However, not everyone who comes to your home, or drops in a plastic bag is operating on behalf of a charity. Some collectors will be businesses, asking for unwanted items which can be sold for profit.
It is estimated by the Association of Charity Shops that the potential value of donated clothing and other items ‘lost’ to legitimate charities as a result of these bogus collections amounts to over £1m per annum. Many genuine charities rely on such doorstep collections for a substantial proportion of their shop sales.
Typically, householders receive flyers through their letterboxes appealing for donations of unwanted clothes, footwear and sometimes other household and electrical items to be distributed to poor individuals and families in Eastern European or third world countries.
Householders are asked to leave the goods in a plastic bag by the front door. These are later collected anonymously.
The flyers give the misleading impression that the items are being collected for charitable purposes. In reality, the collections seem to be organised by commercial operators who sell the donated items for profit. The misleading impression is in some instances reinforced by reference to a registration number, which people may think is that of a Registered Charity but is in fact either a limited company number or may have no meaning at all.
If a householder has any doubts about a leaflet asking for donations, they should:
- Contact the Charity Commission helpline on 0870 333 0123 to check whether the collection is for, or on behalf of, a registered charity, or visit their website Charity Commission.
- Contact their local authority to see if the collector has been licensed.
- Give direct to a local charity shop instead or donate to a charity shop collection sack. These should make clear reference to the charity registration number and many will also carry the Association of Charity Shops Kitemark.
Street Collections
Street charity raffle collectors are a regular feature of some high streets and shopping centres. The vast majority are bona fide and are from recognised, genuine charities. But, you may be approached by people selling raffle tickets for unspecified charities. They might say that money from the tickets will go towards 'children's charities' or research. However, they probably won't say what percentage of the money is passed on, nor will they specify which charity it is! Some people have found, to their horror, that the organisers only promise to give very small amounts, say £5,000, to charity, when total tickets sales can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Make sure you are giving to genuine charities - ask the ticket seller the name of the charity they are collecting for, ask to read the terms on the ticket before you buy, and if they claim to be from a named charity, ask for some ID, which genuine charities insist their collectors carry.
Charity Wristbands
Charity wristbands have become one of the latest fashion accessories, but unless consumers buy them from reputable retailers or direct from the charities themselves where possible, the money may not find its way to good causes.
Trading Standards Officers have received a number of complaints from charity workers that some traders are cashing in on the fashion for these bracelets and selling identical or near identical versions – sometimes at twice the price paid to charities. Unfortunately it is not clear if all or any of the money generated is reaching those in need when bands are not purchased from official sources.
Promoted by celebrities, charity bands have become increasingly popular accessories for children and adults, with different colours signalling support for different charitable causes, for example: blue - anti-bullying, pink - breast cancer, red heart-disease, black & white - racism in football, green - multiple sclerosis and purple - cystic fibrosis.
It is not illegal for a trader to sell a coloured band as a fashion accessory, but any claim as to the amount of money being donated to charity as a result of a sale must be accurate.
Consumers wanting to ensure that the money they spend on charitable wristbands goes direct to the charities concerned should either buy them from reputable retailers who officially sell bands on behalf of charities or direct from the charities themselves. |