Rules governing doorstep charity collectors

jcr16

i didn't think any charities were allowed to call at the door anymore. when i was little i remember little envolopes were put though door , and you'd put cash in it and they were collected by a registered person ( usually a neighbour who had a couple of roads to do), back in the time when it was more trusting to do things like that. i was only about 5, so 24 yrs ago.

A few yrs back when i was pg with baby 3, i had two huge guys knock at door, saying they were collecting rfor our local hospital baby unit. i said thankyou, but i'm not interested in doing anything at the moment, but i do give to them. they said well i can see ur preg, it a shame u wont' give us money as you might need the service. i replied, i do support them, but i am not handing anythign over.they got really in my face and i said please leave i'm not interested. they said well it half term soon, so your prob be home, we will call back them. i felt so threathened. i phoned the local hospital, contacted the department who they said they were collecting for and they said ,we have no canversees in that area today and that isn't how we do things. they told me to call police asap. i did so. and the police came very quickly, took statements and description. not sure what happened. but it was so scary at time.

jo1967

Interesting to hear what others think.

Its not that I dont or wont give to charity but it will be on my terms.

My husband (who is waaaayy more polite!) asked the chap to call back at a more convenient time - the collector said he couldnt as he was from a town 40 miles away. Well we have a branch in my town why come all that way? I have emailed Macmillan - if people are scamming they need to know - or teach their collectors curtesy!

Princess_Coupon

I used to be a manager in a call centre and staff were only allowed by law to make outbound calls till 9 so it could well be right.

celebrate

i don'topen the door once its dark, i'll scream thro the door, who is it??? and if the response is a voice i don't recognise i will tell them to go away or open a window if they refuse, i never open the front door

its not safe to open the door to strangers at night, sorry thats my opinion, my husband works away and i'm scared shi*less on my own as it is

lavandergirl_2

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1306567/Fees-high-street-chuggers-eat-millions-donated-charities.html

Chuggers get paid whenever they sign up people.

Charity fund raiser job adverts can be seen in recruitment agencies.

jo1967

Celebrate - very wise.

nuttywoman

We`ve had 2 of these doorstep people in the last couple of weeks , both around 8.30pm at night.First one Macmillan, second one Tommy`s charity !!

Mankysteve

lavandergirl wrote: »

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1306567/Fees-high-street-chuggers-eat-millions-donated-charities.html

Chuggers get paid whenever they sign up people.

Charity fund raiser job adverts can be seen in recruitment agencies.

Unfortunately at this moment in time I have little to give but I wont give to charities that I know to use chuggers in way shape or form.

babyshoes

We have a sign on the door which stops the majority of collectors, but not the salespeople. It did cut down the junkmail when we first put it up, but I think the local leaflet distributers are now either illiterate or don't speak/read much English.

beccavaliant

Hiya as a door to door fundraiser myself I felt the need to make an addition here,

yes we are paid but our company (home fundraising) guarantees the charities 4x there expense back in a year or they ill keep working for free to make the 4x back but the charities usually recieve more than their 4x back. As for other companies though I'm unsure ours say home fundraising on our lanyards, ID and folders.

we are legally allowed to knock until 9pm.

we also are not allowed to accept cash donations, one for our own safety as we are out in the dark and it would make us targets for muggers and two for the charity's protection to make sure any donations DO go to them as you do get people claiming to collect cash for charity's that aren't legitimate.

any genuine fundraiser will always have ID with a picture of themselves and a number you can call on it to verify their identity.

If in doubt make that call!

also any genuine charity fundraiser will never ask for anything more than your account number, sort code, bank company and town of opening the account, if they ask for anything more i.e. the long card number call the police.

I hope this has cleared some things up for you.

Thanks for reading this and please give safely.

Becca