Charity Overload

[Milvus]

Seeing Grasscarp's Going sober for October I wondered if anyone else is suffering charity overload. This month, I am currently supporting MAMIL's (Middle Aged Man in Lycra) on bike rides, a relation going up Kilimanjaro, the ice bucket thing plus I am getting further requests from RSPB by phone, and "medical" charities I have donated to through sponsoring someone in the past. Yesterday I was in the City of London ducking the charity chuggers at stations and on the street. I am saying no for a while now

[237SJ]

Soon there won`t be a month that goes by when there isn`t something - stopping smoking/drinking for October, the moustache thing in November, Dry January. I`ve never got involved in any of it but that`s just my choice. Each to their own, I guess.

[Henrietta]

I hate the fact that you try and help out a charity and then it seems they employ the tactic of either selling or passing your details to other charities to contact!

It takes away the whole idea of "Charity" when it appears they're secretly meeting in dark alleyways to pass your details whispering "Here's another mugs details"

With the chuggers the best way to deal with them is to cross the road but sometimes they have chuggers on both sides to catch you so then I just pull out my mobile fun and pretend I'm talking into it and about to cry and they give me a wide berth.

[maggiebee]

Agree - I'm also suffering from charity overload. Over the past month I've had Oxfam, Anthony Nolan Trust and McMillan at my door. Through the post I've had Salvation Army, National Trust, RSPB etc etc. Afraid I just ignore them now. I sponsor a child and work at least 20 hours per week for Samaritans so feel I'm doing my bit. I also sponsor the grandkids for school events but we all have to draw the line somewhere.

[quizbag]

Also very annoying are the begging letters which appear to be from charities but are often not recognised by the Charities Commission. An elderly relative with mild memory loss but a generous spirit is always sending off cheques because he does not remember me telling him which are the dodgy ones. They are preying on the vulnerable and giving bona vide charities a bad name.

[janbee]

I'm getting swamped by charity Christmas raffle tickets at the moment.

[grasscarp]

I agree. I give monthly to nspcc. They phoned me today and although I was recently increased donation he was trying to get me to more than double it. These charities pay people to call you and ask for more so some of your contribution is going on this!

[naomi24]

I stopped a standing order to a major charity simply because, although I had, at their request, increased my monthly donations several times, they persisted in continuing to call me to ask for more.

[boxtops]

I give to a few charities which are dear to my heart - the rest go in the bin. They play on our compassion, the Dogs Trust man offered to show me photos of puppies the other day.