General Chat

Within 5 minutes I was approached by
Unicef(every few yards)
Sky
Mobile phone people
Elec/gas people
Christadelphians
Big Issue

and other than the big issue and the Christadelphians they were right in your face.I should be able to shop without having to dodge all this.
Is this the norm now in town centres?

They are just as bad in the supermarkets standing in the doorways waiting to accost you as you enter...........and your supermarket gives permission for this to happen............makes me very cross....and I always walk past and ignore...........Crikey I sound like Victor Meldrew!

Annx

It's the RAC man who annoys me at Tes**He is always on his mobile having a chat ,and then just as I walk towards the door it's "Hello Luv ,are you a member"?" Yes I say ,have been for the last 29 years" OK says he and gets back on his mobile lol

When we walked into Curry* today OH bet me how many people would interrupt with 'can I help you?' We split up when we got inside as he wanted to look at different things. When we met up after a few minutes he told me that 1 youth stopped him and asked the usual. He told him that he had a bet on with his wife how many times he would be stopped and asked the question and informed him he was the 6th!!! He said that shut him up. lol

Mum always had a good answer to anyone trying to sell anything.....'not unless it's free'!!

We are plagued at the supermarket at the moment by those mobile car washes. Anyone else have them?? As soon as you put a leg out of the car they appear from nowhere to offer to wash your car. Every time you go there.......trouble is our car is dirty.......like a magnet to them.

You might be glad one day that someone actually takes notice. As an invisible over 60 I can guarantee that if I go into anywhere such as Comet, Currys, you name it I will get ignored. It doesn't matter how much I want to spend, how eager I want to part with my money, communicating with a single older female is a definite no no.
If I am ever asked ( a rarity) if I require any help I reply, yes or simply tell them I am browsing and always thank them for asking.
When I bought my television, I listened to the salesman,' selling' it to some alpha male, with probably no money,to find out its selling points. When the customer walked out the salesman, reluctantly asked if I wanted any help, and looked stunned when I said I wanted to buy tv.
Why do I have to take my family, or the ex husband, or some other guy just so that I might, just might get noticed-JLe

Jane, I think they are called Chuggers, charity muggers. They do work for the charities, but go about their business right in your face.
Julia in Derbyshire

Winchester High street used to be full of them.
They congregated at the narrowest point, so it was difficult to avoid them.
If I need to nip into town now, I go via the back roads.
However - if they take more than 3 steps towards you, or follow you for more than 3 steps - you can accuse them of harrassment.
They are also paid - not volunteers, and have to tell you this - but not many do!.
Personally, I don't think signing you up for a £10 monthly direct debit it 'collecting for charity', it's tying you into a contract!

I even had a girl knock on my door, asking if I could 'spare some change' for an animal charity.
Yes, I could spare some 'change' - but when the direct debit form came out, with the £10 per month minimum, I asked her if she knew the meaning of 'change' pointed out it's the stuff that jingles in your pocket - and closed the door!!

I feel sometimes ,like I am being hard as i know these 'mainly young people 'are just doing a job.But I will not be followed and harassed by them.They even try and bar your way when you try and walk around them.I am never rude to them ,but it does make me grit my teeth,as I try and walk by lol

I have a large notice on my door, it reads

"We require none of the following:

new windows, new drive, trees lopped, new fascias and guttering

we do not wish to change our utility providers

no religious groups, no charity envelopes or charity bags

Don't ring, dont knock, don't call"

works a treat

They are a nuisance especially in our local walking street as they placed themselves so near to the shops you couldn't see the windows without walking into them.
Sally

There's no problem with collection boxes - they're usually volunteers and you really are giving them change.
Chuggers are a different breed.
They are paid to sign people up to a monthly direct debit (usually a minimum of £10 a month) and quite often get bonuses for each person they get.
They have a script, will quote it ad nauseum, and can be very persuasive - I'd liken them to cold callers trying to sell you something over the phone - they won't give up - but you can put the phone down.
A Chugger, being face to face, will use facial expressions, a pleading voice, and, if you regularly walk past them may even 'target' you until you get fed up and they get their money.
I avoid eye contact and, if someone has been foolish enough to approach me more than once, I will tell them in no uncertain terms that I'm not interested!!

I like it Frank. I told my OH we need to felt pen our foreheads with 'no thank you' before we go out. It really annoys me most in the High St when you have only 5 mins parking time left and they accost you.

There's an item about this on 'Newsnight' at this very moment!

nice one Frank - I may amend my sign now!!!!