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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

She was rude. Don’t worry about it.

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.

I never understand why people get their panties in a bundle over a post by a random woman on a parenting forum.

Care to explain?

But people donate all sorts of shit to charity shops! Dirty clothes, clothes just fit for the bin, broken toys, etc., so I can totally understand why charity shops want to check donations!

I don't think it's terrible that charity shops ask to check what's in the bags of donations for accepting them.
It's September so they aren't going to want lots of flimsy sundresses, left over crafts from Easter and children's sandals.
So many don't stop to think before donating.
So many people think January is the perfect time to donate Christmas jumpers - it's not ! Where exactly is a charity shop meant to store them until next December?

I didn’t know charities could claim gift aid on bags of clothing. 🤔

They dont, they claim gift aid based on the sale value of the individual items. Not per bag.

I get an email from air ambulance with my totals annually.

Charity shops still have staff to pay, rent to pay and other costs. It is very much a business

Again, fascinating! What about my comment made you think my panties are ‘in a bundle’ ?

“Why make up an excuse just to do a charity shop out of a bit of money?”

Can charities really claim gift aid on donations of clothing? I thought it was only applicable on actual money donations.

Yes, exactly this. Or are ex-prisoners, or even current prisoners working in the community? Or a mixture of all of these.
You obviously agree with the charity, so just think of the good you are doing by kindly donating the clothes.

At least this charity shop thread is proving an education in Gift Aid rules.
Calling people rude is always rude of course.
Years ago when I donated to Oxfam I was able to login somewhere and see how much they had reclaimed. Was surprisingly high (£250) - had offloaded LPs. Can well see the FT point on transfer of funds from HM Treasury to 3rd sector.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat - Postcode, house number, name. As others have said if he does a self assessment it's a pain in the arse.

You don't have to declare items that you donate on your tax assessment. You only have to declare cash donations. But donations to charities are tax free - see
www.gov.uk/donating-to-charity

It's the charity shop that is benefiting here: they can claim tax relief on anything they sell that you donate.

Thanks for the explanation.

I thought it was only applicable on money donations as I don’t do gift aid myself.
So once your “jumper” or whatever is converted into a sale then the gift aid is calculated on that. Good to know 👍

Gift aid is optional. They should be grateful if you can do it but just accept you can’t or don’t wish to if you don’t

YANBU. When receiving a donation charity staff should be grateful. Gift Aid is a bonus and if someone declines to give their personal information you are only going to put them off donating again if you start to push hard.

I’d say that response proves they are still very much bundled.

Again, I’m fascinated why you are so invested in a stranger. Care to answer this time?

Yeah given OP’s update that she was more worried about junk mail I’mnot sure what’s what anymore.

It isn't rude to withhold personal information, and none of us owe the charity shops this information. We are making a donation. Some people who manage charity shops feel entitled to the little extra they can get via gift aid, which they shouldn't be. I've never encountered anyone who asked for that information rudely, or got stroppy if I said 'sorry, I don't work, so I can't do gift aid' and cross-examined me about our family circs.

This sort of hectoring attitude from charity shop workers/managers is becoming more prevalent though. My mum recently dropped off two small bags of good quality stuff - high quality knitting yarn, nice clothes, NOT junk - at the only charity shop she can deposit at, because it has dedicated parking bays out front and access for her rollator. She waited in the place you wait with your bags and a volunteer/worker came over and very nastily said 'let's see what you have first' and had a good old rummage in front of her. Having decided mum wasn't palming off old crap (I do know this is a huge issue for charity shops) she accepted that bag, and my mother said 'there's a small bag of books in the car, I'll just get that' and this woman actually shouted at her 'WE DON'T NEED ANY BOOKS, I DON'T WANT THEM IN HERE, DON'T GET THEM!' so my mum just shrugged and rollated off, and as she left the worker continued to shout after her. She then left, walking past the sign on the door with all the things they weren't taking that day (books weren't on the list).

I just think there are some people working/volunteering for charity shops who see an opportunity to bully and exercise petty power.