When, exactly, did it become okay to go to a stranger's home, somewhere you haven't even been invited to, and then ask them to hand over cash? Why should I have to be worried about being bailed up for my last red cent in my own home?
At least when you see them in the shopping centre you have a chance of escaping. If you don't make eye contact, stay as far to the side of the lane as you can and, if possible, throw small children and elderly people in their way, you can avoid them. But when they come to your front door it's like you're being held to ransom by a very pushy, incredibly judgy blackmailer.
The other day some girl came to my door to collect for the save-the-spotted-owl-protect-the-rain-forest-knit-little-jumpers-for-the-baby-seals society and I had to say sorry, but I didn't have any money on me. I mean really, who even carries actual cash these days!
Now I'd normally be more than happy to hand over a couple of dollars in the name of a worthy cause, but it just wasn't going to happen that day.
Not that this girl saw it that way. Oh no, she cast me a look like "What do you mean you don't have any change? Do you want the little animals to die? Do you! DO YOU!!! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, WHY!!!"
My response was to tell her that I'd be happy to donate online if she'd give me the website. That's my standard response to people who come door to door. Generally I've found that people willing to give you a website actually want you donation, but people who say "Oh, we don't have one, we only accept door to door" are just trying to get you to sign up to one of those schemes where you end up paying them fifty bucks every month for the rest of your life or until you get wise and shut down your bank account.
Take a guess at which method she went with.
So she went away disappointed, and I felt mildly violated in my own home.
Seriously, whippable offense!
No legitimate charity collects door-to-door any more. If someone shows up soliciting money at your home, it's a scam.
ReplyDeleteThis is true. Nonprofits send solicitation letters.
DeleteThat's the theory I tend to go with. Con artists, the lot of them.
DeleteI don't even open the door any more....through the door I inquire if I can help them...when they start into their spiel I say "no thank you" and wander away to whatever I was doing before. Seriously......NO ONE shuld be going door to door...No ONE and I feel just as strongly as those appeals they have at work for United Way and whatever else. There has to be some place where you are not harassed for money and to me...home and the work place should remain a safe haven.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. It's awful when you feel you're being emotionally blackmailed by strangers in your own home. I get enough of that out in the real world, thank you very much.
DeleteThat girl was collecting money for her own personal charity, probably the white stuff you snort up your nose.
ReplyDeleteLOL! Quite possibly.
DeleteAnother charity scam to watch out for is the supermarket "give a dollar to children's whatever." The corporation then takes that money, donates it in their own name and takes a tax write-off for the money you donated. Charities are a tricky business. Give directly to causes you care about, not to random kids going door to door.
ReplyDeleteI've never thought of that, but of course you're right! You'd be better sending a cheque directly to a charity, at least that's tax deductable.
DeleteAgreed. If I care about something, I will donate to it directly. That way I know where the money is going. Don't come to my door asking for money and then stand there shaming me in my own home when I say "no." Not cool! I think I'll start keeping a whip by the door from now on, just in case...
ReplyDeleteLOL! I honestly think that it's a winning plan!
DeleteI really hate that. Especially when they get pissy with you because you don't have cash--as if they can side-eye shame you into magically producing money. Awkward encounters.
ReplyDeleteThe online thing is good -- then you can make sure it's legitimate. I mean, jumpers for baby seals? I'm not so sure...
Maybe the baby seals are cold? They live in the arctic, right?
DeleteSomething similar happened to us just a couple days after moving into our new home. It was freezing cold and raining that day, and we had family over... (which we didn't want over because we had things to do, but they wanted to be entertained even though we had better and more important things to do).... so since it was muddy they took it upon themselves to walk inside our GARAGE and knock on our BACK DOOR. A complete stranger, acting as if they were family. Even I wouldn't invade someone's privacy like that if they were close neighbors. That just isn't good manners and there has to be a line drawn somewhere.
ReplyDeleteThese people weren't asking for money, but were weaseling their way into our business by trying to get us to go to their church. And only two days ago... yep, they're back.
Pushy religious people and pushy sales people.... not a fan.
Jeez, that's pretty cheeky! I hope you told them where to go!
DeleteI feel sorry for these people but Mrs. C. and I allocate money to charities we support and we don't give out anything at the door.
ReplyDeleteIt's the best way. That way you can be sure you're giving to people you want to give to, not getting suckered into a sob story.
DeleteDoor to door charity knocking is still pretty widespread in Australia, although it isn't as popular as it once was. 'They' come to my door, catch me at the entrance to shopping centres etc - so many legitimate charities are fighting for the charity dollar, and its tough out there for the legitimate ones many of which do jolly fine work.
ReplyDeleteMy answer is always standard - I never say no thank you as they haven't offered me anything but I do say: "You are not one of the 3 chosen charities that I donate directly to each year, but I wish you well in your endeavours, now if you'll excuse me" And, I do indeed have 3 chosen charities. My choice. I do agree though, I do feel uncomfortable with door to door and have I admit been guilty on many occasion of not answering the door. This however, is more due to living alone, a safety issue and being decidedly suspicious if I'm not expecting someone. I would advise everyone to never answer the door unless you at least have a security screen door between you.
I think I'm going just not answer the door in the future. It'd be easier.
DeleteNo one comes to my door asking for money, but I get lots of phone calls. I say, I'm unemployed and disabled. Take my number off your calling list.
ReplyDeleteI have certain charities I support and that's it.
Jehovah's Witlesses sometimes come to my door. Franklin hops up and barks at them, pretending to be ferocious. Their eyes get very big, they back away, and then they leave quickly.
Love,
Janie
I get religious doorknockers too, but I'm not sure what sort. I've never let them talk long enough to tell me.
DeleteI am with you on most of these door to door types. (except little under the age of 6 kiddos trying to sell cookies and such for their club or school) But anything close to an adult needs to go away. Am I the only person that feels that some of these are scammers that don't have real charities at all? I am happy to give to recognizable charities through their mailings or Internet but don't make me feel guilty in any way about how much or how I give.
ReplyDeleteI must admit, kids are my Achilles heel, I'll give them money without batting an eyelid.
DeleteOne of the joys of being hidden in a townhouse complex, people rarely come knocking;)
ReplyDelete"Robo" telephone calls and other actual human landline or cellphone solicitations are big time wasters here in Cali. For actual human calls, my wife routinely uses: "(callers name here), please have (the entity's name here) put this phone number on the do not call list. Thank you."
ReplyDeleteOnly halfway seriously, I've suggested that she may also want to start asking for the names of the caller's children and where they go to school. Just being friendly
!!
Has your wife ever asked for their name & number & told them she'd call them back? Not charity, but I once got a call from someone selling pre-need burial insurance. I told them I was very sorry but I had died the previous week!!
DeleteWe do have kids and some organizations that come door to door still raising funds for a variety of things but if you aren't under 12 I probably won't do much for ya.
ReplyDeleteThank you for reminding me to be grateful for my 1/4 mile, covered in ice for weeks now, driveway. No one ever comes to my door. I wouldn't give anyone cash if they did.
ReplyDeleteSee the problem is that you have a heart.
ReplyDeleteI don't. So I can walk by without any guilt.
I remeber when I was a kid and they use to send us trick or treating with Unicef boxes to collect money, and then one year they stopped doing it, cause they found most kids where just pocketing the money. Never give money to strangers. Not even kids!
ReplyDeleteInless over the internet and to fellow bloggers! My charity is called the "Bersercules wants to order a pizza each month!" and you can donate as little as $20 a month for the next 50 years!! What a deal!! I'll even send you a glossy picture of me eating the pizza!! (not one picture each month just one picture once, I'm not made of money)
And this is one of the MANY reasons I never answer the door unless I'm expecting someone...
ReplyDeleteWhen my brother was 10, he and is friend bought baseball uniforms from a sports store and then went door to door collecting money so "their team can buy new uniforms." They did pretty well too! Until old man Richie ratted them out, that is.
ReplyDeleteI now can never trust kids collecting money. Damned hooligans!!!
Hugs!
Valeria