Non-profit organisation

Savvy_Sue

I wonder if the local paper would be interested in doing a story on them ... but the OP would probably have to do a fair amount of digging and investigation themselves.

Also if they actually house numbers of cats, even temporarily, on their own premises, they may need to be registered as a cattery / kennel with the local authority? I don't know if the LA would care about their financial model, however. And if they're passing them straight on to 'other' homes, then I'm not convinced they need to be registered / regulated / up front / transparent, with anyone.

If they're not describing themselves as a charity, and not using the ch word in their publicity and fundraising, I don't think they're doing anything illegal. Immoral, possibly, but there may not be a required regulatory structure ...

Although you mention a lack of ID details - do they produce written publicity? I thought there were regulations about including an address on leaflets (although I may be many years out of date). And presumably they must give details of where to send funds?

Mistral001

afm wrote: »

Thank you all for all the information. That's very helpful. I am faced with two problem though:
1. They just say they are non-profit organisations. There are no other identification details available. Should there be anything else?

2. The main problem is not about them using the funds incorrectly. The problem is that they state that they are doing something (which is not completely true) and getting donations for that. However, their procedures are not clear and they have no intention of clarifying them, they claim to be doing things in a way but I found out that's not true, they are using this organisation to help their friends and ignore all other requests, and some other issues. What I wonder is if these organisations have like some kind of legal statement that says that they have to be doing what they claim to do, and that forces them to make it clear to the public how they are doing it.

They are getting thousands of pounds out of people's pockets, there must be something that forces then to show clearly what they do and how, right?

Forgot to say that they rehome a certain breed of cats. They contact anyone rehoming these cats and rescues saying that they will rehome them doing what's best for them and take all of them. But it looks like they rehome them doing what's best for whoever they wish.

Ah did not see this post. So it is unlikely to be fraud.

I cannot see how people giving money can take action other than to stop giving money unless it is a big donation which they want back.

The people using the service presumeably do not pay for it thus there is no contract.. That means they are unlikely to be able to take a Civil case

Thus as far as I can see, unless you are involved in some way as a donor someone using the service or in some other way that affects you directly there sis little you can do. However if cruelity has taken place or some other criminal offense been comitted it is a police matter which you can and should report whether affected or not..

afm_2

Thank you all! If there is no regulation about what they should and what they shouldn't be doing with regards to their goal, I don't think there's much I can do.
I thought however that they would have to state clearly what they do and how they do it. What bothers me the most is that they call all these rescues and owners and get all the cats because they present themselves as the breed rescue and everyone believes them.
At first, I believed them myself but seeing that things were so unclear, I started to ask questions and they didn't like it at all and I got no clear answers. Then, my offers to rehome cats in desperate need, were not being passed on to the relevant people. After that, I found out some "stinky stuff".
The easy thing would be just to let it go and not bother at all but it is immoral and there should be a way of reporting this or at least make all the rescues aware that it is not that clear what's being done.

ILW

So what are they doing with all these cats?

Jenna_Appleseed

ILW wrote: »

So what are they doing with all these cats?

cat hoarding?

afm_2

I just found out that one of these is (or claims to be) a registered charity but the charity's reg number is no where to be seen. That should be public, right?
From what's been said, if they are a charity, then what they are doing is against the charity's aim and that should be reported, right?
Should I go directly to the charity's commission?

Thank you all!

ILW

Jenna_Appleseed wrote: »

cat hoarding?

Probably selling them to Findus.

Savvy_Sue

afm wrote: »

I just found out that one of these is (or claims to be) a registered charity but the charity's reg number is no where to be seen. That should be public, right?
From what's been said, if they are a charity, then what they are doing is against the charity's aim and that should be reported, right?
Should I go directly to the charity's commission?

Thank you all!

Now, if it's a registered charity, then yes, the reg charity no should be publicly available. And you can check the register of charities without knowing the number - see here. Even if they use different names, you should be able to find it through the Advanced Search facility, you can then see if they are up to date with their filing etc.

And yes, you can go to the Charity Commission, however unless there's fraud on a grand scale they're unlikely to do anything about it. Looking here at when they don't get involved it seems to me that your first approach has to be to the charity, but if you're able to word a complaint to them which makes it clear that you know what you're talking about it may give them pause for thought.

PlutoinCapricorn

Afm, that is useful information. Do you know how long they have been in existence?

http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/FAQS/Running_a_charity/ID144.aspx

There are 273 cat-connected charities on the register:

http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/SearchMatchList.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=0&SubsidiaryNumber=0

afm_2

They are not listed. Unless they are under a different name, then they are not registered but claim to be.