Charity muggers!?

Question

Why dop we have people touting for business on the streets for charities? How many are for real? its so easy to get hold of fake ID'S these days and would you give your bank or credit card details to a stranger in the street claiming to work fo a charity plus they do hassel you a lot (I know they do in bristol i hate them) i have certain charities i give to and shouldnt be told who to give to!!

Answer 1

Yes it does seem ridiculous to expect people to give a total stranger details like that. I actually did a training course for one of these outfits and tried it for half a day, until I came to my senses and asked myself if I would give info like that.....er....NO.

These people are promised high earnings. Did you know that?

Answer 2

I work for a childrens charity and we have had people using our name frauduently in the past and its so frustrating. We had to stop giving out collections tins and everything. All i can suggest is that you only give to the charities direct, and if anyone collecting on the street hassles you tell them that this is what you will do, and if they are genuine then they can't get stroppy. If they do then you can prob guess theyr a fake! Evil people, how could someone be so cruel to take dosh from charities.

Answer 3

If a charity collector bars my way in an attempt to make me give then I gently push them away and suggest that what they are doing is in fact illegal and that they are technically assaulting me. I then walk on. I give to charities in my own way and will often put loose copper into the boxes on supermarket checkouts and other coins to known charities collecting on the supermarket threshold as they are usually known to me. I will not give any financial details to anybody especially on the street. On one occasion I was doubtful about the person collecting and called the police. They checked him out and he was found to be collecting for himself.
My favoured way of giving and collecting for charities is to empty my money out every evening and all copper and 5 pence pieces go into a container. When full I take to a store collecting box and put it all in. Good question.

Answer 4

Back when everyone was collecting for Katrina victims, some waste of skin was putting "Help Katrina Victims" jars in various businesses around town. Everyone, myself included, tossed a few bucks in when we could. Turns out it was just some jackhole who had no intention of giving the money away. They caught him, don't remember what happened but I know he got some jail time. Despicable, but it does happen.

I only donate to well known, trusted charities now, or else I just try to help people out directly.

Answer 5

They should be licensed by the local authority..why not check their credentials and report them if you think they are conmen?
I'm not sure if it's standard procedure throughout the country, but in Sussex they have to obtain a license via police/county council. Why not ask them..they would soon run off if they were illegal.
PS. You should not give your bank details to anyone on the street.
If you feel threatened..don't make eye contact.

Answer 6

If they rattle their tins in my face they get a mouthful from me! I will donate to charities of my own choosing and not the beggars on the street!

Answer 7

Everytime I see these people asking for money, I think to myself, wow, what a way to scam all us 'suckers'. You're right, whose to say that they don't take the money , go home or out to eat somewhere. Hey , charity begins at home and thats where its gonna stay!

Answer 8

I agree. It's like running the gauntlet down the high street sometimes.

Answer 9

i have a rule, if ive never heard of the charity i dont give

Answer 10

Just pretend you don't speak English, start jabbering at them in a made-up language. When you have them flustered, you can make your escape.