Charity Collections

[Mags22]

Is it legal for persons to cold-call at doors asking for donations via monthly payments from bank accounts?

[ummmm]

Yes. You have the option of not answering the door.

[ummmm]

Or you could legally tell them to bog off.

[jackthehat]

......or declining to give a donation in such a manner....

[Mags22]

Granddaughter did tell them to go, they did not look very reputable actually,but how many elderly people might be taken in,and it be a scam is what worried me.

[jackthehat]

You could ring and have a word with your local Police Community Support Officer and let them know that there are door-steppers in the area.

They will have plans in place to deal with such matters.

[Prudie]

I believe that it's legal to do that but you're not allowed to just give them a quid and slam the door.

[ummmm]

Not all elderly people are vulnerable.

[weecalf]

Just say I gave ,the goverment will look after this just let them know .is charities just another way of letting the goverment off the hook for things the should be doing .

[Old_Geezer]

Why not ? It's a simple charitable request, no real different from those that have occurred for years. Aside from the request is for a continuous regular contribution, which seems to be the favoured option of charities these days. You could put a sign in your door telling cold callers where to go.

Or if you want hassle go text a donation to a favoured charity and find they call you back and badger you to make this regular contribution or that regular contribution, and are quite insistent you can find something you agree to. Don't like that, well what about ....

[Peter Pedant]

yes I think so....

you just have to learn not to respond to cold-callers


One even asked for the unasked-for empty plastic bag back, that she had left a week previously

[lozzer50]

I had one woman a few weeks back knocked on the door supposedly from the British Red Cross, card looked genuine when i asked for ID. Best bit when i told her i wouldnt be donating she called me a string of names i cant repeat on here . i rang company and they said they hadn't been in my area.

[Old_Geezer]

Given your complaint, they may well say that anyway :-)

[Mags22]

Fair enough coming with a charity collecting box,but no way would I give bank details. Years ago we reported a Red Cross collector for a late evening call and he hadn't been genuine. I've no objections to putting a quid in a tin, but bank details never.

[Old_Geezer]

Surely they don't collect details at the door ?!? They must be leaving a form for you to send to your bank, surely ?

[237SJ]

OG - they do get your details at the door. Or at least they do if you invite them in.

[atalanta]

try asking the collector how much their own cut would be. I shouldn't be at all surprised if the cold-caller gets a percentage of what you donate.
I bet the caller would disappear rather than let you know how much of your money s/he is going to pocket.
Why else would they turn so surly if you refuse ?