Anyone hate the charity workers on the street?

Hobbes · 02-02-2005 01:56PM

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 · 02-02-2005 01:57PM

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 · 02-02-2005 01:59PM

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 · 02-02-2005 02:20PM

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 · 02-02-2005 02:24PM

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 · 02-02-2005 02:30PM

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 · 02-02-2005 02:36PM

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 · 02-02-2005 02:38PM

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 · 02-02-2005 02:38PM

i would annoy you for that much

garthv · 02-02-2005 02:45PM

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 · 02-02-2005 02:46PM

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 · 02-02-2005 02:57PM

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 · 02-02-2005 03:00PM

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 · 02-02-2005 03:27PM

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 · 02-02-2005 05:07PM

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 · 02-02-2005 05:21PM

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 · 02-02-2005 05:24PM

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 · 02-02-2005 05:30PM

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. · 02-02-2005 05:35PM

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 · 02-02-2005 06:16PM

"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

Sleepy · 02-02-2005 06:29PM

RasTa wrote:

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"

Horsecrap. They're leeches out to make as much cash for themselves as possible, not volunteers. I have no respect for them because they obviously have none for themselves. Hassling people is one thing, hell I used to be one of those "roll up, give it a try" guys at a fairground, but doing it in the name of a charity which will receive a minority of the money collected is just wrong.

idontknowmyname · 02-02-2005 06:50PM

yeah i'd like to see how you react when you;re being stopped by a few of them who block ur path and youre in a rush somewhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

02-02-2005 07:53PM

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"

Bullsh*t. Barely any of that money is going to a good cause, says every single person I've ever met that's worked for one of these 'charities'. More to the point, it's disgusting that they make people feel like crap for not signing up. Nobody is obliged to give anything. I collect for a charity in my lunch hours from college, and I'm not paid a penny. I stand in the freezing cold with a bucket for 2 hours just to help people. When someone once asked me if I got paid, I said, of course not. I couldn't believe it when I heard what these 'charity' feckers with the clipboards make. I have absolutely no respect for them now. It's even worse than the people with questionnaires and leaflets. At least they're not using moral blackmail.

rain on · 02-02-2005 07:57PM

I let one of them stop me once; now I give five euros a month to Gorta. It's hard to listen to the spiel and then go 'eh, no, I can't give you the equivalent of about five pee a day'. But now I never, ever, stop. They get a 'no, sorry', or a 'I CAN'T HEAR YOU..WHAT'S THAT? YOU WANT ME TO TAKE THEM OFF? BUT LOOK, I'M ALREADY HALFWAY DOWN THE STREET..BYE NOW' if I'm wearing headphones.

theCzar · 02-02-2005 08:02PM

It's a swindle, how else can they post ads around UCD looking for touts and offering $$$, in bold writing no less. I wouldn't give them the steam off my, eh, porridge.

They didn't seem so bad when i got back from Vietnam, there cyclo drivers would tail you for a mile down the road, then wait outside the restaurant or whatever...

bopper · 02-02-2005 08:05PM

Although im 18 most people tell me i look younger, so if they ask me to stop i just tell them im only 17 and they dont want to talk to me then.

Oryx · 02-02-2005 08:26PM

I agree that these people are scamming the public to earn money and using a charitable organisation to make it seem right. Its a legal loophole that if they give a piddling percentage they can use a charity name, and it should be banned. (Or they are completely fake and just arent getting caught.)
What Im wondering tho, is everyone here seems to have them sussed and noone said 'oh yes I support them why not?' So who is giving them enough money to earn €1000 per week? They must be catching hundreds of poor suckers a day. Who are these people and are they so naive?

One particular 'scam' a few years ago was buy a scratch card for 'job creation' -the only jobs created were the bloody card sellers! -misleading, but perfectly legal.

Zaph · 02-02-2005 08:41PM

A mate of mine was talking to his neighbour just before Christmas. She happened to mention that her student son was doing the collecting thing for one of the main charities and that for every person he signed up to direct debit donations he got a commission of €8. On top of that he got a bonus if he hit a particular target. As they usually try to get people to commit to €5 or €10 a month, €8 is a sizeable chunk of your first month or two's donations that won't be going to the charity.

tSubh Dearg · 02-02-2005 08:49PM

I applied for a job with Concern as one of their "fundraisers". This was the info I was given.

1) you get paid a flat rate of €10/hr and then after 3 mths it goes up to €12.

2) you do not get commission

3) you are NOT to hard sell, ask politely to talk to them, if they refuse just let them go.

And AFAIK Concern gives quite a large proportion of the money it raises to its programmes.

In the end I didn't get the job, but I don't mind the concern guys.

The worst by far are those guys from the Hanley Centre (addict recovery centre) who mostly come out in the summer. They seem to be only on commission as they seriously hassle you and chase you. My friend who has a brother who suffers from alcohol and drug abuse got seriously upset by one of these guys saying "Don't you care about victims of alcohol abuse?" Another one of them growled at us when we wouldn't buy one of his scratchcards.

NotMe · 02-02-2005 08:55PM

Oh I hate them. They're more annoying than the homeless people. In fact, if it was homeless people hassling people on the street there would be uproar. I'm usually listening to my walkman as soon as I spot one looking at me I just smile, shake my head and keep walking. The more persistent ones jump in front of me and say something but I can't hear what they're saying and I just walk around them.

I was walking down Grafton street with some mates and a girl came up to us with the usual "Can you spare a minute..." and my mate said "Me no speak Engleese". Then another one of them further down the street came over and started giving us abuse for not stopping for the girl. Muppets. :rolleyes:

Anyone hate the charity workers on the street?

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