Madam, - As a former "chugger", I must take issue with Brendan Keilthy's defence of the practice (April 14th). His claim that people who sign up to give monthly direct-debit donations are "generously helping charities to make a difference" doesn't quite ring true. While most people probably believe this is what they're doing, the reality is that donors are paying the wages of the chugger signing them up.
The company I was employed by - not the company Mr Keilthy represents - paid its fundraisers extremely well, with managers receiving even more generous stipends. Among the employees it was generally accepted that the charities to which people signed up would receive very little from the monthly donations in the first year, with benefits accruing only in the second year of monthly donations. Consistent pressure was applied to all the fundraisers in the team to keep their level of sign-ups high. Those who did not perform in this regard, such as myself, were threatened with dismissal.
I left the company shortly after receiving a verbal censure to this effect and I can honestly say that I enjoyed not a minute of my time working as an on-street fundraiser. Not only is the practice intrusive, irritating, ineffective and wasteful, but it is far removed from the altruistic ideals it claims to espouse. Donors do much more good, and charities are much better served, when donations are paid directly to the charity itself. The best thing the "industry" could do by way of "self-regulation" would be to disband immediately. - Yours, etc.,
OWEN CORRIGAN, Blackhall Green, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7.