 The collectors do not need licences |
Every city seems to have them. They usually flock to a busy shopping stretch filled with pedestrians.
Like crocodiles at a busy river crossing, the "clipboard collectors" wait in ambush, carefully choosing their prey.
In a bustling shopping city like Nottingham there are many, but the main haunt is the "clipboard canyon" encompassing Lister Gate and Albert St.
In most cases people do not question the cause they collect for, such as worthy charities like Shelter and Mind.
 | YOUR VIEW |
But walking along a busy shopping mall in Nottingham for just a few minutes will usually result in at least two or three requests for your time.
Shoppers and traders approached by BBC News Online described the collectors as "annoying" and "in your face".
However Shelter's director of fundraising, Alan Gosschalk, defended his clipboard crews.
He said: "Face-to-face fundraising is an exceedingly successful form of fundraising for Shelter and a crucial element of our annual income.
"Over the past three years we recruited about 25,000 new supporters... these new donors have generated an income to Shelter of �6m."
Direct debit
This year, Nottingham City Council has licensed more than 80 charity collectors.
However a loophole allows clipboard collectors to operate without a licence.
This is because they do not collect note and coins, but instead collect pledges or direct debit details.
 Collectors ask for pledges or direct debit details |
The council's licensing manager Tim Coulson said: "They will often sign people up to direct debit or similar pledges - they are not actually collecting real money, they are collecting a promise from the person in the street.
"We don't have any control of those people."
However Mr Coulson believes this could change if the foreseeable future with help from the Government.
"We understand that the growth of these people collecting these pledges has been quite noticeable in many towns and cities.
"Because of this the government seem to be listening to the concerns... and we believe they are looking at legislation."
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