British red cross wasting money!

dawyldthing

we've been in this house a year and a half now and when we first moved in we had no end of begging letters from cancer charities to the cards from the people that paint with there mouths. We still keep getting them a year and a half on and i'd say we still get them every 2 weeks or so so god knows how much she donated to them over the years

zagfles

dawyldthing wrote: »

we've been in this house a year and a half now and when we first moved in we had no end of begging letters from cancer charities to the cards from the people that paint with there mouths. We still keep getting them a year and a half on and i'd say we still get them every 2 weeks or so so god knows how much she donated to them over the years

Were they addressed to the previous occupant by name? If so, just write RETURN TO SENDER NOT KNOWN AT THIS ADDRESS and repost, and they'll stop.

lincroft1710

lincroft1710 wrote: »

I have a no idea how many of these envelopes the Red Cross are sending out, but today with my post received a normal size unaddressed envelope containing 2 Christmas cards, 2 coasters, a bookmark and a ballpoint pen, plus a request for a £5 donation.

Have only used the pen a couple of times to write a few words each time and already the writing on the pen has worn away. Only the fading words "British Red Cross" are still legible.

In a few more days, no-one will know where the pen came from. So a waste of their money if their name is no longer visible.

zagfles

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Have only used the pen a couple of times to write a few words each time and already the writing on the pen has worn away. Only the fading words "British Red Cross" are still legible.

In a few more days, no-one will know where the pen came from. So a waste of their money if their name is no longer visible.

But they don't send you stuff to advertise themselves, they apparently do it so you feel obligated to donate because they've sent you something.

lincroft1710

zagfles wrote: »

But they don't send you stuff to advertise themselves, they apparently do it so you feel obligated to donate because they've sent you something.

But if you see their name when you use the pen it may encourage you to donate, or donate again.

lisa701

I get really annoyed with charities who send out mass mailshots containing pens, cards, draw tickets etc. I make a point of not dontating to any of them because they are clearly wasting thousands of money dontated by individuals who think they are supporting research, elderly donkeys, etc. Having worked for two charities over the years I can say that very little of that pound you give ever goes to the cause.

As for Gift Aid, I never complete those forms. I know that sounds mean but it just means they have your details and then bombard you with regular begging letters.

Now if I'm going to dontate anything I will make sure I buy what they want (e.g. food for local rescue centre) rather than offer cash that will only be wasted on putting more rubbish through letterboxes.

lincroft1710

lincroft1710 wrote: »

In today's post, among several letters, I received a letter and request for £9 donation from Salvation Army.

In today's post I received a further letter from the Salvation Army with a Christmas card from them to me plus a request for a donation of either £9, £19 or £28.

Honey_Bear

I made the great mistake of buying an NSPCC diary about 15 years ago, and for 10 years was harassed by them to donate again, and requesting more every time.

I have also cancelled my DDs to the Red Cross and Oxfam because I stated, very clearly, when they were set up that by donating every month, I was giving as much as I could afford and any request for more would be upsetting. Both, over the last year, started bombarding me with phone calls, and nothing I could do or say would stop them. I am TPS registered and I cannot tell you how many excuses they came up with to defend their actions. Cancelling the DD and writing a complaint worked, but left me feeling very sad.

In the end I realised that all of these huge charities are run as businesses by people who are every bit as ruthless as the multinational conglomerate executives.

I no longer donate to any of them and support local charities instead.

dawyldthing

zagfles wrote: »

Were they addressed to the previous occupant by name? If so, just write RETURN TO SENDER NOT KNOWN AT THIS ADDRESS and repost, and they'll stop.

I would do but am just bemused by it all as they either send them by chance or because she donated them but i'm not sending them back as they just shouldn't send them out and keep the money that is donated to them to spend on there projects rather than trying to make more