FOLLOWING a phone-call from an alarmed elderly

resident, I was made aware that charities are employing

professional teams using door-to-door cold calling

techniques to acquire pledges by direct debit.

The lady in question was a pensioner who claimed two

persons had called on her and inferred that £1.50 a week

would not be missed out of her pension.

I contacted the police and the Charity Commission to

verify the authenticity of this event and practice,

particularly as much was carried out during daytime hours

when people would be out at work, leaving the elderly and

vulnerable among those most likely to be targeted. I was

told that this was common practice and any grievances

should be taken up with the charity itself.

On contacting the fundraising department of the charity

in question, I was told it was a legal and wonderful way of

raising large sums of money.

I asked whether they considered this practice morally

justifiable, particularly as I had been informed that

dwellings in a road clearly occupied primarily by senior

citizens had been visited.

Their response was that unless a relevant sign was

displayed, the professionally trained people employed by

them could not possibly know what sort of people were

living in a particular road.

They also told me that these professionals were trained so

as to ensure the householder would not part with more

than they could afford and that people these days

preferred to discuss their direct debits and charity

donations within the comfort of their own homes.

There are many caring people who give freely of their time

and make financial contributions to worthy causes when

they choose to do so.

If we are to condone door-to-door strangers employed

specifically to assess how much we are worth and

accordingly securing direct debits from us, whatever is

happening to our personal liberties?

Furthermore we have neighbourhood watch schemes that

constantly warn us of distraction burglaries. Procedures

that are familiar to many for checking identities of callers

can be an ordeal and very worrying for those whose

eyesight and hearing are deteriorating.

So the safest option is to advise our vulnerable relatives

and neighbours not to entertain cold calling of any kind.

Are charities employing these methods therefore not

undermining the very efforts that others are making to

safeguard our communities?

I appreciate that at present charities are feeling the pinch,

however on discussing this matter with local people, I

have yet to find anyone who doesn't share my concerns.

As one person recently told me 'This practice is giving

charities a bad image'. I, like others, have my chosen

charities that I regularly and gladly support. However, as a

result of these revelations I have resolved never to support

any charity that adopts this method of fundraising and am

heartened to know that others intend to take the same

stance.