Give with Confidence

Scam Alert

Charity Bag Collections

Bags of clothing and other household goods intended for charity are being stolen by thieves and fraudulent collectors, costing UK charities an estimated £15 million each year. In some cases it is straight forward theft, in others fraudsters are running bogus collections themselves, claiming that donated goods will go to charities, legitimate or otherwise.

Many charity supporters are now understandably nervous of donating goods in this way and this could lead to an even greater loss of income for charities. But, the real crisis is that charities need donors’ confidence and support now more than ever.

While charity bag crime is a worry for all, we ask donors to remember that the large majority of collections are legitimate and that these charities rely heavily on this income stream. They need and value your support, providing vital funding for the often critical causes they represent.

The police and trading standards are tackling the issue and collating intelligence to minimise this crime. Meanwhile, at the Fundraising Standards Board, we are monitoring public complaints and working with the Institute of Fundraising to make sure charities have access to best practice guidance for household collections.

Our message to the public is:

Please continue to give, but Give With Care.

How do charity collections of household goods work?

How do I distinguish real from bogus collections?

If you suspect something, what can you do?

What to do if you are not happy with a charity fundraising in this way?

How do charity collections of household goods work?

Charity collections of household goods are a fantastic way of not only reducing waste and preserving our environment, but of generating vital funding for good causes. Charities deliver branded bags to households asking for you to fill them with your unwanted clothes and goods, letting you know when they will come by to pick them up again. Some charities have the capacity and infrastructure to co-ordinate door-to-door collections themselves, others use commercial organisations to do it on their behalf.  Whether collected goods are passed on for resale at charity shops, sold overseas or recycled, they can generate substantial profits for the sector, now raising millions each year.

How do I distinguish real from bogus collections?

The large majority of collections are legitimate.  These charity collection bags will feature the charity’s details and registered number on the bag and, for those charities signed up to best practice and regulation, you will be able to spot the Fundraising Standards Board’s distinctive ‘tick’ logo.  You can look up UK registered charities on the Charity Commission’s website.

To check if a charity is collecting in your area, contact the charity directly or your local authority who should be able to advise you of collections.  It may be that the charity is working with a commercial organisation to collect on their behalf. That is nothing to worry about – many charities simply don’t have the infrastructure necessary to collect themselves.

If you suspect something, what can you do?

If you have suspicions that your charity bag was stolen or that a ‘charity’ collection bag you have received is not legitimate, first look at the details of the charity listed on the literature and bag. There should be a charity registration number that you can check with the Charity Commission. Charities signed up to best practice as members of the Fundraising Standards Board display a distinctive tick logo on collection bags and materials.

You can also call the charity or your local authority to find out more about the collections in your area.

If you are still concerned, make your voice heard. Suspected criminal activity or concerns can be reported as below:

• Theft of charity collection bags can be reported to your local police
• Suspected bogus collections can be reported to the NFIB’s charity desk on 020 7601 6999 or by email charity.fraud@cityoflondon.police.uk
• To report a commercial participator or charity that is not demonstrating best practice in charity clothing collections, contact the Fundraising Standards Board on 0845 402 5442 or email info@frsb.org.uk

What to do if you are not happy with a charity fundraising in this way?

In the first instance, it is always advisable to call the charity to discuss any feedback about their fundraising.  They will want to hear your views. If you are still unhappy or you want to speak to an independent body, then you can come to the Fundraising Standards Board.  Call us on 0845 402 5442 or email info@frsb.org.uk