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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To prefer to give one off donations to charities and not direct debits

24 replies

urbanproserpine · 22/03/2012 21:53

I get door knocking charities regularly. Nobody ever wants my hard cash or cheques now, they want a direct debit. I would like to give them one off donations as they have made the effort to talk to me, and often I feel they are deserving. BUT.

I have enough direct debits. I hate them, they make your life out of your control, my bank won't let you see how much they are taking and when the last debit taken was in a list - you must trawl your statement (I have complained about their website and they say the previous amounts are not a good indication of future payments - so can be deceptive - yes ok with mobile phones etc). Also, if you are donating £5 a month to a charity and you have insufficient funds you get charged megabucks, and have to mess about on the phone setting them up again or not because you are fed up of giving the bank £38

I know why they do it because the last charity that came to my door explained it all. Mainly so they can plan future finds promised to them, which is of course preferable to them.

I relented with the last ones, but I have mostly being telling them I would donate a one off online, which of course I often forget. None of them will take cash.

What do you do?

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 22/03/2012 21:58

YANBU

Funny enough I was just saying that to my DH yesterday.

All they want are direct debits but no way are they getting one out of me.

Years ago I sponsored a little girl in Thailand and all they wanted out of me was more, more, more...they started sending some really quite horrific pictures/literature and virtually begging me to up my monthly payment.

I think once they know you're a soft touch, you become an easy target Sad

hmc · 22/03/2012 21:59

I do direct debit, but you should do whatever suits your personal circumstances and not worry about it

Birdsgottafly · 22/03/2012 22:03

Donate through the website of the charities that you want to.

Doorstep campaigners are usually targeting an area and are temporary staff, recruited for that campaign and cannot take individual donations as they have no way of proving how much that they are being given and it would put them at risk, in some areas.

I give via direct debit and tbh, it is a great feeling when you get on top of your banking and know what is happening when, you do need some disposable income, though.

thenightsky · 22/03/2012 22:05

Just tell them you don't give out your bank statement to random people knocking on doors or harassing you in the street.

It's like running the gauntlet in our local high street with all the chuggers making a bee line.

I'm usually polite but one last week was so damn pushy I told him to bugger off [blush

FetchezLaVache · 22/03/2012 22:06

Some years ago I made a donation to the RSPCA. A few weeks later I got a phone call inviting me to set up a direct debit.

"No, I'm sorry but I'm self-employed and have no guaranteed income, I can be really skint some months so I'd rather just make a one-off donation when I know I can afford it."

"I appreciate that, but it really helps the RSPCA if you set up a direct debit because much of your one-off donation will go on processing costs, and also with a direct debit, the RSPCA has a much better idea of how much money they're getting each month."

"I see what you're saying, but if I have a run of quiet months, a £5 direct debit could take me over my overdraft limit, and I don't want to risk that."

"I appreciate that, but it really helps the RSPCA if you set up a direct debit because much of your one-off donation will go on processing costs, and also with a direct debit, the RSPCA has a much better idea of how much money they're getting each month."

"Yes I understand, but I have no idea how much money I'm getting each month, so it's not a commitment I can make. I'd rather just give when I have some money."

"I appreciate that, but it really helps the RSPCA if you set up a direct debit because much of your one-off donation will go on processing costs, and also with a direct debit, the RSPCA has a much better idea of how much money they're getting each month."

And so on.

thenightsky · 22/03/2012 22:06

Statement. Dur.. I mean 'details'.

Sandalwood · 22/03/2012 22:06

I like to give bits to different charities here and there and don't want to commit to one by doing direct debits.

They do seem to want more and more as well.
I worked with quite a vulnerable, but very kind and giving lady, who used to DD to a couple of charities. And cor did they used to hound her (by phone, letters etc) asking for her to up her contributions.

habbibu · 22/03/2012 22:08

It sounds rather more like your problem is with your bank, not the charities. I'd change bank - mine is much better than what you're describing.

HalfPastWine · 22/03/2012 22:09

I have a direct debit to one charity which I hold close to my heart. The others I just donate to as and when.

If you think you are likely to go overdrawn at the bank then direct debits are definitely not the way to go.

Your bank sounds a pita by the way, you should consider transferring. Online banking is supposed to make managing your account easier not harder!

coffeeinbed · 22/03/2012 22:11

Couldn't agree more.
I really don't like giving my details at the door and it makes me feel bad.
I would rather do a one off, but they are never interested.

hmc · 22/03/2012 22:16

I direct debit to 4 charities - can't say I have experienced any 'hounding' to give more. There is the odd letter asking for additional contributions which I put straight into recycling, but I haven't received lots of phone calls....

Original poster
urbanproserpine · 22/03/2012 22:26

I would be interested to hear what info you can see of your direct debits.

I will name and shame Cahoot as being unable to supply a proper list of direct debits, linked properly to the details of the payee to work out if it's an obsolete utility or still needed. They won't let you see which ones are no longer being taken (cancelled by teh company if you forgot when you changed insurer or electrics, etc), or which ones are annual, or indeed irregular. They can't show you the history of each DD Ian meaningful way.

Do other banks let you see this?

OP posts:
habbibu · 22/03/2012 22:49

I can see full list of dd's plus last date paid, and details of payee. I think so, anyway! It's smile, who are v good in general.

Kayano · 22/03/2012 23:05

I told them I couldn't set up a dd due to beig on mat leave and having a newborn baby and a reduced income

They kept on and on and on at me. I got quite firm at the end but I was pissed that the guy (after I said no) then started to guilt trip me by telling me how all their work in xx doing xx for xx would stop without regular donations.

They are pushy arses ime

sunnydelight · 23/03/2012 05:29

We stopped 2/4 direct debits to charities when they started phoning us hassling us to increase it, if someone can't take a polite no then they can get a rude fuck off.

karatekimmi · 23/03/2012 05:51

I'm with whoever it was that said about giving your bank details out to a stranger on the street/door. I do tend to be cynical, but they could be anyone.

I never stop, and can be very rude to them, as before I was willing to give £2 a month, but as they had no option for that they were pushing for £5. (I was a poor student at the time. ) refused to give in the end!

BrandyAlexander · 23/03/2012 06:49

I have an account with the charity aid foundation and set up a monthly direct debit to them. From there I can make one off donations to different charities although tends to be to my favourite 4. You can tick the box to be anonymous. I don't do direct debits directly to the charities and think the behaviour of some of the high street and doorstep chuggers is disgraceful. I won't support any charities that use them.

mrspepperpotty · 23/03/2012 06:56

I bank with NatWest and I am shocked that you can't see the details of each DD.

Scholes34 · 23/03/2012 09:45

I do one big "event" to raise money every year and make a gift-aided donation to a local charity, because my employer will match fund it if it's local. There are some lovely small charities doing some very good work and when people know the money is staying locally, they are usually very generous. It also means they can donate without the follow up mailings that I receive!

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 23/03/2012 09:50

YANBU, but I do think you have a problem with your bank. I'm with HSBC and can see everything I need to online.

RosieBooBoo · 23/03/2012 09:57

Since i set up DD's for 3 charities i get constant phone calls asking to up my payment, its really starting to piss me off! The last call asked me to go from £15 per month to £45 Shock What planet are they on?

thenightsky · 23/03/2012 20:05

£15 to £45 is shocking. I'd have stopped it completely if they started nagging.

hackmum · 23/03/2012 20:17

I have direct debits to several charities, and I kind of wish I didn't.

I always seem to be having a phone call from one charity or another asking me to increase the direct debit. There are a few charities I give occasional donations to but they also phone me up asking for more.

Yesterday I was approached by a chugger asking me to set up a dd to Scope. He was nice and I was in a good mood so I said Yes.

But I would much rather just give occasional donations. That way they can't perpetually nag you for more money. But hardly anyone asks for occasional donations any more. They all want regular donors.

scarletfingernail · 23/03/2012 20:21

We were just talking about this today.

We pay by DD to one charity. They have called at least 4 times in the last 12 months "to keep you up to date with how your money is being used" Followed by "if you were able to double your DD amount, it would help towards this..."

Usually we go into the reasons why we are not in a position to increase. Today DH asked them to remove us from their harrassing list and stop ringing and if we ever choose to increase the amount we will contact them. We've decided that if they do call again the DD will be cancelled.

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