To be annoyed the charity shop called me rude

[ohmydays37]

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.

It’s not the items donated. The shop sends you a letter with an amount they have claimed for selling your items. You then have to declare this if you complete a self assessment. Trust me it’s a ball ache having to save these letters and then declare the amounts claimed for the last tax year when you get round to doing it.

Here is the template!

I've never done a self assessment so only going by what others have said. I still wouldn't give out DH's details and I'd be pissed off if he gave out mine.

You’ve misunderstood the poster, who was referring to the bags that come through the door and are collected from your doorstep a few days later. Those collections are for a business which has said it will donate a percentage of their profit to charity. The percentage is usually very small

They weren’t asking for his details. They were asking for OP’s…as the person making the donation.

It was OP who quite randomly brought her husband into the conversation.

I've never been asked.
If not happy take the clothes back at the time and take somewhere else?

but she says she is a non tax payer and therefore cannot do gift aid.

I have been asked to do gift aid and I say I am sorry I can't and that ends the conversation. I have never been asked for my postcode first so gift aid can be applied, and the "I have a business to run" comment is very rude.

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

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 ?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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).

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

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.

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.

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