: Sorry, Amy is it? Yes, your time is up. You have had my undivided attention for a full minute now and you have not told me one thing about what your organisation does, who you collect for, how much money you may required, or even if you require money at all. Please do not call again.

Click

10 minutes later..

Ring Ring

Me: Sigh.. hello.
Caller: Hello sir, my name is John. I am Amy's supervisor here at X Chuggers, she was talking to you just a moment ago?
Me: Yes
Caller: Well I would just like to say that Amy has become rather upset after finishing the phonecall with you, do you enjoy being harsh and abrupt to people who are trying to make a difference in this world?
Me: Eh... if you guys ring me again, I will seek legal redress and make immediate contact with the guards.
Caller: I hope you feel good about yourself...

Click

:rolleyes:

Sleepy

do you enjoy being harsh and abrupt to people who are trying to make a difference in this world?

When they're working for an organisation that take a cut, yes, yes I do!

lostexpectation

for real?

DonkeyStyle \o/

Get yourself a front-porch with a sliding (and lockable) door... that way you can open your front door and look them up and down in disgust without having to talk to them.
They're not generally soundproof, but you can pretend like it is and make them put on a mime show for you.

Our doorbell is on the inside of the porch aswell, so when it's locked they can't even ring the doorbell or use the knocker... I get a good laugh when I know they're coming, I lock the outer door then covertly watch them struggle with the latch before they admit failure and slink off on their merry little way.

Karl Hungus wrote:

Well, if it makes you feel better, I once punched a Jehova's Witness in the stomach when he put his foot in the door.

My hero.

So there you are OP, just have Karl Hungus stay at your house for a few weeks... they won't be back.

i71jskz5xu42pb

Sleepy wrote:

When they're working for an organisation that take a cut, yes, yes I do!

This will open up a well trodden can of worms (to mangle an expression) but by an extension of your logic anybody that does work for a charity organisation should not be paid? Doctors, social workers, teachers, management, general workers or just the people collecting money?

Sad fact is that if some of these organisations did not pay people to collect money on their behalf they would not survive.

DonkeyStyle \o/

connundrum wrote:

Caller: Well I would just like to say that Amy has become rather upset after finishing the phonecall with you, do you enjoy being harsh and abrupt to people who are trying to make a difference in this world?

Then Amy is clearly in the wrong business. :rolleyes:
Anyway that sounds like such a bullshít guilt-trip tactic... just goes to show how sleazy these cúnts are. Amy was probably listening in, sh1tting herself laughing at the prospect of having the tables turned.

Actually I just thought of another porch-door game... pretend I can't hear them and pretend I can't open the door (struggle with it for effect), then make them pitch to me through the letterbox... leave them hunched there telling me all about it

Zulu

PaschalNee wrote:

This will open up a well trodden can of worms (to mangle an expression) but by an extension of your logic anybody that does work for a charity organisation should not be paid? Doctors, social workers, teachers, management, general workers or just the people collecting money?

Sad fact is that if some of these organisations did not pay people to collect money on their behalf they would not survive.

...ohh, go home.

Hagar

We keep an orphaned, blind, starving, one-legged, HIV postive, African leper at home and we always send her out to answer the door. It works a treat. We made €82 from the chuggers last month.

*may be a total fabrication

lostexpectation

PaschalNee wrote:

This will open up a well trodden can of worms (to mangle an expression) but by an extension of your logic anybody that does work for a charity organisation should not be paid? Doctors, social workers, teachers, management, general workers or just the people collecting money?

Sad fact is that if some of these organisations did not pay people to collect money on their behalf they would not survive.

its the middle men, these dodgey agencies, over focus on fundraiseing rather then helping, and excessive management and chuggers we don't like

tba

Zulu wrote:

...ohh, go home.

no I have to agree tbh

connundrum

Hagar wrote:

We keep an orphaned, blind, starving, one-legged, HIV postive, African leper at home and we always send her out to answer the door. It works a treat. We made €82 from the chuggers last month.

*may be a total fabrication

LOL! V good

I actually remember walking through town one day after just being sacked or something and was stopped by a chugger, I just looked at her and said - you, want money, from MEE?! Then I told her about my shiit day and how I couldn't be affording to save the world that week.. she was actually very nice and suggested I go visit the Samaritans.. or maybe she was being a smart bastard. Meh

Crucifix

Karl Hungus wrote:

Well, if it makes you feel better, I once punched a Jehova's Witness in the stomach when he put his foot in the door.

You know, it does. It really does.

robinph

connundrum wrote:

Ring Ring...

Chugger: Hello?
Me: (10 seconds later) Hello.
...
<far to long spent talking to someone you don't know or care about>
...

It should be more along the lines of.

Caller: Hello, this is ...
Me: <puts phone down as I didn't recognise that voice>

stevenmu

Binomate wrote:

she caught me out on that one and stuck out her hand. I automatically went in to shake it, it was like a reflex or something.

When they shake your hand, don't let go. Pretend your a politician campaigning, explain some of your 'policies' to them, and see how long you can hold on to their hand for.

threebeards

A mate of mine uses a good one for the Smart, Euphony, etc telephone companies:

Caller: "Hi, can I speak to the bill payer please?"
Mate: " What's his name?"
Caller: "Sorry?" (frantically looking for this response in his/her script)
Mate: "When you know the name of the bill payer, ring back and I'll put you through!" Click!!

No one has ever rang back

lostexpectation

yeah its on random and they expect you to give them your details so they can out in on their database!

Sleepy

PaschalNee wrote:

This will open up a well trodden can of worms (to mangle an expression) but by an extension of your logic anybody that does work for a charity organisation should not be paid? Doctors, social workers, teachers, management, general workers or just the people collecting money?

Sad fact is that if some of these organisations did not pay people to collect money on their behalf they would not survive.

I have no problem with charities paying their staff.

Out-sourcing to companies who's entire business model involves skimming off a charity's donations, I have a serious problem with. Particularly when those companies operate in a manner tantamount to harrassment.

DonkeyStyle \o/

Binomate wrote:

I tried turning my head away to pretend I didn't see her but she caught me out on that one and stuck out her hand. I automatically went in to shake it, it was like a reflex or something.

Yep, those dirty bastards... they got me with that one aswell last week... luckily my powers to dominate the conversation took over and I wished him good luck in his efforts and good bye.
It's funny now that I think of it... I never even got to hear what organisation he worked for or what the charity did... play these glorified sales gimps at their own game and don't let them get a word in... ask them all the questions.
I don't know why we're so conditioned to hear people out in the first place... maybe it's all the years of school/college/work... if someone puts themselves in a position of dominance or authority, we somehow automatically accept that and politely stand there nodding uncomfortably, thinking of ways we can worm out of it without that self-imposed authority figure being upset with us. :rolleyes:

Karl Hungus

Ah, those annoying phone callers. Hehe, have a story about how I dealt with them too.

This dates back to someone who was ringing the house, and was harrassing my younger sister. We called the police and their advice was to keep a whistle next to the phone, and when this person called again, blow the whistle as hard as possible into the phone. After that this person stopped calling... I think everyone knows where this little story is going, right?

Well, for those without imaginations, I'll continue. I answered the phone one day, and the familiar "Hello, can we speak to the person who pays the bills..." started. What's this? A whistle! Oh, I'm gonna have me some fun.

Binomate

Managed to stealth past the same chugger today. I love walking down Grafton street, seeing all the poor helpless people being approached. When you see someone in a charity jacket talking to them you just know that they're saying "Dear God, someone help me, please!" in their head. You want to try save them or something but the risk isn't worth it.

The chuggers on Grafton Street respond well to body language. I think it's because there are so many people that they can't lock on to you from far away. They're limited to more of a suprise attack. They jump out on you and the encounter is so quick that you can simply put your hand out and say no thanks and walk on by. They have less time with you to draw your attention. The ones in less populated areas, like outside D.I.T have time to see you coming and draw your attention from further away. Next time you are approached on grafton street keep your hands in your pockets and when they offer to shake your hand out take just one of your hands out of your pockets and just face your palm to them. The stop signal. They automatically stand down from their approach. Try the same with chuggers in a less populated area and see if it works.

DonkeyStyle \o/

stevenmu wrote:

When they shake your hand, don't let go. Pretend your a politician campaigning, explain some of your 'policies' to them, and see how long you can hold on to their hand for.

tbh I think they're trying the same thing... the handshake not only being the opener, the ice-breaker, the hook to reel you in with... but also the vice to lock you in place for longer than you would otherwise stay.

That lengthy handshake... that 'oh I just forgot to let go' lingering grip... they might aswell be holding on to you by the wrist.
Of course they'd let you go if you put up enough of a struggle, but they're relying on that politeness that has been beaten in to you your whole life.

They're nothing more than predators hiding behind the facade of a good cause... there's no doubt in my mind that these well paid people are given all the dirty sales tricks in the book.
I find it fascinating to google for sales tactics, you come across some strange sh1t... it's amazing how cold and calculated these personal interactions with sales people really are below the surface... I had to laugh and cringe at the same time when I read about the 'power handshake'... always trying to manipulate the other guy without him knowing.

Stephen

I love these chugger threads, they're always most amusing

Carry on.

Zulu

I was walking down Henry Street a few weeks back:

Chugger: can a have a min?
Me: no, sorry.
Chugger: why not? <the cheek!>
Me: because I don't want to give you my bank account details.

Now I didn't break my stride through all this, so he was calling "why not?" after me. I stepped into a shop just a little down the road for a few mins, can't remember what I was getting. I came out and had to walk back down Henry St., and past the same chugger...

Chugger: can a have a min?
Me: <exasperated> no!
Chugger: why not?
Me: I told you: I don't want to give you my bank account details.

I dunno, it wasn't like normal chuggers, trying to be really nice. It was like this guy was going out of his way to p1ss me off. I was really tempted to stop, turn around, walk back up to him and have a go at him.

...but naturally, I didn't. :cool:

scojones

Ah chuggers, if there ever was a use for a sh|te covered stick they are it.

RasTa

Jesus they are now doing the hand shake trick. Thats what they do in India before they try and give you a massage, when i was traveling over there i got roped into a free massage by shaking someones hand, although i have to say i enjoyed it.
Someone outside the Ilac center tried to do it to me last week but i thought it was just a once off. Anyway if you are greeted by someone trying to give you a hand shake just slap it as hard as you can and keep and walking, throw a "wassup" in there aswell and they wont know what to say, worked in India.

Sifo

In fairness the right thing to do is be polite and say no, most of these people don't want to be on the streets trying to sell charity or what have you... I worked door to door, for about 4 weeks, a few years back because i had to(needed the cash). Toughest job i've ever had. People went out of their way to be rude. And trust me i wasn't the pushy type. What i don't think people realised at the time is how much i didn't want to be doing the job in the first place and that i could have snapped at any moment and kicked the door open, dragged them into their own living room and beat them across the head with a mantelpice ornament!! but i didn't.. I understand that some of these people in the street can be pushy and get in your face, telling those ones to fcuk off is fair game but the rest don't deserve it.

bottom line is they are working a sh*t job to get by and there's no need to be and @sshole and go on like "you have minute... GO" and then start counting down from 60... if you're gonna do that just hang up the phone straight away...

DonkeyStyle \o/

Sifo wrote:

i could have snapped at any moment and kicked the door open, dragged them into their own living room and beat them across the head with a mantelpice ornament!!

Wow, all the more reason to be cautious :eek:
I'm definitely doing the letterbox thing from now on.
Though when you think about it, it works the other way too... the only difference in the hate:hate relationship is that the chuggers are the instigators.

Sifo

DonkeyStyle \o/ wrote:

Wow, all the more reason to be cautious :eek:
I'm definitely doing the letterbox thing from now on.
Though when you think about it, it works the other way too... the only difference in the hate:hate relationship is that the chuggers are the instigators.

this is just me though. They're not all serial killers

tba

Its a bit unfair to tar them all with the same brush, and if you haven't got the guts and the courtesy to simply say no thank you/sorry straight off then don't be angry at yourself for pitys sake.

Stephen

Door to door chuggers get an even worse response because people get very f**king pissed off with people they don't know coming to their own home just to try to get money off them. Kinda similar to how people generally hate religious zealots coming into their homes to try to convert them.

Random strangers have no business being in my home, so the whole lot of them can f**k right off. I include the f**kers from eircom that casually drop by every 3-4 months, usually when people are trying to eat their dinner in this too.

Victor

Doesn't this make them churgalars?

Binomate wrote:

I tried turning my head away to pretend I didn't see her but she caught me out on that one and stuck out her hand. I automatically went in to shake it, it was like a reflex or something. I put in a good fight for about 2 minutes by ignoring what she had to say, but after that I gave way and simply walked away. Actually, that gives me an idea. I might try and shake every chuggers hand today and keep walking past them. That should get on their tits a little.

You need to have something on you hand, no not gloves or your shopping, I mean something like dried our marmalade, or chocolate smeared on your hand.

That or go all pervy on the ones of the opposite sex or indeed the ones of the same sex - but you ahve to be really careful on that.

DonkeyStyle \o/ wrote:

I don't know why we're so conditioned to hear people out in the first place... maybe it's all the years of school/college/work... if someone puts themselves in a position of dominance or authority, we somehow automatically accept that and politely stand there nodding uncomfortably, thinking of ways we can worm out of it without that self-imposed authority figure being upset with us. :rolleyes:

Its down to psychology, we dread the risk of having someone not like us.

nesf

lostexpectation wrote:

does anyone that this forms a part of cold calling ? even though its charity

maybe out on the streets its 'take yer chances' but perhaps its time for a block addreses list of some sort, maybe tied in with that junk mail block list that is supposed to exist?

It must be this lot http://www.nixers.com/ApplyForJob.aspx?Id=237256

Home Fundraising Ltd DMG Business Centre 12, Camden Row, Dublin 8, Ireland

please be brave call and complain and ask for your name to be blocked ?

It doesn't work that way. An agent, usually a team of agents, is given an area to do and they then cover every house in that area. It isn't in any way targeted, every door gets knocked on. Blocking a single house isn't feasible.

Putting a sign on your door telling them not to knock will generally work though.