Quoted from spartacus

Almost as bad as the chuggers who get 'employed' to fleece passing people in the shopping areas.  People get conned into giving but don't realise that all they're doing is paying for the chuggers.... Fcukin con men the lot of 'em  

For some reason West Berkshire Council are unable or unwilling to introduce a bye-law to prohibit these parasites from pestering shoppers on the streets of Newbury. Perhaps if a few more people wrote to their local councillor or MP we might make further progress on this.

Quite an eye opener to this on Newsnight (BBC2 26th August) available on the BBC Iplayer for those that missed it.

The first years donations appear to go to the company employing the chuggers rather than the charity.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/8946145.stm

I have split this away from the Bollards debate, because I would like feedback on this topic. Greenmeanie61 must have some observations to make.

Quoted from Administrator

I would like feedback on this topic. Greenmeanie61 must have some observations to make.

Not sure if he / she can slap a ticket on them.....but it might be one answer.


Threep.

Quoted from Administrator

I have split this away from the Bollards debate, because I would like feedback on this topic. Greenmeanie61 must have some observations to make.

The chuggers rate second to the Green Meanies for being the most hated people in Newbury.

They just will not leave you alone. They normally hunt in packs and some of them are very rude when you say that you are not interested.

Quoted from Archie

The chuggers rate second to the Green Meanies for being the most hated people in Newbury.

They just will not leave you alone. They normally hunt in packs and some of them are very rude when you say that you are not interested.

I'm not sure the 'Green Meanies' are most hated.  Whilst some of us might not like their strict interpretation of the regulations they are far better than the alternatives.  As I generally use car parks, I'm more than happy that someone is making sure the roads aren't littered with badly parked vehicles where the owner is simply 'buying a paper and packet of fags'.  In fact I wish there were more in Shaw Road first thing!!

So the chuggers stand top in my view - put me off contributing to the charity concerned, no matter how good the cause.  Being an awkward old git - some have tried being rude to me....there is a simple answer.

I like the situation with them in Westminster.
There they have been banned from harassing people. So they just stand around looking sad and lonely all day.

I could only dream that such an ordinance gets enacted in Newbury.

Quoted from MoonPhoenix

I like the situation with them in Westminster.
There they have been banned from harassing people. So they just stand around looking sad and lonely all day.

I could only dream that such an ordinance gets enacted in Newbury.

Really disallusioned with charities at the moment.  The chuggers who shout after you 'dont you care about ....', the adverts for only £20 per month, then noticed the Sally Army, very nice plush offices, in the heart of the city.  As well as having my own favorite charities, always try and drop 50p into collection boxes and buy a poppy.  Rattling collection boxes has been banned so why can chuggers give you abuse?

Quoted from MoonPhoenix

I like the situation with them in Westminster.
There they have been banned from harassing people. So they just stand around looking sad and lonely all day.

I could only dream that such an ordinance gets enacted in Newbury.

You are quite right - not quite sure why our people locally say its too hard.  All they have to do is copy Westminister and I doubt if they'd charge for the advice!

I find a polite 'not today' works fine.

I fell victim to a chugger last year - very stupid I know.  I offered to pay £5 a month and he stood and argued with me for ten minutes about why I should give more.  I said okay I'm off and he then decided £5 was enough.  Filled in all the paperwork and money started going from my account. Three months later started getting phone calles from the "charity" asking me to up my donation.  My reply "sorry I can't afford to".  I received calls on average 3 times a week.  I asked them to stop calling me but it carried on so I said if you don't stop calling me I am cancelling the DD - they carried on.  DD then cancelled and I told them if they continued to ring me I would report them to the police for harassment.  Unbelievable so just be aware of this also.

I now walk past them and if they approach me I say at the top of my voice "it's about time the Council banned these chuggers."  They usually turn away then.

Quoted from 78

I find a polite 'not today' works fine.

I find that a polite, "No thanks, I'm already signed up with your charity" generally works too.

I wonder if they pick on women more than men?

I'm really disappointed, I've never been approached. Perhaps I don't smile at them or perhaps my eye contact is too piercing. It may be though that I look like I'm about to drop dead any minute so it's not worth signing me up.

Have you had "chuggers" asking you to send a text to the charity at £3 per message??? Is this legal???

BAN THEM, BAN THEM BAN THEM.

THE CHUGGERS ARE A PESTILENTIAL MENACE WHICH HAVE BLIGHTED NEWBURY AND THE COUNTRY FOR FAR TOO LONG.

ZERO TOLERANCE IS THE ONLY SANE SOLUTION.

What makes things worse is the churglers who knock at your door. Very hard to avoid those vile individuals. They even told me once they would "come back" in a rather threatening manner.

BAN THE LOT.