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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:
Startingagainandagain · 23/09/2024 08:36

Was it a volunteer?

I would email the store manager or even the charity itself and state why you were annoyed at how you were spoken to and that this might put people off from donating again.

That might result in the volunteer or staff member getting better training.

People who are in contact with the general public need to be able to be polite and welcoming.

MrsSkylerWhite · 23/09/2024 08:36

She was rude. Don’t worry about it.

GuPuddingRamekinHoarder · 23/09/2024 08:35

Calmestofallthechickens · 23/09/2024 07:28

I ALWAYS use ‘my husband deals with that’ if I can’t be bothered engaging with someone - do you want a deal on your broadband? Husband. do you want to change your energy supplier? Husband. Can I have a moment of your time to tell you about canine war veterans? Husband.

My husband similarly says he can’t do things because ‘his wife deals with it’. Doesn’t everyone? It’s not a 1950s/sexist thing, I thought it was like the universally acknowledged socially acceptable way to say ‘I can’t be arsed’. 🫣

Except in this case ‘I don’t pay tax’ would have been more apt.

SonjaBarkerFinch · 23/09/2024 08:34

surreygirl1987 · 23/09/2024 07:14

If he's the one that pays tax, they she has no right dealing with Gift Aid on his behalf. If my husband made decisions about GA for me I'd be furious. I don't do Gift Aid.

If that was the case then she could say that. I’m just using the facts on the OP.

Coruscations · 23/09/2024 08:28

ohmydays37 · 22/09/2024 23:22

I could happily do that. The fact she was so demanding didn't sit right with me because after the postcode comes the house number then email and a ton of junk emails.

We give to charities close to home, cancer, dementia and NSPCC monthly as well as donating clothes as and when.

So this was nothing to do with being uncomfortable about giving out your husband's details? After all, the postcode is yours and your information to supply, and you could have given your own email address if asked. Or refused because you didn't want to give your own address. Why make up an excuse just to do a charity shop out of a bit of money?

Plus, of course, they don't ask for the email for gift aid purposes.

Bahhhhhumbug · 23/09/2024 08:26

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.

Exactly ,she just wanted your postcode and surname, not your DHs NI no. or inside leg measurement fgs.

Viviennemary · 23/09/2024 08:21

I agree. Gift aid is a voluntary thing and not everyone can sign up to it. She was out of order.

Londonrach1 · 23/09/2024 08:20

linelgreen · 23/09/2024 08:19

Our nearest charity shop insists on unpacking donations and examining the contents of the bag whilst you wait to see if they want to accept the donation!! When I asked them why they explained that they only wanted items that they could resell and would give back anything they felt was not saleable. I honestly don't want to stand around whilst they do this so now just fill the charity bags that are collected.

Wow that is rude. I wouldn't bother donating to them. I donate to two places now as neither ask about gift aid and I can drop easily.

KnottedTwine · 23/09/2024 08:20

Must be at least a week since we had the charity shop bashing thread. (Haven't read the whole thing, has anyone said the volunteer is probably just there to steal the "good stuff" yet?)

I am a volunteer - not staff - and no, I don't have learning difficulties and am not volunteering because I can't get a proper job. We ask EVERYONE about gift aid because if you are signed up we get an extra 25% on the value of your donation - something you give us we price at £10, we actually get £12.50 through the tax reclaim system.

The system is widely misunderstood by donors, they think that once they've signed up with one charity, they're signed up for them all. So yes we ask for your first name initial, surname and postcode to check whether you've signed up before, and if you haven't, we'll ask you to sign up IF you are a tax payer. If you are not a tax payer then that's fine. The charity I volunteer with does not bombard people with emails, just one a quarter to tell you how much you have raised through your donations which is a legal requirement.

Never any excuse for rudeness but there are always two sides to any story, aren't there?

BabyR · 23/09/2024 08:20

To be honest I wouldn’t give out any personal details either.
I have volunteered in charity shops - any one with additional needs would not be on the shop floor. The woman was clearly rude and entitled.

linelgreen · 23/09/2024 08:19

Our nearest charity shop insists on unpacking donations and examining the contents of the bag whilst you wait to see if they want to accept the donation!! When I asked them why they explained that they only wanted items that they could resell and would give back anything they felt was not saleable. I honestly don't want to stand around whilst they do this so now just fill the charity bags that are collected.

ledsafari · 23/09/2024 08:15

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LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 23/09/2024 08:14

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who is the knob? If the husband then he’s perfectly entitled to say no to gift aid.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 23/09/2024 08:14

outdamnedspots · 23/09/2024 08:08

All she wanted was your postcode, then details of gift aid so the charity can save money. It's not unreasonable. And it doesn't lead to junk Mail/begging requests.

An adult woman saying that she can't give out that info without talking to her h would make me Hmm

Postcode, house number, name. As others have said if he does a self assessment it's a pain in the arse. It's also a pain in the arse when the spam starts so I would expect DH to check with me before giving out my details

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 23/09/2024 08:13

outdamnedspots · 23/09/2024 08:08

All she wanted was your postcode, then details of gift aid so the charity can save money. It's not unreasonable. And it doesn't lead to junk Mail/begging requests.

An adult woman saying that she can't give out that info without talking to her h would make me Hmm

She would have needed the full address. If you don’t pay tax you can’t give gift aid.

fourelementary · 23/09/2024 08:09

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Holidayhell22 · 23/09/2024 08:09

If the woman said it as the op said then she absolutely is breaking the law.
The company can then be fined.
You cannot approach things in this way.
A person’s personal information has to be dealt with under strict guide lines.
Randomly asking someone for their postcode without firstly expressing clear intent, is breaking the law.
The woman should have clearly explained what Gift Aid is and then checked to see if the op is eligible.
This would have ended long before bluntly asking to take the op’s postcode, which is classed as identifiable information, and as such falls under the guidance of the laws on how personal information is obtained and stored.

outdamnedspots · 23/09/2024 08:08

All she wanted was your postcode, then details of gift aid so the charity can save money. It's not unreasonable. And it doesn't lead to junk Mail/begging requests.

An adult woman saying that she can't give out that info without talking to her h would make me Hmm

OrwellianTimes · 23/09/2024 08:03

Needmorelego · 22/09/2024 23:09

If your husband has signed up for Gift Aid then why would he bothered if you gave his details?
Wouldn't that be a bit pointless to sign up otherwise?

Edited

There’s a limit to how much you gift aid a year. You probably won’t hit it in a charity shop mind, but self employed people need to keep track of it.

Seymour5 · 23/09/2024 08:03

Calmestofallthechickens · 23/09/2024 07:28

I ALWAYS use ‘my husband deals with that’ if I can’t be bothered engaging with someone - do you want a deal on your broadband? Husband. do you want to change your energy supplier? Husband. Can I have a moment of your time to tell you about canine war veterans? Husband.

My husband similarly says he can’t do things because ‘his wife deals with it’. Doesn’t everyone? It’s not a 1950s/sexist thing, I thought it was like the universally acknowledged socially acceptable way to say ‘I can’t be arsed’. 🫣

Absolutely! DH has it off to a tee!

ledsafari · 23/09/2024 08:01

This reply has been deleted

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SpiggingBelgium · 23/09/2024 08:01

friendlycat · 22/09/2024 23:58

These people are volunteers doing a decent job for free.

I really can’t imagine she demanded things of you. She just asked a straight forward question. All you had to do was say no I don’t do gift aid.

She didn’t have to do anything. And if the woman in the charity shop is indeed “running a business”, she won’t be a volunteer - managers are paid.

LadyLapsang · 23/09/2024 07:59

I don’t know why you just didn’t tell her you don’t work or pay tax so they sadly they can’t claim gift aid on your donation.

MammaGisAF · 23/09/2024 07:59

When you complete your self assessment there’s a section to declare any donations you have made that are eligible for gift aid. The charity send a letter detailing this amount periodically, which have to be kept and declared. It’s a massive ball ache unless you are super organised. I wouldn’t be happy if DH or anyone for that matter, signed me up in a charity shop. It just adds to the admin headache.

Next time just say you’re not a taxpayer or stuff it in one of the clothes banks. Much easier.

Youwantoborrowit · 23/09/2024 07:55

She’s was definitely the rude one and obviously not understanding the gift aid tax rules.

A lot of people don’t realise you have to state the gift aid amounts on your tax return (if you have to do one, I’ve stopped gift aiding because it’s a nightmare to sort out).

id write to the Charity (anonymously if you like) and I doubt I’d drop my stuff there again.

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