The Word Charity has the following meaning according to the Oxford dictionary
- An organization set up to provide help and raise money for those in need
- The body of organizations viewed collectively as the object of fundraising or of donations
- The voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money, to those in need.
No where it mentions that it is to become a business and that too a Multi Billion pound business, The executives or the board members earning a 6 figure salary. These well-paid bosses of some good causes are nothing but ‘incompetent or wilfully blind’.
Some of the charities use tactics that are so brutal , an undercover report recently showed how the staff were ordered to be ‘brutal’ and ‘ferocious’ when asking for cash and told even the old and poor ‘have no excuse’ not to give.
The reason for this post is what happened last week although it probably shows how weak a person I am, but still I do blame the pressure tactics used.
Last week I was watching a Tv show and in the break there was a ad on how the children are suffering in Africa because of need for safe Water facilities. It was a normal ad that they show for various other charities, asking us to Txt a particular number with the word Water. So they can deduct 3 pounds from the account when the phone bill comes.
I did that and forgot about it , only to be reminded two days later by a txt that how thankful they are for the support blahdy blah.. T0 my surprise I also got a Phone call from some call centre but this time it was a tad bit different, The gentleman first wanted to explain to me what the charity #WATERAID did, how it was helping thanks to the people who were donating, Slowly the conversation changed to how good it would be if people could donate more often.
The person asked me if I would volunteer to pay some money every month Via direct Debit, I said I have donated what I could afford and wanted to since charity is a Voluntary thing, when I had more money I will do that again, But that did not stop the person on the other end to give up, He carried on with the sales pitch, playing on all the emotions that one could .. What if it was My kids or what if it was kids that I know of etc et, How water is so important, How since it is not safe water diseases are coming up.
He started from 12 or 15 pounds a month to start with, I made an excuse that I will think about it after march when I have had my Pay review , to which he was quick to say no issues we can set the direct debit that will start from March and Not January.
From 15 we went to 12 then to 10 and then in the end he came to 6 pounds a month, by this time I was completely made to realise what a SICK HEARTLESS person I am who can’t even pay that much to help in easing the suffering of the little children.
I ended up giving my bank details and setting a Direct debit.. NOW the reason for the post is that IS THIS RIGHT. I am sort of forced to dish out money, Should these charities be calling like that, The whole Idea of the AD was to txt. a word and voluntarily pay a charity that was working for the good of the people.
This did not end here Since last Monday I have had at least 4 to 5 calls from various charities that are trying to help asking me if I could help, Have had Txt messages asking to reply to them if I wanted to donate 3 pounds or 5 pounds for various needs. How have they got hold of my number is a mystery.
Charity-donation etc is a personal issue why should we be getting cold calls from call centres trying to sell CHARITY. This has left a bad taste, I have just only managed to get rid of another charity that has been hounding me in-spite of a direct debit set up for some money, now they want me to increase the amount. I get at least half a dozen brochures, Letters everyday, With pictures of sick children who are suffering.
I mean is that right to have the tragedy that these kids are going through to be used like this to make money. The worst thing is that the whole of the amount that is generated is not used for the good of the people, Why does a CHARITY head or executive have a SIX FIGURE salary, I work 10 to 12 hours a Day, and then on Rest days I work overtime to make more money, My salary still does not add up to QUARTER of what these executives get.
I can also bet my life that these executives don’t even have a direct debit set up for a few pounds to go to charity. Recently some of the leading charities have been exposed with these WRONG methods, it does put to shame the word CHARITY. I have a few direct debits set up and Now I am thinking of cancelling all of them, Am I really doing any Good or am I just helping in paying the Salaries of these Executives and other office bearers.
Me and My Random Thoughts 