Press releases
4 January 2007
Consumer Direct South West Gives Warning Over Bogus Charity Collections
Consumer Direct South West is today warning consumers to be careful when donating to charity.
Donating old clothes and goods to charities can be a good way of disposing of items after a New Year clear out. Charities regularly make use of doorstep collections to gather donations directly from people’s homes, and local charity shops can also be a very worthwhile form of recycling.
However some house to house collections are not all that they seem at first glance, some of these charity collections are bogus. Bogus clothing collections rely on a trusting public who do not necessarily question the detailed wording on advertisements such as flyers.
It is estimated 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.
If you have any doubts about a leaflet asking for donations, you can:
- Contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 for advice. Fully trained advisors are available to take you calls Monday-Friday from 8am-6.30pm, Saturdays 9am-1pm (excluding Public and Bank holidays).
- Contact the Charity Commission helpline on 0845 300 0218 to check whether the collection is for, or on behalf of, a registered charity.
- Contact your 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.
For clear practical consumer advice, call Consumer Direct South West on 08454 04 05 06
