Concern just rang me asking for more money...

giveth

I started a monthly direct debit donation with concern about 4 years ago. I responded to an ad in a newspaper.

Since then, I've been harrassed on the street by them on a regular basis. I've had email and post from them on a regular basis. And now today while busy at work I get a call from someone who goes into a long speel about children dying in Africa for about 5 minutes. Then she asks me to increase my monthly donation.

I think I've had it with them now. I'm going to stop the direct debit and give my money to people who dont constantly harrass me. I mean I'm all for giving money to charity but I'll do it when I decide to do it and I dont want to be manipulated and guilted into it on a regular basis. I mean they always phrase their questions in such a way that you feel like such a selfish uncaring sh!t for saying no. I'll give my money to another charity I think.

Has anyone else gotten calls from them?

EWheelChair

Don't be afraid to put the foot down, you're donating consistantly for four years, you owe them nothing.

Tell them you're working and can't talk, if they get pushy tell them you don't have time for this sort of harassment and if they wish to recieve any donation at all then they need to back off.

spurious

I do not give to any charity that uses chuggers.

Concern
Barnardo's
and to my utter disgust - Amnesty International.

I'm thinking of making a webpage listing all the charities that think it is OK to mug passers-by for charity.

Archeron

Not from Concern, but Sightsavers newsletter always makes me laugh (not in an evil way). You read the letter, and the bottom of it folds out into a demand draft across the top of which is written "YES I WANT TO HELP SAVE SIGHT". Meaning, if you dont fill it in, then that means you DONT want to help save sight. Cheeky monkeys.

Aah well, I suppose they have to try and do something to raise their funds. (if you look through the older threads, you'll see that a lot of people dont donate anything. Its their fault that you keep getting hassled instead:D )

delly

Have never got calls before, but if your going to send anything, why not send it here. Seals can't use the phone .

FillSpectre

I actually think the ads should be banned along with chuggers.

The fact is that the charities get more money using the collection agent companies.

Funsterdelux

In for a penny, in for a pound, I said it before and i'll say it again, Charity begins and ends at home.

LegacyUser

i had a concern dd for 3 years until recently.

i was just sick of being harrased by chuggers, i'd tell them i'm already signed up, one guy got v sarky with me.

last straw was a chugger hanging around outside my bank, i just thought, fcuk this bollox, and cancelled my direct debit.

i can't believe the cheek them ringing you and trying to guilt trip you into giving more money.

they realy are shooting themselves in the foot.

does anyone know any decent charities out there who don't harras you on a regular basis, and where most of the money actually goes to the charity, as i believe concern is run like a business, and the chuggers are not collecting out of the goodness of their hearts.

matu

I have them ringing me and I have never given them money or my number, to make it worse my number is exdirectory.
somewhere along the line I have given my number for something and someone else has decided to pass it on to Concern.
Now it must be a business that was done this as I would only have given my number out to someone if I needed to be contacted on something important.
This has made me really mad and next time Concern ring Im going to be the one asking the questions.

seamus

Most Charities are like this. They put on the hard squeeze because
A. A lot of people would rather pay up than have a stranger think they're tight-fisted
B. A lot of people would feel bad about reporting them for harrassment.

Even if you're signed up for a direct debit, you have the same rights to not receive unsolicited calls. The next time they do this, ask them to remove you from their cold-call list and threaten them with the Data Protection commissioner if they don't.

ChityWest

stp wrote:

i had a concern dd for 3 years until recently..........
harrased by chuggers, i'd tell them i'm already signed up, one guy got v sarky with me.

Not trying to sound patronising, but why not just tell them to F off ?

I dont understand this 'need to be nice' and letting yourself be manipulated into feeling guilty. These people are very practised at what they do - they do it to a different person every 2 minutes all day long - there is nothing nice about them. They are on comission and they might as well be selling 2nd hand cars for all they care.

If your not comfortable with them bothering you then make a decision in advance that your not going to give them a single penny and then stick to it.

The more rude you are the less grief they will get - and in all honesty if one of them got sarky with me I would stop them right there and then and I would be the one giving them grief and hassling the **** out of them.

rcs

Plus the fact that these Chuggers are on good money for harrassing you on the street..

I answered the door a few months ago and some dude from some charity (cant remember the name) just launched into a speel about Africa etc. and tried to get me to donate whatever...

I don't mind it on the street where you can just walk past them, but it's a bit much when they turn up on your eff'in doorstep and there's nothing you can do but listen or slam the door shut.

gazzer

I'd a guy from Gorta knocking at the door last week.. i was literally in the door and told him i wasnt interested... its bad enough that i have to try and avoid about 20,000 of them each day i am in work/going on lunch/going home but to start knocking at your door is a bit much.

matu

I have told them this every time they ring me but know I want an answer to where they got my contact info from.

AdrianR

Does anyone know where you can find out what precentage of donations end up going directly to the cause? I have a dd with concern and I've often wondered just how much actually gets to the cause, I've never really looked into it but I'd be really interested to know. As for the phone calls and the letters, I moved house so not a problem, I used to get letters allright.

Archeron

ONe of these people stopped me in Temple Bar. Before he started the spiel, I told him i wasnt interested as I give direct. When I said this he asked who I give to and when I asked him why he wanted to know, he said because a lot of people lie and just say that to get out of giving him money. I would have decked him if i wasnt so shocked.

ChityWest

matu wrote:

I have told them this every time they ring me but know I wont answer to where they got my contact info from.

I am not 100% sure if this covers companies doing the unsolicited calling if they happen to be registered as charities - (it definitely should imo)

http://www.dataprotection.ie/viewdoc.asp?Docid=288&Catid=57&StartDate=1+January+2006&m=y

Marketing Phone Calls

New legislation came into force in November 2003 dealing with unsolicited marketing phone calls. Under this legislation (Statutory Instrument 535 of 2003) you have a right to inform the person making the marketing call that you do not wish to receive such calls in future. If that person ignores your request and persists in calling you, they may be committing an offence. If that happens, you may complain to the Data Protection Commissioner.

Additionally, since July 2005, there has been a facility to record on a central database your preference not to receive direct marketing calls. The National Directory Database (NDD) is traditionally the tool used to produce printed telephone directories and to supply details for directory enquiry functions. You can now contact the company to which you pay telephone line rental and inform them that you want your preference not to receive marketing calls recorded on the NDD. This is a free service. It is an offence for a person to make a marketing call to someone who has a preference not to receive marketing calls recorded in the NDD, unless the caller has some form of consent to make such calls.

*

also this (charities dont seem to be exempt) :

http://www.dataprotection.ie/docs/Guide_to_the_use_of_the_National_Directory_Database_for_Dire/271.htm

3 Are there any exemptions for types of bodies (charities; clubs; schools)?
The only bodies exempt from these regulations are


* Political parties/members/activists contacting people in the course of their political activities;
* Individuals contacting people as part of the management of their personal, family or household affairs or for purely recreational purposes.

tbh

OP I have sympathy with your plight. The same thing has happened to me, and the last time it did, I politely pointed out that I didn't appreciate the fact that I was being guilt-tripped - as I saw it - into paying more, simply because I already gave. I told the woman that I was already giving as much as I could afford, and I felt bad having to say no all the time. The woman - again, very politely - apologised, and told me that the charity needed more money urgently, and try to do everything they can to get it, and so phoning people who they already knew wanted to help worked very well for them, although at the risk of annoying some people. They didn't like it, but it had to be done.

I never got another call after that, but I always looked at it of an example where, if you explain your position, they'll respect it. And, in fairness, I can respect theirs as well.

Hugh Hefner

I've had one or two run-ins with chuggers myself. Luckily I can use the excuse that I'm not 18 yet.

Everytime I pass someone who's being talked to by a chugger, I laugh to myself.

Calling up like that is just silly.

rcs

gazzer wrote:

I'd a guy from Gorta knocking at the door last week

Think it was a guy from Gorta who knocked on my door aswell.. Really is taking it to far. I'm well able to say no to them, but if it was some elderly person I'd say they would find it very hard to tell them they weren't interested. If these Chuggers were doing it voluntarily out of the goodness of their hearts it wouldn't be as bad but.. your contribution every month is prob equivalent to what these guys get an hour for harrassing people

Siogfinsceal

Can't believe the cheek of them you are already giving them money and now they want more ! sickening god forbid they should just say thank you and appreciate it- id make a point of shutting down the DD and writing them a letter explaining why they must p*ss so many people off with those tactics.

WhiteWashMan

ive had two incidents with charities, one in the streets, and one a phone call to my home, putting the guilt trip on me to donate money.

both times, i was left feeling angry for having to be subjected to these sort of underhanded and low sales tactics.

mikedragon32

spurious wrote:

I do not give to any charity that uses chuggers.

Concern
Barnardo's
and to my utter disgust - Amnesty International.

I'm thinking of making a webpage listing all the charities that think it is OK to mug passers-by for charity.

I'd like to see a full list.

You can add Debra and Sightsavers to it anyway...

I used to give to AI too and stopped after a chugger, when i explained that i already donate, asked me if I'd like to give more.

Besides, who in their right mind would give bank details etc. to a stranger on the street, with or without valid ID?

Sam Vimes

Hugh Hefner wrote:

I've had one or two run-ins with chuggers myself. Luckily I can use the excuse that I'm not 18 yet.

i use that excuse too. i'm 21

MrB

When I see a gang of chuggers hanging around with their I'm a decent caring person smile and bouncy none threatening walk I do one of 3 things.

1. cross the street if I have enough warning and there is no traffic.
2. eyes to the ground walk faster and hum. (never make eye contact, all hope is lost if you do!)
3. try to use other pedestrians as obstacles, adjust speed so a fat old lady is between you and the chugger, or even better get into the centre of a knot of people moving in the same direction and keep your head down.

It's not that I don't give to charity, I do, but never to chuggers!

the_syco

OP, if they ever rang me, I'd say no. Wait 5 minutes. Ring them back, and cancel your account with them, and go bunny-boiler on them, tbh.

=-=

If a chugger stops me, I have a new thing: I look confused, and then say "shuba gush anglish", whilst shaking my head. They nod their head, and walk away. I have a bit of an accent, so they proberly assume I speakee no englishee.

=-=

Avoiding them is fun. If I see them from a distance, I plan how to avoid them, usually by going behind their back as they turn to greet someone else. The only bad thing is that I catch people's eye's (bad habit), so sometimes they come to me. If I'm in the mood, I listen, if not, its "shuba gush anglish". Either way, I give htem nothing. If they waste 10 minutes talking to me, its 10 minutes wasted, tbh.

Nightwish

gazzer wrote:

I'd a guy from Gorta knocking at the door last week.. i was literally in the door and told him i wasnt interested... its bad enough that i have to try and avoid about 20,000 of them each day i am in work/going on lunch/going home but to start knocking at your door is a bit much.

I had two guys from Gorta at my door a few years ago looking for me to sign up and I gave him bank details of an account I'd closed down years ago, just to get them to piss off.

cinnamon

the_syco wrote:

OP, if they ever rang me, I'd say no. Wait 5 minutes. Ring them back, and cancel your account with them, and go bunny-boiler on them, tbh.

=-=

If a chugger stops me, I have a new thing: I look confused, and then say "shuba gush anglish", whilst shaking my head. They nod their head, and walk away. I have a bit of an accent, so they proberly assume I speakee no englishee.

=-=

Avoiding them is fun. If I see them from a distance, I plan how to avoid them, usually by going behind their back as they turn to greet someone else. The only bad thing is that I catch people's eye's (bad habit), so sometimes they come to me. If I'm in the mood, I listen, if not, its "shuba gush anglish". Either way, I give htem nothing. If they waste 10 minutes talking to me, its 10 minutes wasted, tbh.

ha, very good - I like your style

What kind of person is a chugger anyway? - the lowest scum of the earth if you ask me. Charity work should be charity work. These ppl get paid around 12euro per hour doing this. 12 euro! If they donated their wages to their cause maybe they could put an end to world hunger.
How these ppl sleep at night I don't know

giveth

I've just emailed them asking how to cancel my DD, anyway. Of course they dont tell you how to do it on their website, or if they do they hide it very well.

Anybody got any recommendations for some good charities that dont harrass? Do they exist?

Red Alert

chuggers are a regular feature here - try the search button! the hanly centre ones are the worst, as they attempt to chat you up on the street if you're a guy.

DublinWriter

spurious wrote:

I do not give to any charity that uses chuggers.
Concern
Barnardo's
and to my utter disgust - Amnesty International.

Me neither, and especially Barnardo's after the disgraceful ad they ran in the press on Fathers Day.

You'll find these big charaties choc-a-bloc with execs and admin staff. Some charaties are rumoured to only pass through 25% of donations they receive in aid to their causes.

Red Alert

what was the barnardos ad about?

DOLEMAN

Hugh Hefner wrote:

Everytime I pass someone who's being talked to by a chugger, I laugh to myself.

I always think, "they must be lonely and need someone to talk to."

They always seem to be fashionable types as well, which makes me think they are indeed lonely sorts...

DOLEMAN

Could I wear an "AIDS Charity" t-shirt, ask people for their bank details, and then transfer money from their account to my bank account each month?

SpitfireIV

Nightwish wrote:

I had two guys from Gorta at my door a few years ago looking for me to sign up and I gave him bank details of an account I'd closed down years ago, just to get them to piss off.

Evilllllllll ....but good thinking!

I'm the sort that once one of these chuggers corners me, I cant tell them to feck off, I know I should but the last time I did get caught I gave a false address and phone number, the guy laughed when taking down my number and replied 'hah, the amount of people who give me false numbers' to which I was thinking 'hehe....theres one more for ye buddy!', couldnt think of my old mobile number for a split second, sort of like a homer moment....

Mr Burns: Who are you??
Homer: *Dont tell him your real name!!*.......My name is Mister Burns...

I give to one charity anyway, something to do with blind people in Ireland and thats more than enought for me thank you!

Blisterman

Donate money to St Vincent de Paul. It's all run by volenteers and as far as I know, doesn't employ chuggers.

ronbyrne2005

millions are dying ,keep giving to reputable charities, the person who called you isnt a concern employee,they get agencies to call people/fundraise,call/email concern headquarters and outline your concerns .all reputable charities publish their accounts outlining the amount that goes into administration and i know the vast majority goes to those who need it through concern.
"charity begins at home"-bullsh1t -no one in this country dies of malaria/lack of water/basic medicine and other outrageously simple things that no one should die of in this day and age

BMH

Red Alert wrote:

what was the barnardos ad about?

Anyone know? I'm curious.

nlgbbbblth

Show them this thread

the Shades

I find my earphones ususally do the trick. On one occassion I did have a particularly annoying chugger (and no earphones) who kept hassling me, and eventually asked why I kept saying no as I repeatedly walked past him. In a moment of inspired honesty I just simply called out 'because I don't give a f**k.'

His hassling ceased

Sparky

Sitting in traffic at the end of Camden St one day, I seen this girl at a bus stop doing some sort of dance, its only untill she turned around that I seen Concern on the back of her white jacket.
She didn't bother with the women, just the lads.
Then to my supprise across the street was a lad with the same top on and doing the same as her, half dancing and walking backwards trying to chat people up.
Then after about two minutes he decided to walk into the pub, where I could see him going up to the women in the window seats, one look interested while the other kept nodding.

I thought that was all of them untill I spotted another one down near megabikes.
I'm glad I was in the car tbh.

nesf

Easiest way to get rid of a chugger is to tell them that you work in sales and that they need to work on their pitch. Then point out that if you wanted to sign up you'd have done it already.

Most of them get the message. Hard to pitch someone critising your pitch. Puts bad salespeople off-balance.

numorouno

Blisterman wrote:

Donate money to St Vincent de Paul. It's all run by volenteers and as far as I know, doesn't employ chuggers.

would agree but i heard from somebody that they use some of their donations as bail money for persons when they are arrested or brought before court.(i am open to correction as i am not 100% certain). i agree and do donate to charities but i dont want my donations to be spent in this manner. i know innocent until proven guilty and all that jazz but id prefer to be sure that my money was being spent on more vital outlays. just a personal opinion

the_syco

CroppyBoy1798 wrote:

I know I should but the last time I did get caught I gave a false address and phone number, the guy laughed when taking down my number and replied 'hah, the amount of people who give me false numbers' to which I was thinking 'hehe....theres one more for ye buddy!'

Give them the name of the head honcho, and the bank details of the organisation that they're meant to represent!

Name of organisation: Thai Concern Foundation
- Contact person for the Occupational Loan Fund: Jumroen Yaichid
- Contact person for the Thai Concern Foundation: Somchai Sirisujin
- Address: 348/4 Jaroenpathet Road, Chang Klan, Muang, Chiang Mai 50100
- Telephone: (053) 205-133
- Fax: (053) 205-134
- Email: tcf@loxinfo.co.th
- Bank account name: Thai Concern Foundation
- Bank account number: 407-1-01275-7
- Bank: Thai Farmer's Bank, Chang Klan Branch, Chiang Mai

The highlighted info above is the info you give them. Lets see how long it takes them to cop on:cool:

r3nu4l

I donated to St. John of Gods by direct debit for a while. One of the brothers of St John of God called to the door, an elderly chap. He didn't try to guilt me into anything he was very matter of fact, told me about the work that they do (I already knew as my Uncle used to volunteer with them before eventually becoming a psychiatric nurse) and said why they eneded donations. There was no sad music and whiny, reedy voice imploring me to give generously before baby Jesus started to cry.

Simple, matter of fact, great

The only time St. John of Gods ever contacted me after that was to say thank you for donating, we are very grateful and that their prayers were with me.

That was it, nothing else. I kept that direct debit going for a long time.

As for Concern and a lot of others, I'll never donate so much as a cent to them again. They completely disgust me with incessant harassment.

matu

nesf wrote:

Easiest way to get rid of a chugger is to tell them that you work in sales and that they need to work on their pitch. Then point out that if you wanted to sign up you'd have done it already.

Most of them get the message. Hard to pitch someone critising your pitch. Puts bad salespeople off-balance.

Hmm yes this sounds like a good idea I work in a call center so I can deliver this message perfectly to them just like Bruce Lee 1 inch punch they wont know what hit them.

dudara

Walking up Oliver Plunkett Street in Cork last evening, there were people in yellow t-shirts out collecting for cancer related charity. One of them caught my eye, I clearly shook my head (this usually works), but instead he came straight towards me, and starting his spiel.

Grrr... Can we actually ring the Gardai about these people, it's getting to the point where they're impeding you on the street, and they're surely not allowed to do that.

nesf

It's the system that messes things up imho. Quite a few of them are on commission only. No sale, no money. It tends to bring out the worst in sales tactics in my experience.

Maximilian

I find the whole chugger thing a bit of a disgrace. I don't think a charity should be run as a business i.e. employing dozens of chuggers to extract cash on the basis that they will generate more revenue then their own wages.

I once was at a meeting with a colleague, a solicitor, who had a client suing a well known charity (that employs chuggers) for unfair dismissal. As part of the case, they obtained Discovery against the charity and obtained financial records. She said she was utterly shocked to see how much donated monies were swallowed up by "administration" costs. I can't recall exactly but it was something in the order of 5-10% actually went where it was supposed to. I won't name the charity because in fairness its just hearsay really but you have all heard of it.

So folks, the moral of the story is be careful to whom you give money. Just think, from the €1 you donate, 95c of that may be paying for company cars, mobile phone bills, advertising costs, wages, rent, etc. etc.

Archeron

Maximilian wrote:

So folks, the moral of the story is be careful to whom you give money. Just think, from the €1 you donate, 95c of that may be paying for company cars, mobile phone bills, advertising costs, wages, rent, etc. etc.

Can anyone please point us towards somewhere that we can obtain this type of information that isnt based on hearsay? (no offense Maximillian) I give to a number of charities through DD, and the amount of people making statements like that above are starting to really make me think twice. I have no objection to the donations, but if comments like the above are true, I will certainly be re-thinking my position.

I know Concern have stated a number of times that app 5% goes on admin. Am I being gullible by believing this? What about the other charities that are not as forthcoming with this type of info?

tbh

Archeron wrote:

Can anyone please point us towards somewhere that we can obtain this type of information that isnt based on hearsay? (no offense Maximillian) I give to a number of charities through DD, and the amount of people making statements like that above are starting to really make me think twice. I have no objection to the donations, but if comments like the above are true, I will certainly be re-thinking my position.

I know Concern have stated a number of times that app 5% goes on admin. Am I being gullible by believing this? What about the other charities that are not as forthcoming with this type of info?

From http://www.charityfacts.org/fundraising/fundraising_factsheets/street_fundraising/what_it_costs.html (I know it's a UK site)

The costs of face to face come at the beginning - the charity usually pays a flat rate fee per supporter (typically around £70) to the fundraising firm - while the benefits come in over the longer term.

This means that someone who pays a small amount by monthly direct debit for a year may not donate much more to the charity than the cost of signing them up, but by the second year, their regular donation begins to make a significant difference.

If you look at http://www.concern.net/docs/accounts05.pdf

they say that in 2005, voluntary donations were 75,800 (€,000) and the cost of generating this was 12,831. That would presumably include advertising etc. I hate chuggers as much as the next man, but from the charidees perspective, it seems to be a case of if you don't ask, you don't get.