When charity pushes their luck.

Gary L · 11-06-2009, 19:43

I was told by a friend earlier that The British Red Cross were out in the city centre getting people to make a regular donation by direct debit every month.

The minimum they said was £8.50 a month, or anything you want as long as it was higher than £8.50.
Isn't charity about giving what you want or can afford, and not what you're told, anymore?

Peter_ · 11-06-2009, 19:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L

I was told by a friend earlier that The British Red Cross were out in the city centre getting people to make a regular donation by direct debit every month.

The minimum they said was £8.50 a month, or anything you want as long as it was higher than £8.50.
Isn't charity about giving what you want or can afford, and not what you're told, anymore?

Most tv ads for charitys always ask for just £2 per week so nothing surprising there, we had the RSPCA sending people around our houses on Tuesday trying to get people sign up, must have been on commission as they knocked twice, which we ignored each time as we could see their vests.

Gary L · 11-06-2009, 19:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moldova

Most tv ads for charitys always ask for just £2 per week so nothing surprising there, we had the RSPCA sending people around our houses on Tuesday trying to get people sign up, must have been on commission as they knocked twice, which we ignored each time as we could see their vests.

The Red Cross site says you can do £2 a month.
I'd say the collectors were just pushing their luck and will probably get a load of cancelled direct debits anyway.

dilligaf1701 · 11-06-2009, 19:54

If you or anyone have been told it is a minimum £8.50 the person should be reported to the Red Cross as they are not doing their job properly.

fireman328 · 11-06-2009, 20:48

The people you see in the streets accosting people are on commision, and I never give to them as I consider it to be begging.

LondonRoad · 11-06-2009, 20:52

I consider myself to be quite charitable but never give on the street and never at the door. I like to know that the vast majority of my donation will be used for the correct intentions.

lucy7 · 11-06-2009, 21:17

Now I am no skin flint by any stretch of the imagination, and have several direct debits set up to various charitys.

The thing that is bugging me big style at the moment, is all the tin shakers at supermarkets, and the high ammount of bag packers at the end of the tills on a Saturday and Sunday at my local supermarket collecting for the local footy team, or school off to Peru etc.....

I am a debit card person at supermarkets, but now feel I have to carry cash as well to pop in the boxes, or I end up feeling guilty!!!

Is it just me????

Wayfair · 11-06-2009, 21:21

Lucy, take an old debit / credit card and some toe nail scissors so when they rattle the tins / buckets etc just snip a little corner off the card and enjoy a guilt free shopping experience...

And yes we all know about the extra packet of Jaffa Cakes in the bottom of the trolley for Lucy time..

Cobbydaler · 11-06-2009, 21:35

Sometimes around the Arndale centre in Manchester you can't move for people canvassing for direct debit charitable donations. I'm sure it discourages people from donating casually i.e. money into a box...

With the city centre trams down I actually walk through the Northern Quarter from Victoria to Picadilly for train connections to avoid being delayed by them!

Druchii · 11-06-2009, 22:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobbydaler

Sometimes around the Arndale centre in Manchester you can't move for people canvassing for direct debit charitable donations. I'm sure it discourages people from donating casually i.e. money into a box...

With the city centre trams down I actually walk through the Northern Quarter from Victoria to Picadilly for train connections to avoid being delayed by them!

I just completely blank them. If i want to donate, i will do so of my own accord.

**Maggy J** · 11-06-2009, 22:15

Hmm! The OP is based on hearsay..and now so is the whole thread...Where is the evidence that the Red Cross have any knowledge of this?

Gary L · 11-06-2009, 22:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Hmm! The OP is based on hearsay..and now so is the whole thread...Where is the evidence that the Red Cross have any knowledge of this?

Hearsay of the minimum of £8.50?
She doesn't lie to me, there's no reason to. I think it's probably because of the commision side of it for why they asked for so much.

AndyCambs · 11-06-2009, 22:35

Strange amount. I can understand the minimum being £8 which with GiftAid comes to a round £10 - and £10 could be considered a minimum amount for them to process efficiently each month - but £8.50 works out at £10.63 which is an odd amount - unless the amount includes 50p commission perhaps?

bw41101 · 11-06-2009, 23:05

I had one of these reps come to my door this week. They were after £1.50 a week - which (in the grand scheme of things) would not normally be a problem - however (the catch) they had to set up a direct debit straight away - which meant giving the rep my bank details - no no no no no I don't think so!

Needless to say one didn't sign up!

Shame really, nice chap - terrible halitosis though, enough to knock a skunk over at twenty yards.

Si thee.

AndyCambs · 12-06-2009, 05:10

I tend to direct my charity to one group fund as it were, which is then distributed as seen fit.