Bogus charity collections: Trading Standards start new drive
WEST Yorkshire Trading Standards Service is promoting a new awareness drive to stop bogus charity collectors costing charities millions of pounds, launched this month by Charities' Minister Angela Smith.
The Association of Charity Shops estimates that charities lose between 2.5 million and 3 million a year through theft and people mistakenly giving clothing to commercial companies in the belief they are charities.
The 'Give with Care' campaign aims to help households across the country ensure that their charity donations are going to genuine causes.
'Give with Care' aims to help people, who generously want to give to charity, recognise what to look for in the text that appears on leaflets and bags that come through their letter boxes.
It will help them to establish if a clothing collection is for a genuine charity or not.
While clothing companies may be acting legally, their leaflets may be largely indistinguishable from those circulated by charities, unless people know what to look out for.
The campaign includes top tips for spotting a genuine charity collection:
- Does the sack or leaflet say the collection is for a registered charity? If so, what's the registered charity number? Call 0845 3000 218 or visit the online register of charities at www.charitycommission.gov.uk to check that it's genuine.
- Does it only give a registered company number? Check that a registered charity is also involved with the collection.
- Is the charity actually named? Be wary of wording that just says 'families in need' or 'sick kids' as this could be an indication that it is not a genuine charity.
- Does the leaflet or bag give a phone number? If not, it may mean the collectors don't want to answer questions.
The 'Give with Care' campaign includes thousands of leaflets being distributed to householders across the country with the top tips to help check clothing collection leaflets.
Posters will be also displayed in charity shop windows to raise awareness among shoppers.
Graham Hebblethwaite, Chief Officer of West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service, said: "Charity scams are a national problem which abuse the trust and generosity of those who want to make donations to worthy causes.
"We are working closely with the Yorkshire and Humber Scambusting team to tackle scams operating in this region.
"Anyone who has a suspicion or complaint about possible charity scams should contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06."
Councillor Kay Barret, deputy chairman of the Trading Standards Committee, said: "Consumers should be cautious when receiving leaflets and bags through their doors, and should always check that the charity they want to donate to is who they say they are.
“This new campaign provides ways to help consumers identify genuine charities who will greatly benefit from kind donations, helping to eliminate the damage caused by unscrupulous traders looking to make a profit.”
Angela Smith, Charities’ Minister, said: "Donating clothing and goods to charities is a great way to help people who are in need and as we approach the spring, many of us are thinking about clearing out our wardrobes for charity.
“However, charities are losing substantial sums of money to anonymous 'bogus' collectors who mislead donors into thinking they are charities.
“I want the public to be confident that their donation is going to a genuine charitable cause.
“This is why we have launched the ‘Give with Care’ campaign with four tops tips to help establish if a clothing collection is for charity or not.”
Dame Suzi Leather, chair of the Charity Commission, said: "While most leaflets that come through your door are from genuine registered charities, the ‘Give with Care’ campaign will help people if there is any doubt in their mind.
“ Clothing collections are an important way of raising money for many charities, and they need every penny from your donations they can get.
“If you want to make sure your unwanted clothes are going to help a genuine charity, use our top tips."
The participating partners behind the campaign are: The Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office, Charity Commission, Trading Standards Institute, Advertising Standards Authority, Office of Fair Trading, Association of Chief Police Officers, Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services, the Association of Charity Shops and the Fundraising Standards Board.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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