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AIBU?

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To be annoyed the charity shop called me rude

283 replies

ohmydays37 · 22/09/2024 23:07

I donated two huge bags of clothes to local charity shop. Before I could even ask a question the woman who worked there demand my postcode for gift aid. I said my husband deals with that and I explained I wasn't comfortable giving his details without his permission. She then said, I was extremely rude and it was for gift aid and she was running a business. In no way was I being rude (which I told her).

I guess my AIBU to think you can't just ambush people for gift aid without knowing if 1) they pay tax and 2) you need to explain the details of it. Which she didn't.

OP posts:
zingally · 25/09/2024 15:09

A bit concerning that you feel you need your husbands permission to give out the postcode of the property you presumably also live in?

Just a simple, "Oh, I'm not a tax payer." Would have done. Alternatively, make up a postcode!

I've lost count of the number of made up email addresses I've given out over the years!

eastegg · 25/09/2024 15:03

GiddyRobin · 25/09/2024 14:14

Always that Merrill, dear! Asking for a postcode...should be looking for the special mark!

🤣🤣🤣

And she doesn’t work Thurzdiz dear!

GiddyRobin · 25/09/2024 14:14

eastegg · 25/09/2024 14:00

😂

It was that Merrill I imagine.

Always that Merrill, dear! Asking for a postcode...should be looking for the special mark!

🤣🤣🤣

eastegg · 25/09/2024 14:00

GiddyRobin · 23/09/2024 00:09

But did she give you a bag, dear?

...

Sorry. Re-watching League of Gentlemen tonight.

😂

It was that Merrill I imagine.

JennySayQuoi · 25/09/2024 13:58

@Moonshiners
I do it in DH name, but the first time he had to sign the card, 'cos if more is gift-aided than the tax take, you have to refund HMRC.

Justwantedtosayrightnow · 25/09/2024 13:24

I agree the charity shop staff member was the rude one, it is annoying you are donating your stuff to the charity shop. You always get the questions about gift aid ! If you politely say I can't/don't want to, you get but why ?? I gift aid in multiple places charity shops also brownies for example and if they claim more gift aid than you pay in tax you are liable to pay that extra yourself.

RecklessGoddess · 25/09/2024 11:41

I personally would have taken the bags back and told her she was extremely rude, and that I was going to donate to a different charity shop!

Wcmc · 25/09/2024 09:56

TinkerTiger · 22/09/2024 23:12

I honestly don’t see what you couldn’t just give your postcode? And what is it that your husband ‘deal’s with’? Post codes? Much ado about nothing.

Gift aid is attached to a person, not a postcode. The next question would have been full name, etc...

PracticalLady · 25/09/2024 01:13

She's the one who was rude, not you! I would feel really angry if this had happened to me.

NewName24 · 24/09/2024 23:10

JournalistEmily · 24/09/2024 18:43

Charity shop peeps are the worst. So rude. And they never say thank you!!!

Don't be ridiculous.

I mooch about in charity shops a fair bit and virtually every volunteer is lovely. There is a woman in the SCOPE shop near me who is sometimes a bit lacking in social graces, but she clearly has SEND and most people are able to make allowances for that.

Your post is really offensive.

Nantescalling · 24/09/2024 20:35

TinkerTiger · 22/09/2024 23:12

I honestly don’t see what you couldn’t just give your postcode? And what is it that your husband ‘deal’s with’? Post codes? Much ado about nothing.

Many people value their privacy and don't give personal data to anyone who asks. Saying that her husband dealt with this kind referred to financial matters.

Seymour5 · 24/09/2024 20:32

KnottedTwine · 24/09/2024 19:17

Yup, all us volunteer "peeps" are JUST the same. Wherever you go in the country.

Of course we are! Being rude is one of the essential attributes of volunteer peeps. In fact we’re trained in rudeness.

surreygirl1987 · 24/09/2024 20:12

GeorgiePorge · 24/09/2024 19:33

this is such a depressing post to read and I really struggle to understand this attitude.
I work in a fairly senior position a charity and earn a respectable salary. I'm a qualified professional that has spent years training. I earn significantly less (at least half) than I could in the private sector. why should I work for even less simply because it is a charity?

Large charities need skilled professionals to work in them and run them. Large charities are responsible for millions in funds, and often provide essential services where there are gaping wholes in public sector provisions.

No CEO of a UK charity is a 'fat cat' compared to any CEO in the private sector. Do you refuse to play any part in consumerism as well?

Charities can't operate with out skilled employees. most people need ro earn mo ey and havent rhe luxury to work for a pittance of they earn more. Opinions like your are insulting to those who work in these roles as it implies we aren't deserving of a salary our position/skills/training/experience command in a competitive market.

I work because I have to, I also volunteer as a trustee because I choose to. These are separate things.

If you want to take offence at fat cat salaries of CEOs take a look at what the CEO of bet365 earns. That is quite literally a case of taking money out of the hands of the vulnerable and exploited in society and lining their own pockets CEOs and individuals working for charities simply wish to get paid somewhere between half and 2/3rds of what they could earn elsewhere.

I think the point the poster is (very legitimately) making is that customers are being asked to redivert tax. We are not asked to redivert tax we pay on other items to CEOs in the private sector (I, for one, do not partake in 'gift aid'). So your comment that 'Do you refuse to play any part in consumerism as well?' isn't really relevant in the gift aid scenario being discussed. I do not know if the poster was fair to refer to 'fat cats' at the top of big charities as I dont know enough about their salaries, but I do fully agree with the point being made regarding rediversion of taxes. I didn't actually realise the FT had written about gift aid and would love to read the article if anyone has it to hand, as my inlaws can't understand why I have an issue with gift aid (I think they just see it as 'free money' though).

misscris · 24/09/2024 19:43

If you aren’t a taxpayer the charity shop can’t claim gift aid against your donations.

GeorgiePorge · 24/09/2024 19:33

callthecattlehome · 23/09/2024 06:37

Re gift aid - the FT a while back pointed out that the effect is to take the money away from public use (via taxes) and give it to the charity. This might be justifiable with a small local one but not imho for the big ones with fat cats at the top. So I never do it.

this is such a depressing post to read and I really struggle to understand this attitude.
I work in a fairly senior position a charity and earn a respectable salary. I'm a qualified professional that has spent years training. I earn significantly less (at least half) than I could in the private sector. why should I work for even less simply because it is a charity?

Large charities need skilled professionals to work in them and run them. Large charities are responsible for millions in funds, and often provide essential services where there are gaping wholes in public sector provisions.

No CEO of a UK charity is a 'fat cat' compared to any CEO in the private sector. Do you refuse to play any part in consumerism as well?

Charities can't operate with out skilled employees. most people need ro earn mo ey and havent rhe luxury to work for a pittance of they earn more. Opinions like your are insulting to those who work in these roles as it implies we aren't deserving of a salary our position/skills/training/experience command in a competitive market.

I work because I have to, I also volunteer as a trustee because I choose to. These are separate things.

If you want to take offence at fat cat salaries of CEOs take a look at what the CEO of bet365 earns. That is quite literally a case of taking money out of the hands of the vulnerable and exploited in society and lining their own pockets CEOs and individuals working for charities simply wish to get paid somewhere between half and 2/3rds of what they could earn elsewhere.

Floramac · 24/09/2024 19:23

JournalistEmily · 24/09/2024 18:43

Charity shop peeps are the worst. So rude. And they never say thank you!!!

How rude of you. I have never met any charity shop workers who are anything except bloody hard working, giving of their time and efforts and very grateful for any donations. And I regularly use charity shops!

KnottedTwine · 24/09/2024 19:17

JournalistEmily · 24/09/2024 18:43

Charity shop peeps are the worst. So rude. And they never say thank you!!!

Yup, all us volunteer "peeps" are JUST the same. Wherever you go in the country.

JournalistEmily · 24/09/2024 18:43

Charity shop peeps are the worst. So rude. And they never say thank you!!!

Oldtigernidster · 24/09/2024 18:35

I won’t go into our village charity shop because the staff are so rude. I go to the next village where they are grateful and delighted to accept my donations.

Grammarnut · 24/09/2024 18:18

RampantIvy · 22/09/2024 23:09

She could have asked politely. I assume you don't pay tax?

She pays tax, just not income tax. But gift aid is a massive help to charities as it gives back a large per centage of paid tax. Woman was rude, however. A polite request, not a demand, is required. Also, afaik, the only info for gift aid, is name and address, no bank details etc. I don't mind giving my name and address to a charity.

Threesacrow · 24/09/2024 18:13

THE first thing you ask is "if you are a UK tax payer, would you like us to claim back gift aid?" If you don't pay tax, you could be in trouble with HMRC. No charity should assume that the donor/customer wants to sign up. We are always so grateful when people do.

Weald56 · 24/09/2024 18:07

You used to be able to simply say to charity shops etc "yes" when they asked if they could collect gift aid on your donation and they could claim it with just a name, but some years ago the rules changed and now they need a ton of paperwork, and all your private details. Since the change we simply say 'no' if asked 'do you do gift aid'? (The normal question). If any shop was rude, we wouldn't donate to them next time.

Sleepytiredyawn · 24/09/2024 18:05

I’ve had this when I working but not earning enough to pay tax. They asked for my partners details and I said I’m not comfortable giving someone else’s details. I don’t get how they have the cheek to expect people to do this. It may be for Charity but they shouldn’t be doing this at all.

NewName24 · 23/09/2024 17:36

Thebellofstclements · 23/09/2024 03:59

Gift aid means a charity receives your tax money rather than the government. Every time people complain about lack of resources in eg. Education, SEN support, it's because less money is sloshing around for the government to use. Some of it is going to pay extraordinarily high salaries of "charity" CEOs etc instead. That is why lots of people do not gift aid.

What a strange take on taxes.

If it were at all possible, then I think there are plenty of people who would opt that their taxes went in to Hospices or Medical research rather than a lot of what our taxes actually get spent on.
If you don't believe in the work of - say BHF, CRUK, MENCAP or your local Hospice shop then why are you taking your things there for them to sell ? Confused

Karatema · 23/09/2024 16:44

Next time, just say your not a tax payer and then it stops the Gift Aid question dead!

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