Video: 'Chuggers' tricks revealed in investigation Local authorities and business groups had also made complaints about their behaviour. An undercover reporter spent 12 days working for Tag, which uses the innovative fundraising technique, and witnessed a series of apparent breaches of the regulatory code, which is intended to protect the public from harassment or exploitation. On this occasion, Tag was fundraising on behalf of Marie Curie but other clients have included WWF and the RSPCA, and the investigation targeted only Tag, not the charities it worked for. Our investigation into Tag Campaigns and the wider "chugging" industry found: apparent breaches of the self-regulatory code of conduct, governing how chuggers approach the public; a failure to disclose to donors - in contravention of charity law - that the Marie Curie campaign was costing the charity £367,000; chuggers were texting in donations for each other from their own phones in order to hit "sign-up" targets because they felt under pressure to perform; a separate failure by regulators to inform charities that they have in recent months become concerned at the behaviour of some of Tag's chuggers; one in seven councils are now calling for a national ban on chugging which they say is damaging high street trade across the country; Tag's two founders have paid themselves £2.5 million in dividends from its parent company since 2005. The Sunday Telegraph evidence was presented to Alistair McLean, chief executive of the The Fundraising Standards Board, the industry watchdog. "On the evidence I have been shown this seems to be a clear breach of the law," said Mr McLean, referring to the failure to make the full financial disclosure. And after being shown one video example of a Tag team leader attempting to stop an elderly shopper in the street, who is waving him away, he said: "They are breaking every rule in the book." The Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (PFRA), which regulates the industry, said its own spot checks had also revealed a breach of the code of conduct by some Tag campaigners in recent months. Mr MacQuillin said: "We are aware of problems with Tag. Our spot checks have uncovered professional standards issues with their fundraisers. We have uncovered rule breaches. Marie Curie said it was never made aware by the PFRA of concerns over Tag campaigns before hiring the company for the first time for "a pilot project to test a new way of fundraising." Fabian French, director of fundraising for Marie Curie, said: "We welcome this investigation by the Sunday Telegraph. We take this extremely seriously. We are disappointed by these allegations and have launched an immediate investigation. Tag issued a statement in which it said that after an "urgent investigation," it was immediately retraining all staff and increasing the number of "mystery shoppers" to ensure fundraisers are complying with the rules. A spokesman said: "We very much regret that the rules of disclosure seem not to have been followed in some instances, and must apologise to any members of the public who feel they did not have the full picture before sending a text donation."