Charities posting envelopes for donations

oliveoil99

?What is the protocol if charities leave envelopes for charitable donations and leave a date for calling back for them. I don't want to give the envelope back empty as I would feel guilty but I give to my favourite charities as and when I can. I could not answer the door maybe put a note with my feelings on the subject. Anyone any ideas what to do?

System

oliveoil99 wrote: »

?What is the protocol if charities leave envelopes for charitable donations and leave a date for calling back for them. I don't want to give the envelope back empty as I would feel guilty but I give to my favourite charities as and when I can. I could not answer the door maybe put a note with my feelings on the subject. Anyone any ideas what to do?

If you feel guilty about handing it back empty I am unsure why you wouldn't feel guilty about sticking a note on the door telling them you won't give them anything!

Just fill it with coppers if you are worried. The point of the envelope is to make it anonymous. Personally I usually just stick a couple of quid in and hand it back!

Abbafan1972

It's a long time since we've had envelopes pushed through the door for money, it's usually charity shop bags for unwanted goods.

Anything like that just goes in the bin in my house, you don't know if the people are genuine. Anyone can just put an envelope through the door asking for money!

Littleweedj

I have a few charities that I wish to support and it's just not possible to give money to every charity which requests it, be it a tv appeal, envelopes through the letterbox, personal caller etc.

However, I do feel a bit guilty if I get a letter through the post with a 'free' gift inside and a heart rendering story. If I don't donate then feel I shouldn't be using the gift even if it's only a cheap pen or address labels.

But, as above, how do you know, if the envelopes come from a genuine source and what percentage of the donation actually reaches the target.

Usually I just say I have my own personal choice of charities and give to them as and when I decide. I also like to give via gift aid so they can pay less tax on the donation but when you provide an address it seems the requests then become more frequent.

System

When the collector comes round they have an official badge saying they are legitimate. At the end of the day you just have to trust they don't nick anything.

gb12345

oliveoil99 wrote: »

?What is the protocol if charities leave envelopes for charitable donations and leave a date for calling back for them. I don't want to give the envelope back empty as I would feel guilty but I give to my favourite charities as and when I can. I could not answer the door maybe put a note with my feelings on the subject. Anyone any ideas what to do?

My protocol is take envelope, open bin, insert envelope, close bin.

If I happen to open the door to the collector then they will be told that I do not give to charities that try to guilt-trip me in to donating.

VitaK

I bet the collector is used to people not giving donations.

bargainbetty

You could download the MSE sign asking that cold callers, religious groups and charities do not disturb you. Anyone who sees a clear sign saying that you don't want unsolicited charity approaches deserves to have their envelope thrown away.

battleborn

put a dog turd in the envelope

PZH

Abbafan1972 wrote: »

..it's usually charity shop bags for unwanted goods....

I love them - they make great kitchen bin bags thus saving ME money :rotfl:

Abbafan1972

phoodless wrote: »

I love them - they make great kitchen bin bags thus saving ME money :rotfl:

I find most of the charity bags have holes in them, so aren't any good as bin bags.