Flaming charities!

teb_2

Up until last year, I always sent different charities a few quid evey now and then. it was never big amounts cos I'm not loaded but it was always done regularly and it was to at least 3 at a time.

For reasons that have got nowt to do with the thread, me and my better half have ended up in over 20k worth of debt and are trying to seriously deal with it now. Everything got cut and we're dead careful with money now.

Got a phonecall from Childline tonight giving me the talk about what they do and how they need support etc and they thanked me for money I'd sent them before and can I give them more.

I said sorry but I've got debt problems right now to the tune of 20K and we're really struggling to cope so I can't help them at the minute.

Flaming woman on phone then tells me well that's ok you can maybe just give us a small amount like £3 maybe every month by direct debit.

I was gobsmacked. I asked her, did you not hear me say I was in debt big time and can't help? I told her I thought she had a cheek still asking for money after I'd just told her why I couldn't help and she tells me she doesn't get commision for the calls. Is that meant to make it better?

I said I don't care if she gets commision or not, she still had a cheek pushing it when I was upfront with her about my situation. She says they have to get money to keep their service going.

I was dead annoyed at the end and told her I was putting the phone down on her as she was too pushy and had a damn cheek.

Last time I send any flippin charity money! If I can give in the future, it'll be into a tin in the high street!

keithscott1

I'm sorry to read of your current circumstances teb. You're doing exactly the right thing by being aware of your circumstances and consequently keping expenditure to the minimum. What really gets my goat is those folk (mostly student-types) on the High Street wearing bright orange tabards displaying the charity that they're representing this week, who're positioned like skittles on the pavement with you on as the ball. You can't avoid them! Luckily, I'm quite straight-forward and very imposing in stature, so I don't get too much grief from them. I was staggered to read in one of the local rags that the persons who get involved in this sort of fund raising normally get £8 + per hour!

Becles

I had the same when a man knocked on the door wanting me to sign a direct debit for a regular donation to a childrens charity. I said no as money was tight. He noticed my children were playing on the front lawn, and said "do you realise that what you pay out in fizzy pop for these two, would provide a meal for another child?". Talk about pulling on the heartstrings! I don't buy even buy fizzy pop, but felt under pressure to sign up, although I still found the strength to say no!

teb_2

It's all wrong isn't it. Decent people will give if they can afford to, they don't need to have the thumbscrews put on!

pinkfluffybabe

teb wrote:

It's all wrong isn't it. Decent people will give if they can afford to, they don't need to have the thumbscrews put on!

I think charities will need to wise up to this if they don't want to put off a whole lot of would be donators. It's a shame that they feel the need to harass people for donations and a shame that people are made to feel bad that they can't afford to.

maryotuam

I think it's down to big business which charge charities loads to promote them.
These businesses are often run by people who have no ethics themselves
and use hard sell methods. I don't think pressurising people is right.

Those of us with a heart are being emotionally blackmailed.

I am very careful where I give money these days.
I don't want most of my donation going to help buy
a big company car for some director of a fundraising business.

Darksun

I'd like to encourage everyone who finds these approaches by charities unacceptable to contact their MPs. You can use the excellent site http://www.writetothem.com/

I think this behaviour by charities is only harming the charities, and giving them a bad name when they mostly do good.

Astaroth

One of the major problems with charities is the poor distribution of money between them.... some charities have more money than they can possibly spend where as others have no way near enough.

After the tsunami my boss donated something like £5k to one of the charities making an appeal which after gift aid would have been closer to £10k. After about 6 months he got a phone call from the charity thanking him for his donation but saying that they had received too many donations for the appeal and they could either give his donation to another charity or refund it to him. (he said for them to give it to a charity of their choosing)

I have always wondered if it wouldnt be better to have a single super charity that collects all the money and distributes it appropriately amoungst its divisions (eg animal, children, 3rd world etc)

pinkfluffybabe

Astaroth wrote:

One of the major problems with charities is the poor distribution of money between them.... some charities have more money than they can possibly spend where as others have no way near enough.

Also, different causes resonate with different people which can be a problem. I remember collecting for charity as a student,and people were way more receptive to Cancer Research than, say, Help the Aged.

Wings_of_Ambition

I've had a few of these calls before. I politely listen to their spiel about what good they are doing, but how much more needs to be done. When they ask me to double my donation, I politely decline, just as I do when they suggest a small increase. They eventually thank you and let you be.

I dont think you should take offence to these people. I'm sure they occasionally get someone who agrees to increase their donation. Admittedtly, the woman in question shouldnt have pushed when the OP stated they were in debt, but I wouldnt let it get to you. If it really bothers you, tell them the doorbell has rung, and you're very sorry as you really cannot increase your donation, so thank you and goodbye!

roses

Here is a link to a very useful website which tells you what % of the money you dontae actually goes to the people who need it:

http://www.charitiesdirect.com/charity7/CharitiesSearch.asp

A whopping 65% of all money to Oxfam goes on "admin" (wages/shops/advertising etc).