My Son Got Sucked in by Greenpeace

[Deactivated] on 01/03/2017 - 13:14

Yesterday afternoon, on only his second day of Uni, my son was approached by a Greenpeace rep. The dude asked my son (Josh) to donate $1. When Josh said he didn't have any money, the dude told him he could donate online and shoved an ipad in his face. Josh was nervous he was going to be late for his lecture and didn't want to be rude, so he signed up for what he thought was $1. Turns out, he signed up for $35 per month. He was definitely misled by the dude. Josh closed his account so they can't take any more money and asked the dude for a refund. Dude said his manager would call. No call so far. I have called Greenpeace directly, emailed and messaged on Facebook, as well as posting on their page. This is what I posted (again and again):

Gonna keep posting this until I get a response. Yesterday afternoon, my son was ambushed by one of your charity muggers and asked to donate $1. When he said he didn't have any cash, he was told he could donate online and he signed up to donate $1. It was not made clear to him that he was actually donating $35 on an ongoing basis. The money has already been deducted from his account. Not informing him of the amount and the frequency of the donations is in clear violation of the Fundraising Appeals Act 1998 PART 2—PROVISIONS APPLYING TO ALL FUNDRAISING APPEALS 7. False statements while seeking donations (1) In conducting or participating in a fundraising appeal, a person must not make or give any representation or oral or written statement in relation to the appeal to another person that misleads or deceives, or that is likely to mislead or deceive— (a) the other person; or (b) anyone else to whom the other person may make, repeat or give the representation or oral or written statement. Penalty: In the case of a corporation, 15 240 penalty units. In any other case, 120 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months or both. I have emailed and called your organisation about this matter and am looking forward to receiving a refund in a timely manner.

Still waiting on any sort of response from them. I know they have read at least one message on FB. What else can we do?

General Discussion

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Comments

  • highdealer on 02/03/2017 - 13:52

    When i was at Uni, i just told them i was under-age, for some reason that was a good enough respond for them to go annoy someone else.

  • nelsonrat on 02/03/2017 - 14:30
    +1

    If he paid with a credit card or debit card, submit a charge back or dispute form with date and transaction details on the form. If he 'was not aware' that he was signing up to recurring payment, it would be suitable to select the unauthorised reason.

    The process varies from bank to bank, and depends on which card he has used (visa,MasterCard,amex) there are slight differences between the charge back programs.

  • T1OOO on 02/03/2017 - 15:15
    +1

    lmao,.. a simple "no thank you" would have sufficed.

    you son learned a valuable lesson on his second day at uni.

  • Keeegs on 02/03/2017 - 16:14

    I would gladly pay $35 if it teaches me the lesson to say no.

  • El Cap on 02/03/2017 - 17:48
    +1

    May be it was $1 a day?

    Or your son incorrectly used the wrong option.

  • cwongtech on 02/03/2017 - 18:16
    +1

    What else can we do?

    Guide your child. Don't control their life or they won't know how to run without you.

  • Chef-Johnson on 02/03/2017 - 19:29
    -2

    He signed up, tell him to stop being a cat and speak up for himself

  • [Deactivated] on 02/03/2017 - 19:37

    I pretend to call someone as I walk past these clowns
    Saves so much hassle

  • peterpeterpumpkin on 02/03/2017 - 19:40
    +1

    It starts with charity. Soon he'll be coming home converted to all these new religions and a gym memberships.

  • McFly on 02/03/2017 - 19:56

    Was this inside the uni grounds?

  • nekro on 02/03/2017 - 20:21
    +1

    I suggest you call the local bikies and have them sort it out

    • [Deactivated] on 03/03/2017 - 00:20

      Like, the BMX Bandits?
      He might be one of them…

  • prinsenhof on 02/03/2017 - 21:16

    There is definitely more to this story.

    Being of uni age and not having a job, i rekon he just needed $35 for a case of beer. So he told you a sob story thinking you would feel sorry for him and reimburse the money.

    This backfiring, he quickly closed his account so you wouldnt be able to verify the outgoing money on his statements and assumed you wouldn't bother chasing a cancellation.

    Just buy him a case of beer and give him a wink, he'll be happy.

    • [Deactivated] on 03/03/2017 - 00:19
      +6

      If this is true, Josh has a big future ahead of him.

      • lukira nasimura on 04/03/2017 - 08:15

        If this is true, I will give $35 next time I see a Greenpeace dude!

  • croc330 on 02/03/2017 - 21:17
    +5

    Here is the appropriate response to this behaviour:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4CizzE-zZo

  • [Deactivated] on 02/03/2017 - 22:36
    +5

    How did you son ever make it to Uni?

    • cwongtech on 02/03/2017 - 23:47

      You don't require streetwise skills to get into uni. You require marks.
      Marks can be achieved through study. If not, use tutoring the ram that information down the throat.
      Tutoring obviously wasn't paid by "$50 from his grandma".

      The OP clearly is very protective and loving of their son, which is absolutely fine. But stop giving him fish. Teach him how to fish for himself.

  • Hahuh on 02/03/2017 - 23:09

    My policy is if its a one time thing requiring no cards then Ill donate. If its recurring its off limits and I tell them straight up I refuse to donate. Then you have a nagging mum proclaiming you were "rude" to "brush off" the dude for a great cause. Seems like I feel from that tree and rolled down a cliff to the abyss down below.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/03/2017 - 00:05
    +12

    Josh was nervous he was going to be late for his lecture and didn't want to be rude, so he signed up for what he thought was $1.

    Josh may well have been nervous, but Josh is not a baby.
    Josh is at University, where the big kids hang out, which means he's probably 17-18 years old or so.
    Sounds like Josh is a little bit of a soft touch, which is OK, because Josh is not very experienced.
    This is not a surprise given Daddy seems to be doing all the running around for Josh, sending pointless tracts of Acts to others, when Daddy should really get Josh to do the running around.
    That's the only way Josh will learn.
    Daddy should grow up, and let Josh grow up.
    Daddy should not be in my head right now, whinging and whining about a lousy $35.00.

    He was definitely misled by the dude.

    Daddy wasn't there, so Daddy doesn't really know.
    Daddy shouldn't make statements as definitive as that when Daddy wasn't there, and therefore doesn't really know.
    Given Josh is a bit of a soft touch, Josh may have been trying to blame the other guy for his predicament.
    Josh may not have wanted to disappoint Daddy.
    Daddy should take some deep breaths.
    Daddy should give Josh some room to breath too.

    I've now reiterated to not make eye contact and have already mentioned that it might end up being an expensive lesson for him.

    Daddy doesn't have to tell Josh not to look people in the eye.
    It's important to look people in the eye, if only to check they have eyes.
    Josh should do this, and then deal with what happens.
    Josh should maintain eye contact with whoever he's dealing with.
    Josh might feel nervous, but over time Josh will feel less nervous.
    Then Josh will be prepared when someone is really looking at screwing Josh over.

    This $35 was part of the $50 he got from his grandma on Sunday for his birthday.

    I'd like to be adopted by this Grandma.
    Then she'll be my Grandma.
    Then maybe she'll give me $50 on my birthday.

    Mr Greenpeace is just trying to raise some money for a cause that he believes in.
    People should back off Mr Greenpeace, and all the other guys raising money for various things.
    It's all very well for Daddy and Josh, who have access to a warm heater, and a computer to look up pointless tracts of Acts.
    But some folk raise money for other folk who don't have a warm heater, or blanket.
    Daddy should be kind to them.
    Josh should be kind to them.

    The End.

    • cwongtech on 03/03/2017 - 01:09
      +7

      The first thing I asked him was 'have you not learned a thing from watching me ignore all of these type of people in shopping centres?'.

      Sounds like a mum not a dad to me trying to use social media to attract attention to get a response, playing the loud and angry demanding shopper at the front desk card.
      Yup its a Mum Mod: Removed personal information

      OP please teach your son. It's just $35. On a minimum wage retail job he should make it back within 2 hours. Make him value money, because things we are given (like $50 from his grandma), we take for granted until we learn to appreciate such things.

      If OP doesn't guide their son and help him grow, he will always be mummy's little boy. Never growing because he doesn't have to. That also means OP won't get a daughter-in-law for a long time if they keep sheltering.

      OZB won't have Greenpeace reps, we can take your son onboard when he has some money to become a Gerry Harvey certified professional with spending though.

      • [Deactivated] on 03/03/2017 - 01:48
        +3

        Wow, me make big assumption.
        Me contemplate navel for a while.
        Me think distracted by usage of word 'dude'.
        Me usually only see dudes use the word 'dude'.
        But still big assumption, 'dude' or not.
        There is lint in my navel.

        Well spotted.

        My apologies Mummy.

        s/Daddy/Mummy/g;

      • El Cap on 03/03/2017 - 01:56
        +2

        I'd say the mom leaned a valuable lesson too.

    • lukira nasimura on 03/03/2017 - 14:23
      +1

      Totally agree here, and I am reading this with Austin Powers singing in my head

      Daddy, daddy wasn't there
      Daddy wasn't there
      To take me to the fair
      To change my underwear
      Daddy wasn't there…

    • LSGH on 05/03/2017 - 15:40

      best reply so far…thanks JimmyTheMan

  • ameno on 03/03/2017 - 01:59
    -5

    Your son is a (profanity), but on the positive side, at least he is following in his fathers steps

    • Zenyatta on 03/03/2017 - 10:18

      *mothers

  • JamPackedJack on 03/03/2017 - 08:32
    +2

    I really hate people complaining about "charity muggers" and the fact people ascribe some type of immorality to it's practice (as someone who has never donated to a charity rep and find the mildly annoying).

    There is a reason charities employ this tactics, and it's because it works and it brings more revenue into the company than they spend on it.

    A constant criticism after this, is that 90c on the $1 is given to the person on the street. I think not withstanding the fact this is generally a misrepresentation, even if it were true, its 10c the charity would otherwise not have received. Charities compete for your $ as much as netflix and Rebel Sport, and need to get money.

    Charities do not have an infinite amount of volunteers who will shake the money can for free, people need money yo.

    Consider a "charity mugger" vs someone working in marketing/ sales for a vodka company. One has a completely respectable job (selling an unhealthy product) vs a charity (selling a product that does good). Both are paid, and for the sake of argument, bring in more revenue than it costs to hire them. Why is the person selling the good product for society the bad guy?

    Could have put more though into this but 8:30AM lol

    • JamPackedJack on 03/03/2017 - 08:34

      Obviously the misleading practices of this guy are an exception.

    • Elnato on 03/03/2017 - 08:54

      Because one is an exchange of money for goods, the other is just taking your money to line their pockets, if you are a charity and you take 90% of the profits you collect yourself, you and the company you work for are scum and misleading generous people

      • JamPackedJack on 03/03/2017 - 09:08
        +2

        Most charities don't take 90%, typically it's actually the reverse - with 80-90% of cost base going directly to services/ program outputs. I don't rate Greenpeace at all, but other charities that do amazing work like Oxfam or Unicef cop flak when they have great cost practices.

        • JamPackedJack on 03/03/2017 - 09:27

          If some people aren't directly asked to donate, they wont. If you cannot pay people to ask for money, you will receive less money for your cause.

          Think about it from the perspective of a starving child (not often what they do, but makes it clearer). You can have two situations.

          A) People do not get paid to try to collect money in Australia. The organisation attempting to feed you does not have enough money to expand into your area and you starve to death because people are too "morally upstanding" to be paid to collect money for a charity

          B) People are "morally unrighteous" and get paid to collect money. That additional bump in funding means you get fed and don't starve to death.

          I think I know which situation the starving child would prefer.

          People seem to believe there is an option C, whereby the money is somehow collected without any of it being spent on people at all in Western countries. I think people are kidding themselves.

        • PictureMeBroken on 03/03/2017 - 10:16
          +3

          It is not about the job itself mate, it is about how they approach and trap you, as seen on this example from the OP.

        • Elnato on 03/03/2017 - 11:52
          +2

          @PictureMeBroken: Exactly im referring to the in your face sales tactics and sop stories they leverage to get you to part with money, then you find out the majority doesnt even go to a good cause, its morally wrong and charities should have to disclose how much of their earnings go toward the cause

        • JamPackedJack on 06/03/2017 - 10:34

          @PictureMeBroken: I think you're right, some of them do apply less than polite tactics and it can be annoying.

          Interesting moral question for you though. Ignore Greenpeace because it doesn't work for this example so lets look at someone like Unicef (which do I think have standards for salespeople: If some (relatively compared to third world) rich student in Australia has to put up with an annoying salesperson and a slight loss of disposable income (but no real suffering), whilst a starving child/ren don't die of starvation - on the balance is it really that bad?

        • JamPackedJack on 06/03/2017 - 10:40

          @Elnato: I think you're generalising a few bad charities to them all.

          Use a website like https://www.charitynavigator.org to look at companies who do the right think and publish financial reports.

          UNICEF USA for example has 90.3% of it's expenses going towards their programs, 6% towards fundraising.

    • [Deactivated] on 03/03/2017 - 15:51
      +2

      We are as one.
      Some body, same mind, same hairdo.

      …people need money yo

      Yo, they do, and something is often a lot more than nothing.

      Could have put more though into this but 8:30AM lol

      I think you did fine.
      I am also deeply troubled when some ponce i know whines about 'Chuggers'.
      Their personal stock price in my head always drops a little…

    • Baysew on 03/03/2017 - 16:10
      +1

      Hmm Greenpeace Chugger v Vodka.

      I know where I would rather put my $35.00.

    • gromit on 05/03/2017 - 12:20

      The problem is this, Charity muggers taint everyones experience with charities and funnel the money through them, most charities have no choice now but to use them as their traditional sources of donation have been screwed over by these organisations. So yes it is true it is 10 cents they would not get, but if these scumbags didn't exist they would actually be getting more like 20-30 cents in the dollar as there direct marketing would not be taking such a hit.

  • Elnato on 03/03/2017 - 08:49

    I don't get why people can't be blunt in these situations, they just want your money, tell them to fu#% off or ignore them, charity and salespeople are scum and given the opportunity will take as much as possible, treat them how they should be treated

    • AlienC on 03/03/2017 - 12:47
      +1

      Young high school and uni students are a perfect target for this because they're young age is usually only focused on their studies and getting home or financial survival they are easy prey for bullshit organizations that target the unaware like this.. It is going to take a few more losses and set backs before becomes we'll equipped to deal with and handle this and then he had got the next stage haha lol

      Life never tries trying to swindle you out of your time heart or cold hard cash..look gamers and gamblers..

      Source:me

      Everybody has got a vice just gotta know when to fold them

    • [Deactivated] on 03/03/2017 - 15:45
      +2

      charity and salespeople are scum and …..treat them how they should be treated

      Wow.
      Sounds like you've got a few issues there bro.

      The reality is if State Governments actually stepped up and dealt with some pretty serious issues we have, including homelessness, then there wouldn't be such a demand for services from some of these evil charities you speak of.

      We're all just a bump on the head from a little homelessness ourselves.
      Not sure what it will take to wake you up a little…

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 03/03/2017 - 08:59
    -5

    Uni is full of hippies, weirdos that are simply sucking up tax payer funds consistently crying out for donations for 'social justice' when they have never worked a day in there life

    • citygal on 03/03/2017 - 09:01
      +1

      Many uni students work n study nowadays

      • cwongtech on 03/03/2017 - 12:25

        Many uni students work n study nowadays

        I don't think Josh does.
        RIP O.P. Disableduser.
        Cannot handle advice.

        • citygal on 03/03/2017 - 13:20

          The point here is not whether Josh works or not. But whether he's fairly treated and the responsibility of him reading what he signs up for. Even for a person who works, I'm sure one will be annoyed about his hard earned money being ripped off if he does everything right.

    • HADOUKEN on 03/03/2017 - 16:28
      -1

      their*

  • AlienC on 03/03/2017 - 12:41

    Win some lose some better a $35 loss now than a $100,000 loss somewhere else down the road through other nasty means.

  • dudewithpants on 03/03/2017 - 14:02

    Question : How often do these "Charity" monies end up in the hands of the needy ?

    • El Cap on 03/03/2017 - 15:24
      +1

      Often?
      Around 80-90+% of the donations goes to the causes in the case of Red Cross, UNHCR, etc. Some people have given the breakdowns in earlier posts.

      You don't want to donate to Shane Warne Foundation.

  • sergun on 03/03/2017 - 14:13

    Thank him he did not sign anything to donate your house. But seriously, a small lesson to learn, while some tree in Indonesia is saved. Two birds killed with one stone - think positive!

  • pebee47 on 03/03/2017 - 14:21
    +3

    When I was going through "training" (read "indoctrination") for a "professional consultant" (read "commission-based, high pressure salesman") we were taught there is really only one response/objection that you can't convert to a "positive outcome" (ie: sale).
    "Thank You, but No Thank You"
    Teach him to look the hustler straight in the eye and say that to every request, question or reply they make. They can't turn it around.
    Do NOT under any cicumstances utter some poor excuse like "No money", "Already give to a charity", "Too busy right now". They will always have an answer that will lead you to end up paying.
    After all, it is their specialist field. You are mad to try and out-talk them.
    ps: I didn't last long in that job, but its saved me heaps over the years!

  • MementoMori on 03/03/2017 - 14:31
    +1

    It's a real shame. Australian's are traditionally a happy go lucky, friendly bunch. These charity muggers are turning us into New Yorkers.

    I remember in Vietnam I was constantly approached by locals and their first question was 'where you from?'. One confided in me that it was well known Australian's were very friendly and suckers easy to get money from. I started saying I was from Russia and the smiles instantly disappeared and they turned right around!

    • [Deactivated] on 03/03/2017 - 15:40

      Yeah, the stories i could tell you about my time back in 'Nam.

    • SirFlibbled on 04/03/2017 - 08:56

      I'm happy to say I'm an Aussie. The look and confusion on their faces when they realise not only am I not an easy mark, I'm messing with them, it awesome :)

  • [Deactivated] on 03/03/2017 - 15:41
    +1

    Mum called the charity guy a 'dude'…not getting full story here me thinks.

  • HADOUKEN on 03/03/2017 - 16:28

    Old Mumsy has done a runner and disabled the account.

    Much like the son should do with the ongoing debits from their bank.

  • R4 on 03/03/2017 - 17:12
    +1

    My policy for donating to Charity:
    Never sign up for payment with a street mugger
    If you are going to do this ask:
    How much of your money will go to actual charitable work?
    How much if your money is going to the agency that the mugger is working for?
    How much does the CEO of the charity earn (some are on near corporate salaries)?
    Only give to charities where at least 80% of your donation is really being used for charity (there are some that do 100% and some that only use 10% for costs)

    I only really donate to veteran charities (I usually give the soldiers collecting for ANZAC day a big donation) and medical research and I like my money to be spent in Australia

  • Handsoff on 03/03/2017 - 17:47

    Your son needs to learn how to say no, especially now he's in Uni. $35 is a cheap way to teach him.

  • ruddiger7 on 03/03/2017 - 20:13
    +1

    They call them chuggers for short (charity muggers), I prefer to call them chunts (short for..)

    • [Deactivated] on 04/03/2017 - 16:58
      +3

      Committed Humanists Undoing National Thoughtless Shortcomings.

  • pikapika on 03/03/2017 - 20:30

    Dude!

  • ozeebee on 03/03/2017 - 20:46

    There was once a time when you'd feel for these workers and actually stop to help out. But there is an over saturation these days that every single day a new joe can start his own charity and start asking for money.

    You guys should see what it's like in London. Everyday is a different cause that you just become numb to it like white noise.

  • jenkemjunkie on 03/03/2017 - 21:17

    pop your tittay out of his mouth and quit babying the child. Otherwise you're gonna have a perpetually single man baby living with you for good, still sleeping in that race car bed

  • Dack Smith on 03/03/2017 - 21:21
    -1

    Call the Police… this is fraud and Greenpeace is one of the worst organisations is the world.

    I hope your son learned a valuable lesson .. don't mess with the Greens

  • PictureMeBroken on 03/03/2017 - 22:12
    +1

    The problem which a lot of people are not understanding in this thread (!) is that there is absolutely NO hate against the organisation itself, NO hate against the idea of helping someone in need, and absolutely NO hate against donating money and NO hate against the person asking for money (if they stand in the corner and shake their little box).

    What the real problem is - and this topic is highly important for many people (already nearly 300 replies) - are the methods and the way HOW normal people are approached by these scumbags.

    They are being brainwashed by themselves from their supervisors and they are using professional brainwash and mental techniques to trigger certain aspects in the human brain to actually make you feel guilty (!) if you are not signing up/ donating money.

    Their "icebreaker", "compliment" and "body language" tactics have the simply purpose of catching you and not letting you go until they have what they want. And please do not think they are the same as the "average joe" used car dealer next door. The car dealer does usually not mind too much if you don´t buy the car, he will not make you feel bad of not buying the car.

    But these people will make you feel bad, and why? Because it is for the poor child in Africa. See the devil circle and the technique?

    Nobody tells me that the backpacker from overseas cares 1% about the person in Africa, he or she only wants the commission and nothing else.

    Every word is wisely chosen, every move is planned, every compliment and look they give you is part of the brainwashing and mental technique.

    Why do you think they are targeting the "vulnerable" first semester? Simply because they can trap them the best.

    And THIS is the reason why these people should be treated with absolute caution and disgust. Nobody says anything against donating money, but HOW they do it and with what techniques they brainwash the people is simply disgusting.

    P.S: The comparison between the bottle shop sales person and the charity person above is simple nonsense. The bottle shop sales guy will not try to brainwash you and will not make you feel bad if you don´t buy the booze. There is nothing good about these charity guys. Period.

    • [Deactivated] on 04/03/2017 - 10:05
      +1

      Exactly and I worked for a similar type of place in Brisbane, they take you into meeting rooms to discuss these exact tactics
      Of course comission based roles are going to attract backpackers, its the "promise" of easy money and by guilting people they have the upper hand
      I personally don't bother with them anymore, I tell them I am either donating already or I have enough donations for the month, when they go to talk more I tell them, I understand you're in it for the commission so don't BS me, and they usually back off because I know the deep game they play and what they are really in it for

      The meetings were unbelievable and I soon learnt it was something I didn't want to play a part of, not for the actual cause but the horrid tactics they used to try and make you earn commission

      Suffice to say I have a much better job these days but do feel for the poor people who get conned into these agencies
      Sure they have to earn a wage but if they were more upfront and not as pushy and charities actually saw the majority of the cash then maybe people would have a different take on it

    • [Deactivated] on 04/03/2017 - 17:01

      …HOW normal people are approached by these scumbags.

      Just letting you know this is the point at which you lost me.

  • khomeini on 03/03/2017 - 23:48

    I have to admit that between my wife and I, we give around $300pm on donations. Red Cross, WorldVision, Smiths Family, Amnesty…

    It, personally, feels good to try to help ppl in need especially here in Aus where life and support is generally easy compared to the rest of the world but tbh I haven't looked at ratio which goes to the actual needy.

    Feel slighty guilty of my admitting this to my fellow Ozbargainers :/ (and no I'm not bragging nor forcing others to do the same)

    Saying that I get calls all the time from the same charities asking for that "little bit more I can be counted on for today" which are generally met with a "No I'm good".

    • [Deactivated] on 04/03/2017 - 01:00
      -1

      How kind of you, you're doing a good deed by paying the wages of those staff

    • gromit on 05/03/2017 - 12:22
      +1

      I just hope that $300pm is direct donations. If you signed up via the charity muggers what you are actually giving is about $40-$50 a month to the charity and the rest to the marketing firm that runs the muggers. Charity is a much needed thing in this world, but it should never be done through the charity muggers.

      • khomeini on 06/03/2017 - 13:07

        Gromit, I don't even know now.

        I would've probably signed up through door knocking which is where I'm perhaps too empathetic - I'm unsure how my wife signed up - I'm assuming they get a commission based on door sign-ups.

        Perhaps we'll have a rethink on what we give to one day.

        • gromit on 06/03/2017 - 14:12
          +1

          I am not as generous as you guys but I do donate about $100 a month, I ensure all my donations are directly with the charities though and never sign up to door knockers or the muggers, honestly for the sake of the charities you are supporting check how your donating, a little effort to ensure it goes direct can massively increase the benefit to the charities concerned.

  • siresteelhell on 03/03/2017 - 23:53

    Just get him to go to the bank and tell them it was unauthorized. Then they will stop the deductions..

  • ribze1 on 04/03/2017 - 00:03
    +2

    Charity muggers should be illegal.

    Stand there with a bucket or whatever, don't 'stand-over' people.

  • vlahka on 04/03/2017 - 02:11

    Those ipad people are everywhere. Up in darwin they love to filter through the supermarkets, even the entrances of them. I signed up to one,mainly because it was a local character that helped get kids with cancer out of hospitals for small local trips to cheer them up. I had no problem with this since its not some stupid international company.

    They SHOULD stop your payments though with your email request. If they dont its easy to just go to your bank and have them pull the money back. Done it myself with others.

  • lilchonk on 04/03/2017 - 04:03

    Honestly don't get to caught up in it. I learnt my lesson from signing up to a contract where I ended up forking out a lot of money in the end. My lesson was to actually read contract and skim through t&c's before signing up to anything.

  • ipiok on 04/03/2017 - 08:41
    +3

    ah good old DisabledUser strikes again

    • John Dough on 05/03/2017 - 13:45
      +1

      Comes in gung ho seeking backup, gets a similar life lesson in public forums as his son got in street smarts, exits gracefully.
      The mob have spoken and we have all learnt something today.

  • Chochkee on 04/03/2017 - 09:25
    +1

    These charities are a bunch of scams. Want to give back? Then donate your time to your local community, and feed the homeless.

    Greenpeace is by far the worse i've seen, was door knocked recently multiple times in one day. The guy just hung around out front. After saying I wasn't interested, he continued to speak through the door. Their cause is one of the worst too. People are starving and living on the streets, and Greenpeace care more about the tree people will die under than the person.

  • HotPie on 04/03/2017 - 09:39

    double post sorry

  • HotPie on 04/03/2017 - 09:44

    I work at a shopping complex so get hassled by these chuggers everyday.

    I am so tempted to get a t-shirt printed that says. How Many F….g times do I have to say NO.

    • Dunan on 04/03/2017 - 15:22

      I got accosted by someone from World Vision at Southland a week or so ago, I think I forgot to put my headphones on but 90% of people take that as a F off! sign.

      So annoying as I was doing my grocery shopping but thankfully my moral compass had no qualms with turning it down and didn't crumble under pressure tactics of this person but by golly, they really don't give up no matter how many times you decline.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/03/2017 - 09:59

    Basically what I got from this TLDR rant by the OP

    Your son is old enough to make up his own mind, let him deal with it not you
    The fact he probably didn't read the online form is his OWN fault
    The fact he could have simply said NO is his OWN Fault
    I really don't have time nor patience for these kinds of threads

    He signed off on the ipad or whateve they use, banks aren't going to take one bit of interest when he AUTHORIZED the transaction by signing off on the ipad
    they are a bunch of scum but at the end of the day, probably should take onboard the advice given here and teach your son to deal with it himself

    • StalkingIbis on 04/03/2017 - 20:11

      They pressure vulnerable people. Shy students, elderly etc. I really dislike how they operate

  • [Deactivated] on 04/03/2017 - 12:53

    Was there any real need to disable your account, OP? Nope. You did go a bit overboard, but not the end of the world.
    Do TWAM thing and a Mod will re-enable your account. They have done that for others on OzBargain. Quite a few.
    Specifically ask for 'Sweet-a-Babydoll-a-Kittycat-a-Mumma-Mod'. (Absolutely on their business card.)
    They hold down the fort (bargain, blanket) at OzBargain's far-flung SA outpost.
    If power is on at time, will certainly help you.
    :)

    For others: Just say: "Sorry", to religious doorknockers and charity muggers, "I'm Calathumpian".

    Few if any have heard the word. Said in light-hearted way, but with specific tone, they perceive some menace and are also confused. Does work + facial expressions from their confusion in the moment can be fun. Unless they are in a koala suit at the time. A little bit difficult, then…

    • cwongtech on 04/03/2017 - 15:00

      Do TWAM thing and a Mod will re-enable your account.

      Lmao I don't think they can take criticism on life advice. They just want $35 handed back to them on a silver platter along with an Ozb pitchfork mob for backup. Too bad the members here participating in this forum aren't going to be this sheltering mum's muscle

  • Illian on 04/03/2017 - 14:39

    A good lesson to learn! It can be hard to not be roped in. I was caught by a guy from Medecins Sans, one of the cutest guys I've ever met and I couldn't say no to anything, but hell it was worth it just to be near and talk to him and I get it all back come tax time anyway, not to mention since I already donate to a charity I now have a reason to say no and ignore everyone else!

    • StalkingIbis on 04/03/2017 - 20:10
      +2

      You don't get it all back at tax time. That would mean our government is just paying whatever charity you direct them to by giving them your money and waiting for the govt. to reimburse you.

      • WhyAmICommenting on 05/03/2017 - 17:04

        "Get all of it as a tax deduction" is the gist I think

  • Ryxxi on 04/03/2017 - 15:39

    lol, similar thing happened to me at RMIT, in he city. I didn't sign up but they wouldn't let me go. Took me like 15 minutes to get out of there.

    • WhyAmICommenting on 05/03/2017 - 17:05

      Dont stop, just be nice and keep walking!

      My favourite is if they ask how I am, I smile and say "good thanks!" and don't ask in return :P

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