Charity collectors invading your space

Sappa

I was sitting having a coffee on Sarurday enjoying the sun outside the coffee shop near the Spanish arch when this great big cloud of a man interupted our table.
He had a plackard for a disability organisation and was looking for money,he was persistent and none too pleased when we all said no and we didn't appreciate being pestered like this.
I give to one or two trustworthy charities and I am always sceptical of these guys as they are out collecting every day I am in town.
15 minutes after he left another collector approached us,years ago they would collect at the weekend and do it in a polite fashion now it's a daily occurrence and very annoying when they interupt a private conversation at a coffee shop or restaurant.
Anyone else feel they are over doing it

Ronan H

I think that approaching people when they are sitting outside a shop having coffee is definitely crossing the line.

I imagine there are guidelines under which these people operate and perhaps something like that is covered in it.

As I see it, if you are outside a coffee shop having coffee, you are still technically "in" the shop as such, as it's on their property, so essentially it's the same as if you were in the bank, post office, clothes shop, mobile phone shop etc. These guys wouldn't pursue you into a shop I'm sure so they shouldn't disturb people outside a coffee shop either as you are still engaged in the business of that particular business.

I would be really pissed off if someone approached me while I was in that position. Recently I was in fact having lunch outside a cafe and there was a girl ten feet away collecting for something, she didn't go near anyone who was eating outside the cafe, which I think is correct of her.

I'm sure it must be covered in some training guidelines that these guys operate under. A quick call to the company thet represent would sort that out I'd say.

Ro

cfeeneyinterior

I was in a shop last week and one of these guys just walked in and started hassling two members of staff to buy lines for charity X. Both seemed fairly used to it ... I was gobsmacked.
They both said they had no money on them thankfully but he motioned towards the til for them to get the money out of there for his fabulous charity!
Some kind of bye laws has to be brought in for this crap... going on for years now.

sweeney1971

They just do my head in. Ireland is full of them and have you noticed it is always big burly men who collect not harmless old women?
Its all a scam. I went into the local Post Office and someone was collecting for a x charity. I said no and he coughed up and spat on the floor just outside the entrance of the Post Office. Good advertising!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just tell them to get a proper job. Was in Galway last week and one of these f**kers was stood next to the cash point begging and guess what idiots were giving him money.

Ronan H

That is annoying alright, but I imagine that selling lines/tickets etc. is slightly different (and treated slightly differently under bye laws) than collecting money in a bucket. I don't really have a problem with someone entering a business to sell tickets/lines etc., but to ask for money in a bucket, that would be out of order altogether.

It seems like a fine line between the two activities in terms of "harassment" of people and businesses, but I think there is a difference, as in, they have permission to sell lines/tickets in a shop, but not to collect money. I am open to correction on that though?

snubbleste

Massive thread on it already
Chuggers getting Fresh??

joeKel73

Was in the Salthouse a few weeks ago in the afternoon to watch a match and a guy came around each table collecting money for a charity. He'd asked the barmen first and more annoyed that they gave him the OK to do it.

Ronan H

sweeney1971 wrote: »

I just tell them to get a proper job.

To be fair, a lot of the collectors are people who do it as a "proper" job. That's why I referred to the guidelines and training they have because I am aware of a person who applied for on of these positions and there was a fair bit of training involved.

AnonoBoy

sweeney1971 wrote: »

They just do my head in. Ireland is full of them and have you noticed it is always big burly men who collect not harmless old women?

Never noticed anything of the sort. Mostly it's young people collecting. Male and female alike.

Mrs OBumble

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Never noticed anything of the sort. Mostly it's young people collecting. Male and female alike.

Shoulda gone to Specsavers.

The folks collecting outside the Eyre Square centre are almost always burly men.

Yes, there are others in places too (eg the asthma foundation folks outside the post office - they're genuine minimum-wage employees AFAIK - and people doing bag-packing inside the supermarkets) but the most common collectors are burly.

sweeney1971

Ronan H wrote: »

To be fair, a lot of the collectors are people who do it as a "proper" job. That's why I referred to the guidelines and training they have because I am aware of a person who applied for on of these positions and there was a fair bit of training involved.

God Almighty! What a career move! Being trained to beg legally.

AnonoBoy

JustMary wrote: »

Shoulda gone to Specsavers.

The folks collecting outside the Eyre Square centre are almost always burly men.

I missed the bit where we were talking exclusively about outside the Eyre Sq. Shopping Centre. In fact I was responding to a post about a collector outside a post office.

But I've not noticed an over-abundance of 'burly' men as opposed to 'normal' men collecting for charities around Galway at all to be honest.

Having said that anyone who aggressively approaches collecting for anything (be they burly or not) should be told to feck off in no uncertain terms.

BhoscaCapall

sweeney1971 wrote: »

God Almighty! What a career move! Being trained to beg legally.

Still do more good for society than several other jobs someone like you probably has respect for :rolleyes:

Mrs OBumble

sweeney1971 wrote: »

God Almighty! What a career move! Being trained to beg legally.

It's just a step below being a fundraising officer for Cope or the likes, which you would't bat any eyelid about: fundraising is big business.

leeroybrown

Professional fundraising is indeed big business with lots of money available for companies involved. The charitable take is much reduced as a result but most reluctantly agree to it just to get some donations. I'll never give them anything due to the huge amount that lines other peoples pockets.

Ronan H

sweeney1971 wrote: »

God Almighty! What a career move! Being trained to beg legally.

Wow, what a response.

Sucks to be you with a disgusting attitude like that.

Edit: Maybe that's a bit harsh. I'll say something else.

Em, that wasn't nice what you said.

:rolleyes:

Notch000

i hate going into the debhenams M&S? shoppin center as there are always pople half blocking the door as you leave looking for money

dalyboy

I gotta say I am fed up with charity collectors FULL STOP. I needed something in the shopping centre on Friday night and as I was walking in I could feel the stare of this charity collector and I continued my stroll without making eye contact. As I was almost touching distance he said quite loadly " help cancer sufferers ". I ignored him completely as he wasnt there, which is 100% my right. Then he says "alright then just keep walking then" !!!!! At this point I turned around and explained my reason for being in his vicinity was not to be ambushed but to purchase milk and I told him I contributed annually to a €250 charity budget which is evenly distributed between 5 of my preferred charities one of which is a Cancer charity. My problem with this is why should I have had to have had any dialogue with this individual, why was I compelled to defend myself in a public arena. I shouldnt have been put in this position. We all pay our taxes in this country so why are we being begged at every few yards no matter where we go. Why are we funding cancer charities ? Are our taxes not being distributed fairly to cover cancer research, care, meds etc etc, and if not why not ????

coup1917

Whatever about the ones on the street - you can pass them by if you are not interested..

Its the ones that come into the pubs that really do my my head in..
They usually approach a table full of people, which makes it awkward for people to refuse even if they do not want to contribute..

No-one wants to be seen to not be donating among a group....but this idea of coming in interupting & looking for money or whatever when you are socialising is out of order...

The pubs should be issuing a blanket ban on this crap...
It should be up to someone to donate if they wish to, not because they feel compelled or forced into it.. Annoying beyond belief..

malene

Nava today was incredible disgusting. There were about 4 or 6 feckers in yellow jackets, and I mean, sticking their hands out to stop people, I told one to "f" off and he looked at me, as if he had a right to stop me and waist my time. Seriously, is there any way that a complaint to a superindendant can revoke their licence and they be asked to leave a town? It seems to be a legal form of harrassment.

kautostar

The 2/3 Tramps that continually stand outside HMV near Edward Square collecting for 'charity' are the worst around in my opinion. They have strategically placed themselves in the narrow thoroughfare for the Back entrance to Edward Square. Standing across from each other laughing, joking and basically harassing passers by in the name of Charity.

From my experience they look at you and make you feel awkward from the minute you turn the corner, keeping eye contact and then often a snigger or smart comment when you say 'no thanks' or else keep your head down.

Further up the on Shop St their female relative is doing the same thing with the bucket loudly saying 'cancer' every now and then to passersby.

We all know these people and what they are. They are not collecting for Charity, they are working for themselves. I despise them and wish I did not have to encounter them as I walk around Galways shopping district.

The facts of how this works I do not know and would love if someone could enlighten me. I believe they buy the licence from the charity and this allows them to collect the money for themselves. It would also allow them to collect their dole as it's a 'charity' and therefore apparently non-paid work..
please correct me if I'm wrong?

jimbobaloobob

kautostar wrote: »

The 2/3 Tramps that continually stand outside HMV near Edward Square collecting for 'charity' are the worst around in my opinion. They have strategically placed themselves in the narrow thoroughfare for the Back entrance to Edward Square. Standing across from each other laughing, joking and basically harassing passers by in the name of Charity.

From my experience they look at you and make you feel awkward from the minute you turn the corner, keeping eye contact and then often a snigger or smart comment when you say 'no thanks' or else keep your head down.

Further up the on Shop St their female relative is doing the same thing with the bucket loudly saying 'cancer' every now and then to passersby.

We all know these people and what they are. They are not collecting for Charity, they are working for themselves. I despise them and wish I did not have to encounter them as I walk around Galways shopping district.

The facts of how this works I do not know and would love if someone could enlighten me. I believe they buy the licence from the charity and this allows them to collect the money for themselves. It would also allow them to collect their dole as it's a 'charity' and therefore apparently non-paid work..
please correct me if I'm wrong?

who authorises their permit to collect?

Ludikrus

kautostar wrote: »

The 2/3 Tramps that continually stand outside HMV near Edward Square collecting for 'charity' are the worst around in my opinion. They have strategically placed themselves in the narrow thoroughfare for the Back entrance to Edward Square. Standing across from each other laughing, joking and basically harassing passers by in the name of Charity.

From my experience they look at you and make you feel awkward from the minute you turn the corner, keeping eye contact and then often a snigger or smart comment when you say 'no thanks' or else keep your head down.

Further up the on Shop St their female relative is doing the same thing with the bucket loudly saying 'cancer' every now and then to passersby.

We all know these people and what they are. They are not collecting for Charity, they are working for themselves. I despise them and wish I did not have to encounter them as I walk around Galways shopping district.

The facts of how this works I do not know and would love if someone could enlighten me. I believe they buy the licence from the charity and this allows them to collect the money for themselves. It would also allow them to collect their dole as it's a 'charity' and therefore apparently non-paid work..
please correct me if I'm wrong?

Yeah, you're spot on about those two by HMV/Edward square. I was walking there on Saturday when they successfully intimidated two old ladies into stopping by shouting at them to give change. They had narrowed that path by standing opposite each other, so when the ladies stopped I was blocked. I veered right to walk around the back of the guy on the right and he was in my face asking for money.
They don't strike me as the charitable types.

malene

kautostar wrote: »

The 2/3 Tramps that continually stand outside HMV near Edward Square collecting for 'charity' are the worst around in my opinion. They have strategically placed themselves in the narrow thoroughfare for the Back entrance to Edward Square. Standing across from each other laughing, joking and basically harassing passers by in the name of Charity.

From my experience they look at you and make you feel awkward from the minute you turn the corner, keeping eye contact and then often a snigger or smart comment when you say 'no thanks' or else keep your head down.

Further up the on Shop St their female relative is doing the same thing with the bucket loudly saying 'cancer' every now and then to passersby.

We all know these people and what they are. They are not collecting for Charity, they are working for themselves. I despise them and wish I did not have to encounter them as I walk around Galways shopping district.

The facts of how this works I do not know and would love if someone could enlighten me. I believe they buy the licence from the charity and this allows them to collect the money for themselves. It would also allow them to collect their dole as it's a 'charity' and therefore apparently non-paid work..
please correct me if I'm wrong?

VIDEO+YOUTUBE+LIVELINE+UPROAR = END OF THEM 2/ REFUSAL OF PERMIT.

Sappa

Ludikrus wrote: »

kautostar wrote: »

The 2/3 Tramps that continually stand outside HMV near Edward Square collecting for 'charity' are the worst around in my opinion. They have strategically placed themselves in the narrow thoroughfare for the Back entrance to Edward Square. Standing across from each other laughing, joking and basically harassing passers by in the name of Charity.

From my experience they look at you and make you feel awkward from the minute you turn the corner, keeping eye contact and then often a snigger or smart comment when you say 'no thanks' or else keep your head down.

Further up the on Shop St their female relative is doing the same thing with the bucket loudly saying 'cancer' every now and then to passersby.

We all know these people and what they are. They are not collecting for Charity, they are working for themselves. I despise them and wish I did not have to encounter them as I walk around Galways shopping district.

The facts of how this works I do not know and would love if someone could enlighten me. I believe they buy the licence from the charity and this allows them to collect the money for themselves. It would also allow them to collect their dole as it's a 'charity' and therefore apparently non-paid work..
please correct me if I'm wrong?

Yeah, you're spot on about those two by HMV/Edward square. I was walking there on Saturday when they successfully intimidated two old ladies into stopping by shouting at them to give change. They had narrowed that path by standing opposite each other, so when the ladies stopped I was blocked. I veered right to walk around the back of the guy on the right and he was in my face asking for money.
They don't strike me as the charitable types.

These guys are travellers from Tuam,I wouldn't give them a Penney and I honestly wonder what percentage of the money collected goes to a charity.
I would guess that less than 10% makes it's way back to the charity,expect them to increase in numbers as Christmas approaches and the level of intimidation to increase,they target the vulnerable and ambush people along that alley,do you really think these guys would be out collecting for charity unless it benefited there pocket massively.
I urge anyone I know never to give to this gang.

bonzodog2

malene wrote: »

VIDEO+YOUTUBE+LIVELINE+UPROAR = END OF THEM 2/ REFUSAL OF PERMIT.

I'd suspect they would not be too happy being video'd.

biko

These guys have been discussed here before
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=60432659
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=63422690

I don't like their collection "style" either but please let's try to keep the comments civil.

kautostar

Cool.

I actually can't believe they have been doing the same routine in the same spot and another person posted about the exact same thing as I did, as far back as 2009!

Nah I wouldn't fancy pointing a video camera/phone into the faces of these 2 fellas in particular, no matter how charitable they may in fact be

One thing to note is that if these guys have been doing the same thing in the same spot for at least 3 years people must be giving them money...

FouxDaFaFa

cfeeneyinterior wrote: »

I was in a shop last week and one of these guys just walked in and started hassling two members of staff to buy lines for charity X. Both seemed fairly used to it ... I was gobsmacked.
They both said they had no money on them thankfully but he motioned towards the til for them to get the money out of there for his fabulous charity!
Some kind of bye laws has to be brought in for this crap... going on for years now.

That happens where I work all the time, as if I'm just going to open the till. Does anyone know what the story is with the guys who come out on a Sunday morning and collect for the "lung foundation"? I work at that time and have seen them intimidating tourists into handing over money. They get really in your face and basically won't leave until you give them something. Is panhandling a crime in Ireland?

intellectual dosser

Here's a question, has anyone ever won on a scratchcard handed out by one of these charity collectors? Not just from the guys outside HMV or Debenhams.

I've sometimes bought them in the last couple of years but I remember the last one I got I forgot to scratch it because I didnt have a hope for it. Is it a gimmick? Does everyone else know and Im in the dark?

dmcg90

Ludikrus wrote: »

Yeah, you're spot on about those two by HMV/Edward square. I was walking there on Saturday when they successfully intimidated two old ladies into stopping by shouting at them to give change. They had narrowed that path by standing opposite each other, so when the ladies stopped I was blocked. I veered right to walk around the back of the guy on the right and he was in my face asking for money.
They don't strike me as the charitable types.

Those two are just plain dodgy. Walking past one Saturday morning back in July pushing a buggy, the younger man jumped off leaning on one of the poles and into my way aggressively as I had previously said no to giving him any money. Why they are allowed to be there I just don't know.

Mrs OBumble

FouxDaFaFa wrote: »

Does anyone know what the story is with the guys who come out on a Sunday morning and collect for the "lung foundation"? I work at that time and have seen them intimidating tourists into handing over money. They get really in your face and basically won't leave until you give them something. Is panhandling a crime in Ireland?

We now use the term "Irish Thug Foundation" as a catch-all phrase for most of the collectors you're discussing - the Lung Foundation is just one of the brands they use.

The cardinal rule is to never, ever, make eye contact. Just look at the ground, the buildings, whatever - but never them.

The other week I had a friend from home visiting me. As we walked up the street, she wanted to give them money, because she "doesn't like to pass anyone needy by". I tried to tell her about them, but I don't think she got it. Based on that, I'd say that at least some naive tourists really do hand over their dosh willingly.

I'd suspect that if they cross a certain line, the guards will remove their licenses and get the off the streets. But the thing is, how do you think they'd be raising money if they weren't doing it so obviously ... sometimes the devil you can see is better than the one you can't. It's not like these are lads who would be offered regular jobs.

dinneenp

Quiet simple- say it to the staff that you don't like it and you won't drink there again unless they make it known to beggers/chuggers not to annoy them.