Normally we associate our renowned, well-established charities, household names like Red Cross, NSPCC, Oxfam and Macmillan as caring and considerate organizations that are there to serve humanity at large. So the report in Daily Mail exposing their “boiler-room techniques” targeting old, infirm regular donners to raise cash comes as unbelievable shock to most British people. It will do immense harm and many will be put-off for life from donating. Most charities do excellent job helping venerable people throughout the world.
Outsourcing fund-raising is a grave mistake, especially if these agents work on commission basis. They constantly bombard regular, venerable donners with several phone-calls a day; never take “NO” for an answer.
Some are even aggressive, using graphic language to describe poverty in “Third World” somehow making them feel responsible for their sufferings. One such venerable lady with 22 standing orders to various charities, committed suicide. It has brought such callous act to light, to PM’s attention. If charities do not mend their ways, PM would not hesitate to bring in laws to curb their uncharitable acts.
I regularly donate to ISKCON and SHM temples who send me calendars and “Prasad” at festive times but I never receive begging telephone calls. Their behaviour is implacable; donating is pleasure and a privilege. British charities should learn from them the art of benevolent donations!
Bhupendra Gandhi
By email
