Why don't people understand that charity collecters in pubs are con artists?

Question

It's odd. Sit on a street corner asking for change for food and no-one gives anything. Take a plastic pot, wrap a logo reading "children with cancer" around it and walk around a pub and watch the money roll in. Does anyone really think this cash goes to charity?

Answer 1

Many people do not understand many things about life, and in particular about charities. So I am not surprised to hear of your experience. My principle is simple: I select the charities I want to support, and I do it in my own way. And that I tell every collector who bothers me. It works. They have no way to bully me, and I still support the charities I want to support, and not some set-up or con-operation.

Answer 2

dunno... can you prove that? can you prove the other ones aren't con artists (or getting money for drugs) either?

it is the easiest scam of all though, is it not - just look at how widespread that (utterly fake) email has got, that purports to be in support of a little girl with leukaemia, to whit "the make a wish foundation will donate 7 cents for every time you send this email on". if you don't give / click "forward", you look/feel like a putz... even though its a total con.

if they ask, however, i'd probably make a point of donating instead to whatever good cause the pub itself is publicly supporting (most of them have a chosen charity these days and aren't shy about having a poster up)... make it plain that coming round begging in such a manner isn't going to work on me

did have to turn down some guy at the door last week though, running through a tearjerker script about water supplies in africa. Sorry dude, isn't that what live 8 were doing? anyway, the charity slice of my meagre (and threatened) salary already goes to big issue sellers (genuine homeless) and to a couple of good causes that slurp it monthly from my bank account on a covenanting basis. try next door, they might not be supporting anyone yet.

Answer 3

Well there is an old saying, "a fool and his money are soon parted".
I am often frowned upon because I always refuse to give money to "charities" in pubs. I am not saying that they are frauds but there is doubt in my mind. I content myself that I have a few dedicated charities which I support in private. If people don't like it, its too bad.

Answer 4

Not only that but people who collect your old clothes as well. My friend left some old clothes out for charity and mistakenly left some jewelry in one of the trousers. When she contacted the charity they informed her that a gang of con-men were responsible for the collection and it had nothing to do with them!!

Answer 5

They are the sick sort that exploit other peoples pain, the only collectors I would give to in a pub are the Salvation Army, the rest of them would have to show me proper proof of who they say they are, too many dodgy sickos are pretending to be a charity collectors these days.

Answer 6

the pub i work in doesn't allow people to come around collecting charity money, we have boxes on the bar that we send to the charities when they send us the proper information like the giro slip etc

Answer 7

It depends where they're doing it, in London they wouldn't have a chance but in Dorset all the old people would easily fall for it. Ask for their charity license next time very loudly in front of all the gullable people!

Answer 8

I would not say they are con artist, but I go for a drink to relax & if someone shoves a collection box under my nose I will politely say. No Thank you. No matter what the collection is for.

Answer 9

Because they are usually drunk by the time the thieving lying scumbag enters the pub . Bring back Charles Bronson!

Answer 10

Simple rule of thumb... Someone asks you for money, tell them to f**k off! If you want to donate, do it directly.