This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34186128

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Charity fundraising tactics 'a scandal', says senior MP Charity fundraising tactics 'a scandal', says senior MP
(35 minutes later)
The fundraising tactics used by some charities have been compared to "a boiler house operation" by a senior MP.The fundraising tactics used by some charities have been compared to "a boiler house operation" by a senior MP.
Bernard Jenkin said reports vulnerable people had been pressured for donations and had their details sold between charities were a "scandal".Bernard Jenkin said reports vulnerable people had been pressured for donations and had their details sold between charities were a "scandal".
He spoke as the heads of four major UK charities appeared before MPs.He spoke as the heads of four major UK charities appeared before MPs.
Mark Goldring, from Oxfam, said there had been "too little supervision" of agency fundraisers, but the majority of collectors operated within the rules.Mark Goldring, from Oxfam, said there had been "too little supervision" of agency fundraisers, but the majority of collectors operated within the rules.
The heads of Oxfam, the NSPCC, Save the Children and the RSPCA were summoned to appear before the Commons Public Administration Committee following a series of reports of bad practice.The heads of Oxfam, the NSPCC, Save the Children and the RSPCA were summoned to appear before the Commons Public Administration Committee following a series of reports of bad practice.
'Slipshod''Slipshod'
The methods used by fundraisers came under scrutiny earlier this year when 92-year-old poppy collector Olive Cooke killed herself after reportedly being overwhelmed by requests from charities. The methods used by fundraisers came under scrutiny earlier this year following the death of 92-year-old poppy collector Olive Cooke, who had reportedly been overwhelmed by requests from charities.
The Daily Mail has also claimed that vulnerable people have been repeatedly contacted for donations despite being on an official "opt-out" database, and that one pensioner, Samuel Rae, lost £35,000 after his information was sold by charities and ended up with scammers. The Daily Mail has also reported that vulnerable people have been repeatedly contacted for donations despite being on an official "opt-out" database, and that one pensioner, Samuel Rae, lost £35,000 after his information was sold by charities and ended up with scammers.
Conservative committee chairman Mr Jenkin told the charity chiefs it appeared "the temptation to raise money made you slipshod in your governance procedures or wilfully blind to what was going on".Conservative committee chairman Mr Jenkin told the charity chiefs it appeared "the temptation to raise money made you slipshod in your governance procedures or wilfully blind to what was going on".
"Using commercial companies whose activities have been so shameful that charities have immediately suspended operations, severed contracts, ceased relationships, because of what has been uncovered," he said. Charities' activities included "using commercial companies whose activities have been so shameful that charities have immediately suspended operations, severed contracts, ceased relationships, because of what has been uncovered", he said.
"Such as instructing all fundraisers that when someone says they're too poor to give at the moment that's just another excuse. Staff instructing callers to ask for money at least three times in a call in a very aggressive way... He also accused charities of "instructing all fundraisers that when someone says they're too poor to give at the moment, that's just another excuse".
"It seems more like a boiler house operation than something which reflects the values of the charities you serve." Staff were "instructing callers to ask for money at least three times in a call in a very aggressive way".
Peter Wanless, from the NSPCC, said such practices were "utterly unacceptable", and he was "pleased that the gross excesses have been exposed and action has been taken to do something about them". He added: "It seems more like a boiler house operation than something which reflects the values of the charities you serve."
Pressed on why these tactics had been used, Mr Wanless said: "I think there has been an imbalance between the desire to raise money and the importance of valuing a relationship with a donor, either potential or actual."
'Not enforced''Not enforced'
Mr Goldring said Oxfam had put "too much reliance on agencies with too little supervision". Peter Wanless, from the NSPCC, said such practices were "utterly unacceptable", and he was "pleased that the gross excesses have been exposed and action has been taken to do something about them".
He said his charity had stopped buying and selling lists of potential donors "many years ago", and in July, stopped contacting people identified as willing to accept calls because they had failed to mark a box to opt out. Justin Forsyth, from Save the Children, said: "The standards we had may have been strong, but they weren't enforced in practice."
The Information Commissioner is investigating the claims concerning Mr Rae, while the government has said it is changing legislation to help protect vulnerable people from aggressive fundraising.
Justin Forsyth, from Save the Children, said the charity had put some measures in place to check up on agency staff, such as listening in to calls, but they were not enough.
"The standards we had may have been strong, but they weren't enforced in practice."
Mr Forsyth added: "It is not just wrong, what happened, but it is also counter-productive. If we treat our supporters and the public like that, they will lose confidence in us."
RSPCA vice-chairman David Canavan told the committee that only one fundraising call in 1,000 and one mailshot in 100,000 resulted in a complaint.RSPCA vice-chairman David Canavan told the committee that only one fundraising call in 1,000 and one mailshot in 100,000 resulted in a complaint.
The Information Commissioner is investigating the claims concerning Mr Rae, while the government has said it is changing legislation to help protect vulnerable people from aggressive fundraising.
The incoming chairman of the Fundraising Standards Board, Andrew Hind, told MPs that self-regulation was not working, and instead the sector should have an independent fundraising standards committee - with a majority of lay members - able to enforce a mandatory code of practice.The incoming chairman of the Fundraising Standards Board, Andrew Hind, told MPs that self-regulation was not working, and instead the sector should have an independent fundraising standards committee - with a majority of lay members - able to enforce a mandatory code of practice.