ASA warns consumers to beware of bogus charity collections

3 December 2007

The ASA is supporting a Government awareness raising initiative on the issue of bogus charity collections. In partnership with various regulatory bodies, including the Charity Commission and the Office of Fair Trading, the ASA is bringing the problem of bogus charity collections to the public’s attention and helping them to make informed choices when deciding who to give their donations to.

The problem of bogus charity collections has become widespread in the UK and it is estimated that genuine charities lose at least £2m per year as a result.  Members of the public have been donating clothing or household items to charity collections that appear to be legitimate companies only to discover that they turn out to be bogus.

The ASA regularly receives complaints about leaflets that are dropped through letterboxes by bogus collection services.  Some companies misleadingly imply they are a charity when in fact they are a profit making organisation that collect people’s donations and sell them on. Others are merely fly-by-night operators who take advantage of the public’s goodwill and effectively commit theft.

Whilst it is perfectly legal for commercial companies to seek donations and sell items on for profit they should not give the impression that they are a charity or that they are collecting on behalf of one. Where possible the ASA will contact these companies to ensure that their advertisements make clear that they are not charitable organisations and that donations will be used for commercial gain. However, bogus charity collectors often operate outside the boundaries of advertising regulation and the ASA can find it difficult to stop leaflets being dropped through people’s doors.

A poster and leaflet have been issued that outline the things the public should be aware of when responding to collection requests. If you do want to donate your goods to a charity please use the helpful tips below:

• Be aware – treat with caution. Bogus collectors exploit the public’s generosity for their own gain 
• Be careful – don’t be misled. It is essential to check the small print in an ad. Does the collector make clear whether they are a genuine charity? Are their details clear and accurate?
• Check before you give. When in doubt about the legitimacy of a leaflet asking for a donation you can contact the Charity Commission to see whether the name or number given belongs to a legitimate registered charity.

Although this initiative is designed to help prevent bogus charity collections there is also a strong emphasis on reminding the public of the importance of continuing to donate to genuine charities. Through joint co-operation with other enforcement agencies and the Government the ASA hopes to make the public aware of this problem which in turn should help to benefit the legitimate charity or organisations who need help to raise vital funds.