Dang Charities
Just to start I’d like to point out that I’m not against charities. In fact, last year whilst I was under full-time employment, I gave money to Red Nose day and gave £10/month to the RNIB. What I don’t agree with is the tactics they sometimes employ to make you sign up or to make you take up your donations again. I must point out though Red Nose Day don’t do this and neither do Children in Need so this isn’t a point I have against them. This is more for you general charities like Help the Aged or such charity.
As I pointed out, last year I decided that since I had a sizeable monthly wage I would help out a charity I thought was worthwhile. In the end that charity was the RNIB. After 6months or so I ended the direct debit as it was getting close to me going back to Uni and I wanted to try and save as much as I can. All went fine I just cancelled the direct debit and that was it, I did expect a letter along the lines of “Thankyou for your kind donations since x/x/xxxx. We’re sorry you’ve decided to stop your donations but hope when you have the means you can take them up again and for this we attach our join up form.” Something like that anyway possibly not as concise mind. After a few months I did get a letter and it went a little like that, what annoyed me was the attached letter from someone who was blind. This letter amounted to blackmail in my humble opionion and really pissed me off as, to be quite frank, I won’t let anyone, charity or otherwise, guilt me in to doing something. So I put the letter aside and forgot all about RNIB until two nights ago. It was then that I received a phonecall, around 9pm I might add, from someone for the RNIB. They asked whether I had a few mins to spare so I politely said “Ok” as I can stick it on speakerphone until they’re quite finished. I wasn’t suprised when they then asked “would you consider taking up your donations again?” I responded that I was now a student and that every penny I have goes to getting me through University and while I understand my £10 can buy 8 audio books it is money I cannot spare. The caller was not deterred as they then asked “What about £3/4?” Again I politely pointed out my previous response and that I honestly couldn’t spare any money.
To the callers credit after this they thanked me for the donations and hung up. What has annoyed me is the fact that they are so damn persistant. It’s worse with the street people who try and get people signed up. They ask you say no but they follow and they persist and the only reason they do this is that they are paid on performance which comes from the charity themselves. Dont’ get me wrong, I know that this is probably down to the fact that they can’t spare a lot of money *but* their practice should be improved. If you say no, leave it at that, if you cancel your donations, send a nice letter but nothing more and there’s no need to keep re-asking if someone wants to take up donations again as they will do when they’re good and ready. If you push people like this they’re less likely to donate to any charity let alone the one that keeps hassling them.
This experience has certainly opened my eyes and I’m more likely just to give money to RND and Children in Need as at least that’s a one off donation and they don’t hassle you.
