WTF - Forced Donations?

[Jessica]

Ok, I'm all for charitable causes and donations. We do it a lot. Because of DH's job in civil services, we always donate to firefighter funds, police funds, etc (to take care of the families of those killed in the line of duty), and I have my own set of charities I give to. So it's not like I'm against donating money.

 

But there comes a point where you are just tapped out financially and can't donate to a bunch of places... as is our case at the moment. So the local firesquad is doing a telephone drive for families of fallen firefighters. Normally this is something we'd do, but I'm trying to limit our outgoing $$ this month. Well I've found out this place basically commited us to making a donation. They can't do that right?!

 

The phone call goes something like this:

 

Him: Hello, Mrs. L---?

Me: Yes.

Him: This is --- from the --- firesquad. We are sending you a packet for our Families of Fallen Firefighters [he then goes on to explain the cause]. So, can we commit you to the very small donation of $35 or the more helpful $50 donation?

Me: Um, I'm sorry, we won't be donating at this time.

Him: Ma'am, are you over 18? You sound like a child.

 

WTF?!?!

 

Me: Uh, yes, I'm over 18!

Him: Ok, so we can commit you to $50 then. We will be sending you the package in the mail. We have your definite commitment that you will be making the donation.

Me: No, I never said I was commiting.

Him: You should get the packet in a few days. Have a good one.

 

What. The. F-ck?!?!

 

Is this a scam? I ask because we had a similar call from the police department last month, and DH did actually commit to sending $35 and the packet looked official, but I don't know. I thought this was kind of rude. Now I definitely don't want to give them money, even if it's legit because that is just bullsh!t. You can't committ someone to donating right?

[rodent]

I've heard that when you are solicited to donate by a phonecall, typically less of the money goes to the actual charity. There is no way they can force you to donate. The fact that they are being like that concerns me about what the money is really going towards.

[Alyssa]

that is really f--ked up - they CAN'T committ for you. when you get the package in the mail - send it back with a post it that says "did not commit to donation, thanks"

that is weird!

[LisaG]

I don't think that phone call makes you obligated to donate $$. I would just throw it away when I got it. That is very rude of them though!!

[rodent]

You might want to report them. They were probably hired by the charity to collect money. The charity probably woundn't want them to be so pushy.

 

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[LCBride2007]

oh yea - that packet would go right into the garbage if it were me.

[DreaW]

The garbage is where that donation would be going to ....

How Rude!!!

[FutureMrs.L]

Sounds like some kind of a scam. You can't force someone to give money. I would throw the packet in the trash as soon as I got it.

[Jessica]

Ok, cool. I didn't know if I was going crazy. We've only started getting phone calls like this since we moved here. I didn't know if it was common or not because our previous phone number was unlisted and we didn't get any solicitation calls at all. Our new phone number is listed and I don't think we've been added to the do-not call list.

 

I also just realized the call came from an unknown number... which I guess normally isn't sketchy, but for some reason I believe the legitimacy of the call even less now.

 

Thanks ladies. I think I will just toss the packet. It's not like I'm going to get a negative mark on my credit or anything... that's what I was worried about for a moment. That it would be like some sort of unpaid bill. I wasn't sure.

[LisaG]

You can also tell people like that to add you to their "Do Not Call List" and if they call you again, you can report them. Legally, they can not contact you after you tell them to remove you.