Anyone hate the charity workers on the street?

idontknowmyname

Does anyone else hate those bloody charity workers on the streets or is it just me?

They're all over Grafton st, south king st area and they drive me insane. :eek:
There's not just one of them but 6 or 7!!!
I'm in a rush and they step into my path to try and block me, tell me all about their charity and try and sign me up to their cult and part with my hard earned student cash thats reserved for drink. I sometimes dont get stopped by one on the same street, but a couple of them and they're all working beside each other....its like bang bang bang. then i tell them i'm in a rush and they say have a nice day no problemo, when they're actually cursing you under their breath! I had two guys chase me one day, they followed me, I was just turning off grafton onto wicklow st and they started following me up the back streets.....so so annoyed, i guarantee one day i will turn around and screm abuse at them......hasn't happened yet but i wouldn't like to be who gets it cause i have a foul temper!!!!! there....off my chest

clairey

I know what you mean!! I have to pass about 10 of them everyday on my way home from work!! I always pretend im on my phone and (most of the time) they dont try and stop you! Avoid eye contact at all times!!

Rossonero

I told one I was in a rush and walked by.
The guy shouted at me "****in' bum!"

toiletduck

i used to pretend i was on the phone but just got sick of them and now i comp[letely ignore them to the point of rudeness

fletch

I always walk through town with headphones on 'cause they generally won't try & stop ya then. Some of them will indicate to ya 2 take them off, just smile n shake your head

E@gle.

Are they the ones that look for your bank account details. I think if they dont get enough people signed up they get fired.

Kingsize

yeah i cant stand em.
theyve made me think twice about donating anything at all to any charity.
& are proof positive of the so called "charity industry"

idontknowmyname

there was something in the news the other week that the team leaders out on the street earn a fortune for just standing around hassling people........they've only started to get really bad in the last 2 years

threebeards

clairey wrote:

I always pretend im on my phone

Off topic.

Don't do what I saw a guy doing one day in a coffee shop - he was talking on the phone for a few minutes about "margins" (pronounced mawwwwrrgins) and how he was the "No 1 in the company since he started" (stawwwrted), making sure that he spoke so loudly that everyone could hear him and next thing, you guessed it, his phone rang. LMAO at the time. Tool!!

monkeyfudge

Yes. Very annoying. They're all on commission aren't they?

God and they try and be all cool and laid back... I can only imagine the training that they are given...

I'm not even any use to them, I'm with a rubbish bank that doesn't do direct debits.

seamus

"Sorry sir, have you got a minute for conc-"
"NO!".

That's all.

monkeyfudge

E@gle. wrote:

Are they the ones that look for your bank account details. I think if they dont get enough people signed up they get fired.

...out of a cannon, I hope!

I enjoy pulling the piss out of them. When Im walking past they with a friend we'll usually begin talking very loudly about how great war is. Then if they stop us we begin a barrage of pro George Bush and pro genocide statements till they piss off. Works everytime and once they get to recognise you they never stop you again.

idontknowmyname

yeah they do work on commission,

I'm sorry to say that I worked for Childline last year for 2 days. Couldn't get a job and rent was due so was easy money. I didnt hassle anyone on the streets, I had to go into pubs and ask them to buy scratch cards....didnt hassle anyone and didn't throw them a load of spiel about the charity....just asked them if they wanted to buy, if they didn't I moved on. I know I wouldn;t like someone to stand there for 10 mins giving me a load of garbage. I collected money in a tin for the cards. I felt relly bad though asking people for money.....they asked me to work more but declined. I earned €60 a night for 3 and a half hours work. I worked 2 nights. I got a basic wage of something like 8 or 8.50 an hour then if i earned over a certain amount i got a % of that. I wouldn't be able to do it full time, hated it so much.

dent

I actually had one of them pull at my arm on Grafton Street. Couldn't believe it. What annoy's me is that they get payed for it. Just sickens me and makes me wonder where the money go's.

landser

i hate chuggers.
i work on nassau street. i get accosted about three times a day. they seem to work in groups of two to three, so that no one slips through. the fundraising version of drift netting

Zombienosh

a little of topic but there was one collecting for some rape organisation, and i was listening to my cd player and she stopped me and starting telling me how bad rape was...as if i just fell from the sky, anyway as soon as she opened her mouth the song Cannibal Corpse - Stripped Raped & Stangled came on my discman... i was like eh, i have to go and she asked what i was listening to!..... i didnt tell her though, shud have.

idontknowmyname

It'd be better to directly donate to the charities instead of all the money going on this army of annoying people. I think I read that the group leaders can earn up to a grand a week if they do really well
Yeah they always work in groups.....I seen 9 of them the other day from the same charity.....3 on south king st and 6 standing around at the top of grafton beside the shopping centre

skywalker

have you got a minute for concern?

no. im not that concerned tbh

cajun_tiger

i've got to the point of just shoutting F**K OFF

BolBill

Just say youre already signed up, works for me !!!!!

Sleepy

If everyone just completely ignores them, it'll stop eventually.

stagolee

its easy folks, they will lie to you if you ask them how much a day they make from panhandling, so you shouldnt feel bad about lying to them.
take a look at the name on the front of their hi-vis jacket and say "(insert relevant charity here) is it?" and when they say yes say "im already signed up with you guys" then they have to be all friendly and wish you a nice day and get out of your way

for me its not even lying as im signed up for one of them but i can never remember which one

Rozabeez

They followed me in Temple Bar, the best way is to carry a poundshop bag....that way they don't ask for money.

blondie83

My friend used to sell scratch cards as well, for some recovering alcholic clinic or something like that. Anyway after a wekk she found out that out of all the money they make, only 3% goes to the actual charity - the rest goes to comission and overheads and all. 3%! Needless to say she quit that day and refuses to listen to any charity workers now!

spongebob

I blame the ISPCC ....Childline nowadays .....for starting this industrial fundraising caper in Ireland some 20 years ago. Fundraising was voluntary before that but was turned into an industry by the ISPCC

Anybody remember Cian and his minibus ?

Kappar

Do what I do and say 'No thanks I don't smoke' and while they look and you think "what the hell id this guy talking about" you make a quick get away.

replytohere2004

I always say "sorry, no english" in a foreign accent. Works every time.

JoeSchmoe

while I am obviously aware of these people they never stop me, do I look anti social/uncaring/scary/angry? I don't know but the most I ever get is "hi can you spare a minute for xxxxx" and I reply with a simple "not today mate" and thats it case closed.
I don't even break step

idontknowmyname

I only sold the scratchcards for childline just to pay rent cause I was about to be kicked out if i didnt pay up. 2 nights was enough. I never asked for anyone's details etc, though I did have drunk guys tellin me they'd give 20 if i kissed them on the cheek which i obliged to...worth a quick buck.....dont know how much childline actually makes and how much goes to the charity

RobertFoster

I know it's not a charity, but it's the same idea about people on the street handing out stuff/annoying people with questions. I was walking passed Arnotts a few months ago and there was a group of about 10 girls standing in a large circle, spread out so that people could pass through and they could stop them. Passing through one edge, one of them tried to hand me something, I said "no thanks" and kept walking. Passing out the other side of the circle, another tried to had me another leaflet, again, "no thanks" kept walking, as I just passed her I heard her say under her breath "screw you" :eek:

Hobbes

I've collected for childline and Samarathans a couple of times. Its no biggie. You ask the people, if they ignore you it is no big deal we don't hold some personal grudge against you. Some people just don't give, or give in other ways.

I only had one person have a go at me. I said "Would you like to give to Childline?" and she screamed "I HAVE ENOUGH BLOODY PROBLEMS MYSELF WHY DO YOU THINK I CARE ABOUT ANYONE ELSES?!" and stormed off. Got a laugh out of it more then anything else.

As for these ones that try to pull you up and write your details or give you a long winded speech. A lot of these are scams or at the very least suspect. The person who gets you to sign gets commission. The best way to wind these ones up is waste thier time.

- Ask to see thier badge showing they have a permit to do what they do (they will, genreally fake).
- Get them to go into great depth about what it is. Keep asking questions about everything.
- Ask them how much commission do they get? If they tell you then have a go at them for stealing from a charity.
- If they start getting abusive point out you have seen thier permit card and you are off to get a Gardai to tell them they were being offensive to you.

Lump

You think dublin is bad? Try Oxford street in London... there's like 2000 people working it. If they chase you, knock them out and make a citizens arrest for harrasement.

John

pickarooney

Thankfully we don't get these panhandlers where I live but I remember some weirdo in Dublin asking me a bizarre question like "Do you realise how bad the rape situation in Ireland is?" (WTF?) so I told her I'd do my best to try and cut down on it.

Kain

It's usually better to have another person with you, so if one of you gets stuck the other can just come back and grab you by the arm or something and start shouting "COME WE'LL MISS THE BUS" or something.
I try to avoid O Connall St on weekends. At least on Grafton St on weekends theres so many people around you can actually sneek through and while they're busy with somebody else. The only thing i hate on Grafton St more then the charity workers are those kids that are always singing, has anyone noticed that they've had the same bruses/dirt stains on their faces for the past three years?

fade2black

For the guys selling the scrathcards...(who get a euro for each one sold) just say you're against gambling (And then walk straight into paddy Power)

For the Concern guys....just say you already signed up the other day with this hairy fella....big beard...they all know him...he's their "leader".....

gazzer

I work on on Dame St and every bloody day i get stopped by at least 4 of them. They seem to change locations every week or so. One week its Concern, then sightsaves then some other ones in bright yellow jackets. Its getting to the really annoying stage now where one day i am going to go on Falling down on their ass

I was reading in one of the Sunday papers just before xmas that they get around 15 euro an hour... might give it a try myself... they are getting more money they me anyway.

Megatron

i usualy use Human Shield technoligy.

basicaly i see the "charity" person going for the person infront of me , and i'll just aim for the other side of them, if i notice that there is a 2nd leg to this i usualy just do the same but as i walk past the 1st guy and say " can't believe that people still fall for that scam" and keep walking.

Only ever had 1 person try to stop me and explaine that it wasnt' a scam.
and my reply was simple and to the point.

" i used to do this myself , so i know it's a bloody scam."

but yeah they are annoying , if i'm in a good mood and i get stopped i'll just try and annoy them by asking stupid questions, or asking for there name abou 3 times , then asking if they know what my names as i've forgotten what it is.

if i'm in a bad mood i'll just stare at them blankly or just ignore them completely

Kingsize

At least with a sratch card you have the feeling that youre getting something
it seems that these fukkas are trying to sell you a clear conscience
I sold bingo cards door to door years ago during the summer but the pay was ****e!
aparently the charity hasslers get a nice enuff basic rate & a commission.
this could be a myth but they still annoy the sh-it outta me

Tar.Aldarion

i would annoy you for that much

garthv

The most annoying thing about them is the fact that 5 or 6 of them stand in the same area and you get hassled by at least 3 of them going down the street and then the other 3 on the way back. It takes long enough to go down Grafton Street on a Saturday as it is without them hassling you for you bank details,which btw I really dont trust some randomer on the street having even if he has his "ID Badge".

Capt'n Midnight

you could ask them if they are on comission / expenses
if they say yes - "bye"
if they say no - "then you won't mind signing this promisary note to refund me ten times my donation if it turns out that you are on comission"
then you start into - "ok then so how do I claim the tax back on this"

at that stage it's probably safe to donate if it's a worthwhile charity

I think it remisicent of "the tragedy of the commons"
and in the end the charities will suffer from the backlash of bad pr

Sleepy

I've just decided what I'm gonna do next time: say I'll equal whatever the collector's Direct Debit is set up for if he can come into the bank with me and prove that he has one set up. Let's see them worm out of that!

Zaphod B

Lump wrote:

You think dublin is bad? Try Oxford street in London... there's like 2000 people working it.

John

Think the same applies for the whole city. Last week I was asked to "sponsor" a Tsunami orphan. Not just help or donate but "sponsor". You give 'em your bank details, they take the money out of your account each month and they send you a photo of the kid you're sponsoring and details of their progress... This sounded familiar and I realised why... they do the same thing with zoo animals... it's called "adoption"... right so if it works for donkeys, it'll work for Asian children? This is just wrong in so many ways, but getting off the ethical issues I was just not happy at the way they didn't ask for the money so much as expect it. It's a weird mentality of "You can walk! You have clothes! You must have money! Give us yer money you cheap bastard!" Apparently the thought that some people can't actually afford to give that much each month never enters their heads.

Show me someone freezing their ass off without getting paid just to collect small change in a pot out of their own generosity (there are such people) and I'll be happy to donate. But someone hassling me to sign up for monthly payments so they can earn a commission? No. Go away. Some of them would be making a more honest living as conmen, if you discount the ones who already are.

Right. Also I think we should remilitarise the Rhineland rant over

idontknowmyname

just after going out to lunch....they've coped on that students get their lunch around 1 so are now hanging around outside of the entrance door of my college, the same guy got me on my way to get food and on the way back...he didnt seem to be having much luck though..........

Cactus Col

I just smile at them, say no thanks, but good luck. (well the girls anyway). And if they succeed in stopping me (I'm a sucker for a pretty face) I tell them politely that I'm not going to be signing up and not to waste their time. And if they insist on trying to convince me, (and fail in doing so), I just say no.

Gilgamesh

had one of these 'things' grabbing my arm while I still lived in germany, very consistent little bugger. I told him to let go of my arm twice but he seemed to ignore.
After that he had a dislocated shoulder.
am 6' 4" and cast a shadow on most people, they never stop me for some reason.
don't like people been so persistant about how I should donate MY money to people.

A friend of mine, when he has the time, just stops, drops his head slightly and clasps his hands together and is silent for about 1 minute, when someone asks him to be concerned.

jor el

You see the Concern collectors around Limerick every now and then too. Don't see them that often though, maybe the city's reputation keeps them away?

I wouldn't give out my bank account details together with my signature to anyone on the street though, seems a bit dodgy even if they are legit. All it takes is for someone to rob the clipboard and they have instant bank details to go raiding.

Anyway, if you feel inclined to donate to any of these charities, the banks have DD and standing order forms for most of the major ones. All you need to do is fill it in and you're done. No commission to pay, all the money gets to the charity of your choice.

RasTa

Typical Irish moan moan moan moan
"O we get stoped on the street on our way to nowhere"

Yea its all a scam all them feckers stand there in the cold getting told to feck off by most ppl who walk by them but they magically make 1,000 quid a week. Like all the blacks get cars when they come into the country.


No i dont or ever have worked for the company but i respect them for what there doing. Its a tough job and at least the money if not all of it is going to a good cause. Not like the cowards on here who are probaly lying saying they ignore them or "no im foreign"

E@gle.

Lump wrote:

You think dublin is bad? Try Oxford street in London... there's like 2000 people working it. If they chase you, knock them out and make a citizens arrest for harrasement.

John

w00t

Kingsize

"typical irish" Need i say more............?????

why not buy some smack i'm sure some of the money made from heroin trafficking makes its way back to the farmers & poor villagers in Afghanistan .

Charity is parking an ambulance at the bottom of a cliff instead of building a fence at the top.
These people exist mainly to perpetuate the "company" they work for the "good cause"(whatever it may be) is a secondary or tertiary concern