I don’t know about the rest of the world but here in Northern Ireland theres been a lot of these guys lurking about popular streets. Incase you don’t know what they are, commissioned charity workers are people who try to sign people up for regular donations to a cause and get a commission based on their results. They wear plastic covers with the charity name on it and ask passing people for a moment of their time to tell them about the charity and get them to signup. They don’t take actual donations and I think they are hired by temp agencies since I’ve seen the same ones working different charities.
Its really starting to bug me, they stand at a crossing in front of my student union (so you are trapped with them while light is red), outside my local supermarket and on the main street into the city centre. Now at least three times a week I spot them in wait, ready to ambush me, its getting depressing. Its not that I hate charities, I have a regular donation to the red cross and children in need, I just hate being put on on the spot to reject a charity just to walk down street. Least with the old people outside shopping centres with donation boxes I can believe their sincerity.
Anyone else experienced these very modern panhandlers (no cash just credit cards) and how do you feel about them?