Asking for a donation.

It happened to us with Centrepoint. They were ringing every couple of months with”an update on how our donations were spent”, ie a long spiel about the charity followed by a hard sell on why we should increase the direct debit. I did a couple of times, then said I didn’t want to, but eventually cut them off in mid flow and told them if they rang just once more I would cancel the direct debit. I would have done as well. To be fair though, they haven’t rung since.

The card machine at the local petrol station shop asks if you want to make a donation to charity, I noticed recently that the cashier actually reaches over and taps 'No' in answer nowadays. No idea what charity id involved.

grannybuy

I donate monthly to a well known charity. I’m getting really annoyed with them as they are sending begging letters every month or so, asking for more.

I’ve said this many times before, but it’s worth looking at setting up a Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) account. You pay your chosen amount in every month and they can claim Gift Aid and add it to your account. Then you give the money to your favourite charities when you want, regularly or when you choose. You can do it anonymously so you don’t get the constant demands for more.

I know it’s easier for charities to plan if they have regular donations, but when they pester you so much it makes you want to stop giving at all. It took me months to get the Salvation Army to stop appealing to my mother after she died!

I agree with those who resent being asked to round up. Our local shops usually have collecting tins beside the till for things like Christmas lights or other charities and I might put change into them, but it’s my choice and they never ask directly.

I think giving to charities should be a personal choice and no one should feel forced into it.
However I must just say, I had supported a particular charity for years, not in a huge way but I did collecting boxes for them, raffles, donated a bit and bought gifts from them.
One particular year my husband had an accident and couldn't work for the next few years, all tht time the charity pestered. I wrote a letter explaining my situation , said couldn't afford to donate and couldn't 'Fund-raise' but would still be happy to buy Christmas cards from them etc. I had no reply and in fact they cut all contact, I never received anything else from them, no 'Thanks for your previous help' So when we got back on our feet I vowed that charity would never get another bean. Their loss.

Me neither - I try to donate clean, reasonably good quality items and I buy things. But I too was slightly put off by being asked to round up and buy a draw ticket. That charity shop recently closed- I wonder if other people were put off?

The card machine in our charity shop comes up with a message about press green for a 25p donation or red for no donation. But, everybody using a card , never looks at the screen and they just keep trying to tap their card. We then have to point it out to them and most are quite annoyed. It's a real pain and makes all the volunteers feel really uncomfortable. For the number of "Yes" taps we get, it isn't worth the aggravation.

Foxie48 I too was caught by surprise at the added tip when on a Go Fund Me request.

I thought, I'm not having this, had to go through a few hoops but got it removed before I paid my donation.

Our local Heart Foundation started doing that, but so many customers said they didn't like it that they stopped. I often say to round it up to the nearest £ since they stopped, whereas I'd refused when asked directly, and I bet others have too.

I round up at McDonalds but many years ago I benefitted from the Ronsld McDonald House scheme so I consider it a repayment.

I have a medical condition and pay annually to be a member. Several times throughout the year I receive begging letters asking for eg £115! I ignore it but feel like saying the RNLI only ask for I think £3. My membership each year is around £22 and I round that up to £50.

My local charity shop does not ask for extra and like others, I donate rarely worn clothes and many books. I would not dream of asking for a lower price, I pay whatever is asked.

I have worked for charities and I contribute to charities all year around not just at Christmas. I have to be honest I was pounced on as soon as I went into a supermarket it has put me off going there. I got off a a train in Liverpool city centre and was pounced on straight away. I don’t call that asking I call it demanding it’s no better than cold calling.

I don't like the messages that come up asking for donation when you pay by card. I always press no. But I did sign up to donate monthly to the local air ambulance recently. They were outside B & Q but I certainly didn't feel pressured. Smiley people must work!

I don't like getting begging letters through the post. I keep getting stuff from two charities. I know they must have got my address via the church. They are church based charities.

The local Tesco always asks for' rounding up' donations which I ignore, as they have recently raised the price of most of their goods and are stocking fewer of Tesco's own cheaper brands because 'we are a small out of town store'.

It always surprises me when the shops that run a loyalty points scheme don't have an allocated charity for customers who don't have a loyalty card - I would gladly donate the points I earned when it's a shop I don't regularly use.

You are under no obligation to give to anyone. My charity giving is mostly on-line as I think it's safe but I do use charity shops, although I donate fewer goods these days as I feel the staff often take the good stuff for themselves.

A lot of people feel embarrassed or ashamed to not give but they really shouldn't. I just look them in the eye and remind them I am free to make my own choices.

We shouldn't judge each other by our 'giving' records. I know someone who harps on about how much she supports charity shops but it is just virtue signalling really and gets on my nerves.

Even Primark are at it when you go to the tills. Not been for over a year and was asked to donate, says I didn't have cash so he said to pay by card. It was all said very loudly so assume it was to shame me. Told him loudly that I choose my charity and I know he's told to ask customers but could he relay to management that I don't like being bullied or shamed into donating. So now I just won't enter that shop again.

You are right, keepingquiet about some charity shop workers keeping items for themselves. My late mother donated some lovely items and watched as the ladies at the counter rifled through the bag, pulled out a couple of things and declared that they would have these for themselves. Mum was very upset by this and neither she nor I ever went to that shop again. Absolutely defeats the purpose of donating.

To the poster who says that some charity shop volunteers take the good things for themselves, you are absolutely right because they say openly that they do.
I reiterate, some, not all.
I have a friend whose D is a paid employee of a local charity and she has “ put aside” many things for family .
The worst was an expensive mobility appliance which I know they did not pay for.
I was very shocked and have not donated to that charity since.

Old thread but I will say this Again
First of all the objective of a charity shop is to get money in the tills.
We ( volunteers) know it goes on but in the vast majority of volunteers pay for the goods they want.