Street ‘chuggers’ in the firing line over charity fundraising tactics

Street fundraisers for charities known as ‘chuggers’, or ‘charity muggers’, are coming under fire for being pushy and “touchy feely”, and trying to hug people they are trying to recruit.

Dedicated twitter account Chuggerwatch is telling people where chuggers are working, and the tactics they are using. The practice, officially known as “direct recruitment”, seeks to attract regular donors to support a charity’s cause. It is governed by a code of practice and carried out by identifiable individuals usually with clipboards, carrying ID and working in twos or threes on city streets.

Twitter users have been posting comments in recent weeks expressing frustration at being stopped by increasingly aggressive or persistent sales people.