I am moving house soon so I’ve been sorting through six years of accumulated stuff in my flat, getting rid of things that I don’t need any more. Some was recycled, some was thrown out, and some went to the local charity shop.
My visit there was great – they were really helpful, asked me if I’d like to do Gift Aid (yes please) and sent me on my way.
Today I got a letter from them, thanking me for bringing donations (very nice of them to say thank you, but really no need).
Yet it went on to say that they had to send me the letter because Revenue and Customs required them to do so in order to claim the relief. Bear in mind I have already filled in the form with name, address and so on.
This didn’t overly surprise me, though, as I am already involved in discussions with another government department about something I posted to them during the postal strike, which they would not accept by email, fax or in person, and which obviously was delayed.
What really shocked me though was this sentence:
“If you wish to reclaim the proceeds from the sale, please contact us… In such circumstances an administration fee of 1% (plus VAT) will be charged.”
I am amazed by this – is that also a law? It seems a ridiculous one. If you give something away, you give it away.
This particular charity doesn’t employ chuggers (I hate them. If you’re not donating to charity, someone paid to hassle you in the street probably isn’t going to change your mind). They do excellent and undervalued work. They campaign, they explain and they care.
I made a choice to donate to that charity. I don’t think that the law should allow me – indeed, encourage me – to then claim the proceeds of my donation back.
Related posts:
I’m with you on chuggers. I once voiced concern about one in Cambridge, a big chap working for a cancer charity, who was targeting lone females. He was gone soon afterwards.
It’s almost certainly to do with the 14 day cooling off period for everything that you try to do nowadays…