Charity Collectors Dirty Tricks

[greigster]

I live in a block of flats which are mostly elderly people. 2 weeks ago somebody pressed the intercom button and said " Hi I am from skype, buzz me in". I never let anybody into the block without first checking out who it is, so I went down to the door to find that he was in fact a charity worker from Scope.

 

I declined to give him my bank details and closed the door. As I started to walk back up the stairs, the bottom door was opened as he had used the same false tactics to gain entry on an 87 year old single lady in one of the other flats. there where two young chaps about 18 years old trying to make there way upstairs, I asked them to leave at which point one said he did not have to leave as he has been invited in by the elderly lady (using the same false Skype terminology to gain false entry).

 

I put my arm out to block their way to the staircase at which point he informed me that if I touch him he would call the police and report me of assault.

So I thought I would play him at his own game and blocked the staircase with my body and told him that if he touched me I would report him for assault. At this point, he pushed me in the chest and was verbally abusive.

 

Fortunately my wife came out after hearing the altercation and I told her to phone the police which she did.......sadly I would have been better off calling the local infants school, they would have been more help.

The operator had to try 3 different numbers to get anyone to answer( this was a 999 call), and when the police finally answered they said they would send someone out, well they must have got lost as 2 weeks on and we have still heard nothing.

 

I made a complaint to the Scope head office and spoke to a chap called Brendan Delaney who said he would check with the agency that they use to get these collectors "re-trained" and would phone me back later that day or the next day at which point I left him with my phone number.

 

After 2 days and no contact from Scope, I decided to phone them again and when I spoke to Mr. Delaney he said he had tried to phone me back but he must have taken my phone number down wrong .

 

He informed me that the agency had talked to the 2 collectors who has given a totally different story to me, well two 18 year old mates wouldn't tell porkies would they?

 

I don't agree with the bullying or the lying to gain entry to vulnerable people with the intention of extracting bank details and because of this appalling behaviour by so called charity workers who get a rather good percentage of the first years contributions of the Direct Debit details they sign up, we are now not allowing any door to door sellers or Charity collectors on our property.

Edited April 15, 2013 by greigster
typo

[Conniff]

What a terrible story. There are a couple of follow up things you should do. Firstly write to the chief constable at your area headquarters and tell him about the lack of interest in a 999 call, make it a recorded delivery letter.

Secondly, send an email to the CEO of Scope with the full story.

 

[email protected]

 

Let us know how you get on please.

[stu007]

Due to the serious nature of the incident, falsely claim they are a different company to gain access to vulnerable peoples properties to get bank detail the two individuals were still operating on behalf of Scope a disabled charity who seems not interested and believe the aggressive teenagers.

 

As well as reporting this to scope I would be inclined to also consider reporting this to the Charity Commission: http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/About_us/Complaining/Complaint_about_a_charity_index.aspx

[assisted blonde]

To collect door to door a company needs a licence from the local council, telephone your local licensing dept , check if they had a licence and also make a complaint, most licensing officers take this sort of thing very seriously and in many cases will refuse an application in the future

[greigster]

I have had a reply from the Scope CEO Richard Hawkes to my Email. Am I allowed to reproduce it here?

[Conniff]

I have had a reply from the Scope CEO Richard Hawkes to my Email. Am I allowed to reproduce it here?

 

Yes, go ahead.

[greigster]

Here is a reply to the Email I sent to the CEO of Scope, Richard Hawkes.

He mentions that as discussed previously with colleagues, the two teenagers had been suspended where as in my phone conversation with his colleague it was suggested that they believed the two teenagers and not me. There was no mention of the two being suspended. :-

 

Dear Mr greigster,

 

 

 

Thank you for contacting me.

 

 

 

I am very sorry to hear about your experience. The behaviour you describe is completely unacceptable. As my colleagues have discussed with you, the fundraisers were immediately suspended from the field after we spoke with you whilst we investigate.

 

 

 

We closely monitor our agencies and expect them to adhere to the highest possible standards in line with the code of conduct as set out by the Institute of Fundraising. This kind of fundraising is an extremely important way of engaging with our supporters and recruiting new donors to raise vital funds for our work with disabled people and their families.

 

 

 

Thank you for getting in touch. We will use your complaint as an opportunity to learn and to improve how we fundraise. I have discussed this with our Director of Fundraising and he will ensure that this is taken forward.

 

 

 

Best wishes,

 

 

 

Richard

[Conniff]

He doesn't seem overly upset by it, a bit of an 'oh well' attitude.

 

We don't give to charity except our local hospice and the air ambulance, we are of the opinion the majority of so called charities are set up to make someone a nice living and the work they do comes second.

[steampowered]

Its nice the Scope CEO responded to you personally instead of delegating it. Its also nice to see that the two fundraisers were suspended, which will affect their income and will probably mean they won't be asked to do any more work for their agency. Personally I think justice has been done and they took the complaint seriously, well done Scope for taking action and well done you for following up.

[Bazooka Boo]

Along with making all the complaints above, I would be VERY tempted to give this story to your local paper, that will often get the desired result, as no charity wants bad publicity, not nowadays!

[greigster]

He doesn't seem overly upset by it, a bit of an 'oh well' attitude.

 

We don't give to charity except our local hospice and the air ambulance, we are of the opinion the majority of so called charities are set up to make someone a nice living and the work they do comes second.

 

 

Exactly my thoughts, He seems to dismiss what seems to be quite a serious episode as if my concerns were just a bit of a nuisance to him and although he pays the minimum attention to some facts that I outlined to him, it looks as though he has more important things to do than address genuine facts made in my complaint.

His reply was a bit of a non event and he comes across a not really caring too much about what goes on under the guise of Scope fund raising.

[steampowered]

The CEO replied to you personally, he made sure that those responsible were suspended from their job and he apologised.

 

What else do you want Scope to do?

[ericsbrother]

I have had worse responses from heads of charities when taken to task over their use of marketing companies for their fundraising. One case involved fraud and forgery but the charity said that in these financially straitened times they wont be doing anything about it because they need every penny they can get. they evn had the nerve to say that I shoulnt be upset that one of their marketeers had filled in false documantation, forged signatures and made phone calls to a fictitious number to claim that a recording of consent was made for a direct debit instruction.

As you say, police not interested, even if you have the written and recorded proof and bank wont refund monies without police crime involvement.So, if you are a charity, crime does pay because no-one will take action against those you employ at arms length.

[erickawear37]

This is absolutely horrible, preying on the elderly. Just let everybody know. Maybe posters, contact the police, get the local media involved, word can spread fast online aswell.

[Conniff]

The CEO replied to you personally, he made sure that those responsible were suspended from their job and he apologised.

 

What else do you want Scope to do?

 

Bloody sack 'em

[Conniff]

in these financially straitened times they wont be doing anything about it because they need every penny they can get..

 

Of course they do, they can't do without their beer.

Edited April 16, 2013 by Conniff

[greigster]

I donate to my local church by monthly standing order but there is no way I will be donating to any charity by direct debit whilst the top executives are creaming off excessive emoluments right down to the teenage agency workers who receive a large chunk of the first years direct debit payment, using whatever false claims to gain entry to people especially the more vulnerable members of the public.

 

From now on I will only give to those that can prove that the majority of the funds get to the point where they are best used to directly help, which wont include the CEO`s in their ivory towers or kids trying to increase their beer and weed funds

 

Thank you all for your informative replies.

[assisted blonde]

Contact the council they may well stop them collecting in your area in the future

[Old Cogger]

suspended for how long?

[greigster]

I don't know that the suspension part was truthful because when I had to call this Brendan Delaney chap back due to him not taking my number down correctly, his suggestion was that the two teenagers did not tell the same story as me and he certainly gave me the impression after talking to the agency who in turn had talked to the two boys, that they believed them and disbelieved me in which case why would they suspend them.

[caledfwlch]

I wont donate a penny to any Charity that uses the aptly named "Chuggers"

 

The tactics the Chuggers use are disgraceful, and I am amazed their harassment and tactics don't lead to assaults on them from outraged victims.

[greigster]

I did not know that was what they are called.

 

In this day and age when we are being ripped off left right and centre by people who want our personal details for hacking into our bank accounts or any other illegal activity, by using identity theft, these charities authorise agencies to employ what appear to be kids knocking on doors with the sole aim of gaining access those that may be more vulnerable than most with the intention of extracting a signature that will authorise money to be taken from their accounts, which was exactly what was being attempted as stated in my original post, in that case to an 87 year old lady. But hey, at least those at the top of the pecking order, those authorising such tactics will still be taking a very large salary.

 

By the time these "Chuggers",The agency employing them, Heads of collection departments, PA`s and the chief executives at the top of these Charities have all had their cut, I bet the amount of our hard earned money that finally reaches those that need the help, is minuscule.

 

It would be interesting to know the salary of the chap in charge of Scope along with his expense account. I wonder if he does any voluntary work?

[Conniff]

If you have a complaint at some time in the future, then put the name in the subject as well, that way it will be on Twittter and Facebook and show up in Google and everyone will know exactly who you are talking about.

It's only when it has some affect on them will they do something about it.

[greigster]

Thanks Conniff, do you mean that I should have named them in the subject line when I first posted? If so, am I able to edit the subject line at this late stage?

[Conniff]

Yes, in the subject line. I could edit it, but it won't have an automatic injection to twitter and facebook, that only happens on a new thread.

 

Do you want them added anyway?