Postal quizzes

[THECORBYLOON]

Is it just me or do others think it odd that folk are allowed to put on details of postal quizzes and ask for cheques to be sent when the cheque is made payable to an individual rather than a known charity or organisation?

I am not accusing anyone on here of wrong-doing but is this not open to abuse?

[rmleake]

Answers on a �10 note to rmleake, cheques payable to the 'Early Retirement Fund'.
Seriously I quite agree. A postal quiz should have cheques payable to an organisation/charity to retain it's credibility.

[frannie38]

I made a cheque out to the name of the person doing a quiz, he requested a cheque to be made out to the charity, which I did. Mentioning no names but 3 months later he cashed the 1st cheque. Where did that �1 go? and why did he keep the 1st cheque!!!!

[Big Jenny]

Sometimes, even when I specifically state that cheques should be made payable to the club account, people still make them out to me personally. I always put the money in, though.

BJ

[hamsterhouse]

As someone who deals with an awful lot of donation money, through our business, I can appreciate how time consuming it can be for larger charities to handle cheques for small amounts and can therefore only assume, giving everyone the benefit of the doubt, that it is easier to collect cheques and then write one for the whole amount.

Whilst on the subject - to those of you that have bought Reepham Countrysiders quiz, thank you and just to let you know, in case on any query, that we do not meet again until first week in September when all cash and cheques will be handed over to the Treasurer, so please don't think anything untoward has happened to your money it is perfectly legitimate.

I am now eagerly awaiting the postman for some more returns, good luck to you all and thanks once again for your support.

[earthakitten]

I think this is the first time that anybody has questioned the honesty of fellow ABers ... oh dear, I always ask for the cheque to be made payable to myself, I always thought it was cheaper for the charities to bank just one cheque. I will be asking Cransley Hospice this week which they prefer.
I try to use the new machine at my bank as it takes a photocopy of each and every cheque and gives a huge receipt with a copy of everything paid in so I always have a record !
I have had cheques to myself for the Samaritans quiz. I just bank the cheque and put the money in the Sams envelope, no hassle.
No arguments please, but just interested ... if you were not accusing and dubious about where the money goes ... why the original question. xx

[Dimbo]

I actually asked once which charity was involved.
Never got an answer.
No objection to people running a business or making a little on the side (e.g. quizmail) but would like to know if it is a charity or not

[jessiedog]

I have just compiled my first quiz and, prior to advertising it for sale, I wrote to the charity with a short list of queries which included the question as to whom the cheques should be made payable. I was disappointed that they did not reply to me but decided I to go ahead with the quiz anyway, with the cheques payable to me. I was concerned that they would be liable for bank fees for so many small cheques.

I would not feel at all embarrassed if someone wrote to the charity and asked if the money had been donated - to this end I am keeping records of quizzes sent out. It also occurs to me that there is an awful lot of time and printing costs involved in the production and administration of my quiz (and therefore in those of others) that there must be a more cost effective and less time consuming way of conning money out of people. (I am not deducting anything other than the advertised prize money from the fees recieved, the time and printing costs are my donation to the charity).

I have had 2 cheques so far that have been made out to the charity (both from men, was one you?) and I have written to both so that they know I will send on the cheques after the quiz is closed and they will not be banked for another couple of months. The cost of sending on cheques prior to this is an additional one that I do not wish to bare.

I always send a �1 coin when I request quizzes, which is even more trusting of the recipient 'doing the right thing' so I guess that it just comes down to a matter of trust that the money goes to the charity/good cause.

However, I will not pretend that your thought had not occurred to me prior to advertising my quiz, and I would have liked it better if the charity had replied and given their �blessing�. It does not make me want to stop supporting the charity though.

[jessiedog]

If you would like a copy of my quiz, the details are here.

[THECORBYLOON]

I cannot accuse anyone of dishonesty since I have no evidence. However, if I wanted to make some money I would say I was running a quiz for XYZ and make cheques payable to me.

As it's only a pound who's going to worry about it if a quiz sheet is not received? Atfer all post goes missing every day. If I did the same on a fair few sites, I could make a tidy wee sum.

I am merely saying this is open to abuse and some folk could be tempted to make money from others' trusting natures.

[granny grump]

I enter virtually every quiz that I see on the AB site. Maybe I'm a bit naive (though my husband wiuld dispute it) but like earthakitten I have never felt the need to question the honesty of those people running a quiz and and feel that hamsterhouse & jessiedog's explanations are valid.

[Dimbo]

jessiedog......have you thought of sending via internet once cash has been received with an email address, saves postage and paper and ink so better for everyone. Replies can come the same way.
Did one for Children in Need like this.....worked well

[jessiedog]

Hi Dimbo,

That would be a nice idea but with the little I know about email attachments, do the recipients have to have the same software as the sender to be able to open it? My quiz has been done on MS Publisher which is not so common as word.

I am always thinking that I would like to save postage as it is two second class stamps every time I request a quiz.

Any info on how this is done would be useful as I am planning on at least another 2 quizzes that I am currently working on. I know how to use the programs I have on my computer but have never really explored how to use the web. I am going to sign up for a 'how to build your own web site' evening class this autumn so may learn lots of new stuff then (and also upgrade to broadband).

[jessiedog]

THECORBYLOON I have noticed that people who have sent for a quiz and not recieved it after a week or so often ask on this site where is it. Others then reply they have had their copy and though we do not usually hear the final result of the missing quiz, I think that as there is no great outcry it must be solved amicably.

Don't think that I do not appreciate your concern or feel that there might one day come an opportunist to take us for a ride, but so far it seems to work quite well.

[quizfiend]

why has everyone gone on the defensive?

Nothing wrong with the original question!

This site COULD be a haven for a hoaxer............nothing wrong in being a little wary.

Be careful EVERYONE. Most of us know who the "regulars" are and they are fine, but all be on your guard just in case. This is an "open" forum and anyone can say anything...........do be careful (but don't have nightmares!! LOL)

[Dimbo]

Jessiedog
Bit of a technodinosaur I'm afraid but I think Excel is virtually universal or can be converted by recipient.
Would take further advice though

Good luck if you go ahead