Residents in Caerphilly county borough are being encouraged to be wary of handing over unwanted clothing and household goods to bogus charity collectors.
This warning comes after Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards team reported an increase in the number of bogus charity collection leaflets and bags dropping through letterboxes across the county borough.
The leaflets and bags often ask for donations of clothing plus other unwanted household goods, and claim the items will be sent to worthy causes and reused.
Sadly, some of these door-to-door collections are not made by genuine registered charities, many of who rely on the continued support and generosity of residents, but by businesses that simply sell the items for profit.
Many of these companies also play on people’s fears and concerns referring to illness and impoverished third world children in a bid to encourage people to donate their items.
Cllr Lyn Ackerman, cabinet member for the environment said, “Bogus charity collections not only mislead householders, but they also deny genuine charities of vital donations.
These companies often give a mobile telephone number as the contact, together with a company or registration number, which can easily be confused with a charity number.”
She continued, “Donating your clothing to genuine charities helps to raise vital funds, but please make sure that your donation goes to a legitimate charity or organisation, and if you are in any doubt at all, check the authenticity of the charity.”
Residents are advised to carefully check the leaflets and bags to look for a proper charity number and not just a company number before making a donation.
Think also about whether it may be better to take unwanted items to the local charity shop or wait for a legitimate charity to collect in your area before leaving out unwanted items.
If in any doubt, call The Charity Commission on 0845 300 0218 or visit the Charity Commission website. to check the authenticity of the company.
Please contact Trading Standards on 01495 235 291 or Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 with any information you may have.
