FAQs - Bogus collectors
- What is a Bogus collector?
- Why should I think about whether to give to a bogus collector?
- What should I do if I think I have a leaflet that looks like a charity shop collection but I don't think it is?
- What is the Government doing to support charities and the public?
- Can bogus collectors be reported?
1. What is a Bogus collector?
An organisation that claims to either give the
clothes to charity or sell them for the direct benefit of
charity but is not in fact doing this. The wording on the
leaflets and sacks may vary.
2. Why should
I think about whether to give to a bogus collector?
Your unwanted items can be resold in a legitimate charity shop and:
- Raise essential funds for that charity - many charities have shops so you may be able to choose a particular charity you support
- Provide affordable clothing for those who need it
- Any items that can't be sold in a charity shop are passed onto merchants who take them abroad for resale at affordable prices anyway
The bogus collector is not actually raising any funds for charities in this country or abroad. They are merely selling your items for their own profit.
3. What should I do if I think I have a leaflet that
looks like a charity shop collection but I don't think it is?
Donating second hand goods, including clothes, to charity shops is a vital way for many
charities to raise funds and support good causes. Sometimes charity shops organise
collections of goods from people’s homes to stock their shops and leave leaflets and
sometimes bags through your letterbox. There are a number of questions to think
about to check whether a clothing collection request is genuine.
Does the sack or leaflet say the collection is for a registered charity?
Firstly, look for a Charity Registration number. This is not the same as the Company Registration
number. If you can't find one or you are still not sure, call the Charity Commission on
0845 300 0218, and ask them to help you. Alternatively, visit the online Register of Charities
to check that it is genuine. Many charities running shops collect house-to-house and their
collection sacks will clearly state their charity registration number and many will also carry the
Association's Code of Charity Retailing logo.
Do they only give a registered company number?
This is not an indication that this is a charity, it just means that the
organisation is registered with Companies House.
Is the charity actually named?
Be wary of wording that just says ‘families in need’ or ‘sick children at Christmas’.
Does the leaflet or bag give a phone number?
The absence of a phone number may mean the collectors do not want to
answer questions and may be an indication that the cause may not be genuine.
If you are still not sure, take your unwanted items to your local charity shop. These shops should all have their registered charity number displayed somewhere within the shop. If you have a large number of items you can't carry, try calling your local charity shops as some will collect.
Find the charity shops nearest to you.
4. What is the Government doing
to support charities and the public?
Following a meeting between the then Charities Minister, Ed
Miliband, and key stakeholders, including the Association, the
Government launched an awareness raising initiative about bogus
house to house collectors, in December 2007. The initiative was
supported by a leaflet and poster. The
initiative is supported by the Charity Commission, and members
of the public should go to the Charity Commission
website for further information.
5. Can bogus collectors be reported?
Contact your Local Authority to check whether the collection has been licensed, as all house-to-house collections by or for charities should be. Report the matter to them. If the information on the leaflet/bag is erroneous – e.g. a false charity number has been given – then you should also alert your local Trading Standards officer. Lastly, if you see a suspicious collection of bags of donations – e.g. charity branded sacks going into a non-charity van – you should ring the police, giving as much information as possible.