Anyone else irritated by all the adverts asking for £3 a month to help………

MayBeMaw

Christmas spirit alive and well I see.

Reading through most of the posts and speaking for myself, I do think the spirit of Christmas is alive and well. Most of us are giving, but resent the hard line tactics employed by a lot of these charities. We’re not bottomless pits and the list is endless.

I get a bit irritated with charities who try and dictate what we should be giving; I appreciate that they are all struggling but I have seen some asking for up to £10 a month, and it's almost as if any lesser amount isn't even worth consideration (although I do realise that some lesser amounts might cost more in admin than the donation itself)
I support about 4 charities with a small monthly sum and have to be realistic that I can't support every last charity out there

^^BlueBelle

I think it Crisis that asks for some obscure amount like £29.06
Which does my head in first how dare you say how much we give and second what’s the 6 pence for ? Just seems so weird

That’s the one that irritates me the most too. Why do they work it out to the nearest pence? If they have to ask for a specific amount what’s wrong with £30? Not that I donate to any charity on a regular basis.

I used to audit a couple of solicitors. If the (mostly the famous) charity had been left a bequest they would constantly harass the solicitor as to when they would receive it. This made me determined to never leave a charity anything in my will. It just felt money-grubbing!

Georgesgran

I have Direct Debits going out every month to a few charities.
I wonder if the SA, Centre Point and Crisis have found it more profitable to ask for £20 or £30 as a one-off at this time of year, rather than signing up to a few pounds a month?

I donate to these 3 charities at Christmas but I'm sure that many people do donate monthly. Perhaps Christmas makes us more sympathetic to the homeless?

My regular monthly donations are going to the campaigning charities at the moment, given the current state of the country.

There are so many of them, one each for various different animals , and presumably each charity has a number of salaried employees. Why can't they all come under WWF? So many children's charities, all worthy causes, but why not all under save the children? I just feel that there are too many salaries being paid out of our donations.
Also I was recently tempted to sign up for a Macmillan walk. When I asked for details they told me I had to guarantee a minimum of £250. I explained that, being retired I didn't have enough contacts , they told me to make up the difference myself !! I could probably have raised £100 but , of course , I didn't do the walk.

The adverts don't annoy me, after all if charities did not advertise they would probably not receive many donations.

We stopped supporting big charities like the Red Cross, UNICEF etc. years ago, when we realised how small a percentage of an actual donation benefits those in need. Most of the money you donate goes to running costs, wages for the workers employed by the charity and not to those in need.

I appreciate that you cannot run a charity on air, but I do not approve of the vast salaries being earned by the top executives.

So we denote to small local charities, or those run by priests and nuns whom we actually know.

Back in the day I supported Amnesty from time to time. I had a call from them a few years back asking me to set up a direct debit. When I declined, because I already have all my charity DDs set up, I was spoken to very aggressively, accused of not caring about people being tortured and killed and it was very shocking. I said I would put money in a tin if asked but no DD as I couldn’t afford it and was more or less told, thank you for nothing.
Next day I wrote to Amnesty demanding I be taken off their supporter list and have never heard from them again.

On the subject of £3 a month, I was disappointed to see the Marsh Family asking for a minimum of £3 a month (or up to £35 a month even) to support their YouTube channel. I felt that if I had another £3 a month to spare I would rather support Smile or Guide dogs or starving babies in Yemen than get access to their channel, however much I have enjoyed their videos up to now.

EllanVannin

I can't understand these charities that have prize-giving occasions. Prizes are invariably monetary which doesn't make sense to me at all. Surely they need all the funds they can get, not give away hundreds in prize money ?

I’ve often thought the same. I’ve also asked any charity that I donate to not to send me a thank you letter, free calendar etc. They shouldn’t waste money on that stuff.

I too hate these adverts. My husband went to put money into a collection tin and was refused his offer because they wanted him to sign up for a DD, needless to say they got neither.

Although these adverts seem to be worst this Christmas it has been pretty bad for quite some time. About five years ago, in November, I was at Heathrow waiting for a flight and watched as RAF personnel went around to every passenger; no matter their nationalities, religion etc, persistently shaking tins under noses. Watching this spectacle I was embarrassed and ashamed as I felt that we had become a nation of beggars.

I do give to charities of my choice as and when I can afford it but there are charities I no longer give to. The Red Cross because of reasons already mention, and others that demand a certain amount. I also check how much the CEO's salary are, as some earn per year more then my house is worth which took a lifetime to buy, now that does seems very immoral to me.
I think the answer is if you wish to help, pick your Charites careful, check their motives and morals, earnings and don't do DD unless you can afford or wish to do it forever.

Chardy

Ten minutes ago, I walked past the Salvation Army band playing carols. I didn't have any cash on me. I haven't carried cash for 18 months.
Charities are really struggling, at a time when the need is greater - isn't that more irritating?
To quote comedian Henning Wehn: “We don't do charity in Germany. We pay taxes. Charity is a failure of governments' responsibilities."

Not having much cash on us must be really impacting the charities.

Sparklefizz

Several years ago now I subscribed to the Red Cross by direct debit, and when I could no longer afford it they hounded me on the phone, by post and then I even had someone come to the house and knock on the door.

Each time the person was very persistent, made me feel incredibly guilty, I would be in tears after explaining that I couldn't afford it .... consequently I would never set up a direct debit again, and would just give a one-off semi-anonymous donation.

I did the same for the British Red Cross. Set up a direct debit for £10 a month and shortly afterwards I started receiving calls from them asking for more. On one occasion I was asked to make a ‘one off’ donation’ of £100 by a very persistent agent who made me feel guilty because I couldn’t afford it. In the end I stopped the direct debit and donated elsewhere. When I received the inevitable call from the Red Cross asking why I had cancelled, I told them it was because I was fed up being hounded for more money when I was already giving all I could afford. I believe a number of charities are adopting the similar methods of fundraising and I think it’s completely counter productive.

And yes, the frequent requests for ‘just£3 a month’ irritates me. I know they’re good causes but where does it all stop ?

Thanks CleoPanda. I had no idea. DH worked for an advertising agency with several charity accounts and has always told me not to waste my money, but I persist in believing in the virtue of giving. But no more for the Fresh-start boys!

Sparklefizz

Several years ago now I subscribed to the Red Cross by direct debit, and when I could no longer afford it they hounded me on the phone, by post and then I even had someone come to the house and knock on the door.

Each time the person was very persistent, made me feel incredibly guilty, I would be in tears after explaining that I couldn't afford it .... consequently I would never set up a direct debit again, and would just give a one-off semi-anonymous donation.

I seem to recall many years ago a lot of controvery about this hard sell with follow-up calls etc and there was going to be a cut down on them. Many of the 'only £3 a month' adverts on TV have in tiny print below words to the effect that by joining up you were agreeing to follow up calls

I only support local charities. They are small, can’t afford advertising and the donations they receive won’t be spent on enormous salaries, consequently the money should be going where it is needed.

BlueBelle

I think it Crisis that asks for some obscure amount like £29.06
Which does my head in first how dare you say how much we give and second what’s the 6 pence for ? Just seems so weird

I usually donate to Crisis each Christmas. Before the pandemic I used to volunteer regularly at the local night shelter for the homeless and at Christmas a group of regulars were taken to Crisis for the week so I know what they do. The amount they ask for is based on the average cost of helping one homeless person. I usually round it up to £30 so hopefully help at least one person each year.

I think that quite a few of the charities need to make public how much their CEOs get paid!
I can understand some of the reasons why they need to have someone nominally in charge but when they are paid mega bucks to do it and then they are asking for money, it's a bit off to say the least!
We had donations to (what was then) Age Concern when my mother died because they had helped my parents with some paperwork but for months after my father was hounded by letter and telephone asking if he would donate again ! I ended up phoning them and explaining that as he was a pensioner , he could not afford to and for his details to be taken off the database before it stopped.
Much rather give to a local charity that I have a connection with.

Tis the season - when 'we all NEED stacks of perfume, the most horrible messed about with foods and drinks, and to feel good about ourselves' - hence the naff appeals. Keep calm and carry on - soon be over.

Ten minutes ago, I walked past the Salvation Army band playing carols. I didn't have any cash on me. I haven't carried cash for 18 months.
Charities are really struggling, at a time when the need is greater - isn't that more irritating?
To quote comedian Henning Wehn: “We don't do charity in Germany. We pay taxes. Charity is a failure of governments' responsibilities."

There really is far too many of these requests and as we are not well off can't afford to support them hardly at all, do what we can and realise the need, but at the end of the day we don't want to become charity cases ourselves!

Lulubelle500

Yes, I am! And not just tv ads. We live a few steps from a main road so charity workers are constantly knocking and asking me to sign up to give 2, 3 or more pounds a month. I tell them all that I'd be happy to give a one-off donation but I've had the same two charity debits for twenty years and can't take on any more. Each time I say it I feel like Mrs Scrooge and I really resent that! Even more annoying are the fresh-start boys with suitcases full of ridiculously priced stuff. If a packet of dusters was a pound fifty I might but but twelve or more, no! I tell them to tell their handlers that but occasionally they're really aggressive and that's unforgivable. These are hard times for pensioners (the largest givers) and that should be respected.

Just a note to say that my local police issued warnings about these doorstep sellers who claimed they were on an official rehabilitation scheme for ex offenders.: “ There are NO schemes that have ex- offenders going door to door selling wares. There has NEVER been such a scheme.”

The store I used to work for had Air Ambulance people at the entrance, I tried to make a cash payment, no DD only. Same with CPL at an exhibition at Excel pre covid

I used to have a few direct debits set up for various charities, including water aid and nspcc until I found out that these celebrities are getting paid for these ads and their directors are on huge salaries, the nspcc also wasted money by sending people cheap pens. So this is where my money was going!!
Therefore I cancelled my direct debits

Calistemon

We seem to be sent books of raffle tickets, cards and calendars from the Mouth and Foot painters, requests for donations including birds etc.

DH dutifully sends off cheques for some, not all.
I tried to give money to chuggers outside the supermarket but they didn't want money, they wanted me to sign up.
But direct debits? No.

You do know that the foot and mouth painters is not a charity? It is a commercial organisation business that likes people to think it is a charity

This is an old link but as far as I know it is still correct
www.theguardian.com/money/2010/nov/27/mfpa-charity-cards-returns

Also info on Wikipedia

The phone ones are worse. They make me feel really mean and seem to think if they ask a bit less I can conjure it our of nowhere. I wonder how much they get paid to harass us?

I get fed of the TV advertising but I mute the TV and ignore it. I get more annoyed about the charity cards that come through the door expecting you to buy them. I put them back in the envelope and post them back with a note asking not to send any more but they still turn up every year. I don't do cards but wouldn't buy these if I did. I DO donate goods to charity shops, but I prefer give money to my local animal charity who we adopted our dog from, because they are lovely and they do great work sometimes helping people who have no pet insurance by fundraising for their pets operations (we always donate to these too) They don't get sponsorship from anywhere or government funding or TV advertising like others do but they need it just as much.