Valldata services ltd

SpammyTheSpammer

Just back from my Aunts, having taken her shopping as usual.

She asks me to post a letter for her. I say that I will do it after I get home. This thread gives the reason:-

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4625059

The letter is a Charity request in aid of BLIND VETERANS UK. I see that this used to be ST DUNSTANS. Their address should be

Blind Veterans UK
12-14 Harcourt Street
London
W1H 4HD

What confuses me though is that the charity appeal return letter is addressed to this place:

Freepost Plus RSUE-RGTH-JUKX
Blind Veterans UK
2A Halifax Road
MELKSHAM
SN12 6YY

And this is the address of a firm called VALLDATA SERVICES LTD

They claim to be "The innovative way to support your fundraising needs":-

http://www.valldata.co.uk/

Does anyone have any idea what is going on here?

ThumbRemote

A mail handling service? Or an outsourced fundraising department?

gb12345

Looks like they do the admin side of the fundraising.

Judging by their profits you would have to question how much of auntie's donation will end up with the blind veterans.

ThumbRemote

No idea what their profits are, but as a company they are not necessarily a bad thing. Presumably the charity can get on with the things they are good at - in this case looking after blind veterans - and not spend time doing fundraising.

paddyrg

Looking at the site, they handle mail, calls, online, campaigns, merch, whatever the charity is unable to do in-house. For any charity, they have to choose between paying for someone (or accepting any old volunteer, maybe older and less computer literate, maybe a few hours a week) to manage their campaigns, open and data enter each envelope, etc., or outsource. By outsourcing, they could be getting higher data accuracy, faster processing, experienced advice, even lower costs. Much like Sainsbury's don't cook their own baked beans, you know?

CKhalvashi

They seem to be a legitimate company, although I do agree that their profits look a little high, but in the grand scheme of things, 7.5% post tax profit isn't actually that high, and in corporate world, ours is a lot higher.

However by outsourcing, a number of charities could be getting a cheaper and better service, by what we know as 'groupsourcing'

CK

pmduk

Companies offering specialist services can often be more economical than using non-specialist employees.

fran-o

Hi
I work for a charity and Valldata are a well known and trusted fulfilment house in the sector. This means they look after much of the 'banking and thanking' aspect of fundraising for a number of charities. Of course agencies do make a profit, however, due to economies of scale, it's almost certain that the charity is saving money by paying an agency to process donations rather than doing it themselves (or they wouldn't do it that way).

SpammyTheSpammer

fulfilment house !
(!!!!!!?)

And, of course, it means that you can send further charity requests to a donor. Once you have found a slightly gaga old lady who is a sucker for the "poor little puppies" or "sick kittens" approach, then you can just mailbomb them with request after request for the charities that Valldata host, "due to economies of scale"

Yeuch! Bargepole please, extra long.....

fran-o

Hi OP, I'd suggest that if you or your Aunt does not wish to receive mailings that you get in touch with the charity and ask them to stop contacting her - once you request this they have to comply. All the best

SpammyTheSpammer

We have already written a letter to Valldata asking them to cease contact both on behalf of BLIND VETERANS UK and any other charities that they represent. We will see what happens....