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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/08/queries-over-triplings-web-appeal-must-be-answered-says-donations-company
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| Queries over 'triplings' web appeal must be answered, says donations company Queries over 'triplings' web appeal must be answered, says donations company | |
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| A campaign for a New Zealand couple who claim to be stuck in a Mexican “hell hole” after having surrogate “triplings” must answer questions about their predicament, the crowdfunding website which hosts their money plea has said. | A campaign for a New Zealand couple who claim to be stuck in a Mexican “hell hole” after having surrogate “triplings” must answer questions about their predicament, the crowdfunding website which hosts their money plea has said. |
| A spokeswoman for the New Zealand website Givealittle said it was “not concerned” about the veracity of the fundraising campaign set up for David Beard, his husband Nicky, and their three newborn children. | A spokeswoman for the New Zealand website Givealittle said it was “not concerned” about the veracity of the fundraising campaign set up for David Beard, his husband Nicky, and their three newborn children. |
| The company said it believed “their need is clear” but have called on the creator of a fundraising page which has attracted tens of thousands of dollars in donations to answer questions raised about their situation or face being in breach of Givealittle’s terms and conditions. | The company said it believed “their need is clear” but have called on the creator of a fundraising page which has attracted tens of thousands of dollars in donations to answer questions raised about their situation or face being in breach of Givealittle’s terms and conditions. |
| The online appeal for the Beards, from Auckland, says they have been swindled by their surrogacy agency and that complications with the birth of their firstborn meant they had run out of money and another month of bureaucracy in Mexico to get through. | The online appeal for the Beards, from Auckland, says they have been swindled by their surrogacy agency and that complications with the birth of their firstborn meant they had run out of money and another month of bureaucracy in Mexico to get through. |
| More than 700 people have donated a total of more than $28,000 via the Givealittle crowdfunding page, set up by a friend, Grace Nixon, who is based in Ireland. | More than 700 people have donated a total of more than $28,000 via the Givealittle crowdfunding page, set up by a friend, Grace Nixon, who is based in Ireland. |
| The babies were born in early March and shortly afterwards the Beards put out a public appeal for money, saying the media the clinic they went to was infested with cockroaches, and that they were stuck in a dangerous country. They urged the Guardian to “get us out of this hell hole!” in an email conversation. | The babies were born in early March and shortly afterwards the Beards put out a public appeal for money, saying the media the clinic they went to was infested with cockroaches, and that they were stuck in a dangerous country. They urged the Guardian to “get us out of this hell hole!” in an email conversation. |
| Nixon also described them as being stuck in a “third world country” on the donations page, according to reports. That reference appears to have later been removed. | Nixon also described them as being stuck in a “third world country” on the donations page, according to reports. That reference appears to have later been removed. |
| However in a Guardian article published earlier this week the couple’s Mexican lawyer questioned the accuracy of their plea. | However in a Guardian article published earlier this week the couple’s Mexican lawyer questioned the accuracy of their plea. |
| Altamirano did not dispute that the Beards were in debt due to medical costs and had no money to bring the children home but said: “I’m pretty sure what he was trying to do was get the sympathy of the readers.” | Altamirano did not dispute that the Beards were in debt due to medical costs and had no money to bring the children home but said: “I’m pretty sure what he was trying to do was get the sympathy of the readers.” |
| “I don’t know what he is trying to do, but the truth isn’t all there.” | “I don’t know what he is trying to do, but the truth isn’t all there.” |
| Lucy Fullarton, a spokeswoman for Givealittle in New Zealand, said it had received half a dozen reports from people concerned about the triplings fundraising page. | Lucy Fullarton, a spokeswoman for Givealittle in New Zealand, said it had received half a dozen reports from people concerned about the triplings fundraising page. |
| Since the Guardian article ran, a number of people had also questioned the Beards’ story on the Q&A section of the Givealittle page. Nixon has not responded to the questions for four days. She also declined to be interviewed by the Guardian. | Since the Guardian article ran, a number of people had also questioned the Beards’ story on the Q&A section of the Givealittle page. Nixon has not responded to the questions for four days. She also declined to be interviewed by the Guardian. |
| Fullarton said Givealittle had contacted Nixon, suggesting she respond to the Q&As. If she continued not to respond to questions, she could be in breach of Givealittle’s terms and conditions. | Fullarton said Givealittle had contacted Nixon, suggesting she respond to the Q&As. If she continued not to respond to questions, she could be in breach of Givealittle’s terms and conditions. |
| Fullarton said Givealittle did not “routinely” fact check information on its pages – “unless we have serious concerns” – and does not require any documentation or proof of how the donated money would be spent. | Fullarton said Givealittle did not “routinely” fact check information on its pages – “unless we have serious concerns” – and does not require any documentation or proof of how the donated money would be spent. |
| “The main question we ask is ‘is there a genuine need?’ And we believe in this case there is,” said Fullarton. “We haven’t seen any independent evidence that there is any problem with what is put on the page.” | “The main question we ask is ‘is there a genuine need?’ And we believe in this case there is,” said Fullarton. “We haven’t seen any independent evidence that there is any problem with what is put on the page.” |
| Fullarton said Givealittle pages went live “instantly”, and Givealittle moderators’ main priority was to check the fundraiser complied with New Zealand law, the payee and bank account were genuine and the page gave donors “the tools and information they need to make good and independent decisions about their donation”. | Fullarton said Givealittle pages went live “instantly”, and Givealittle moderators’ main priority was to check the fundraiser complied with New Zealand law, the payee and bank account were genuine and the page gave donors “the tools and information they need to make good and independent decisions about their donation”. |
| “The whole thing with crowdsourcing, you rely on the crowd to be the best judge.” Fullarton said. | “The whole thing with crowdsourcing, you rely on the crowd to be the best judge.” Fullarton said. |
| The funds raised through Givealittle are being paid into the bank account of Karen Ritchie, the founding director of the New Zealand Aids Foundation. | The funds raised through Givealittle are being paid into the bank account of Karen Ritchie, the founding director of the New Zealand Aids Foundation. |
| The Guardian spoke to her briefly and she said she was not worried by recent adverse news reports, and “the bottom line is, this debate will go on”. She added that she had not questioned the Beards since learning more about their experience in Mexico, and she was “ very confident” the money raised for them would be released into her account. | The Guardian spoke to her briefly and she said she was not worried by recent adverse news reports, and “the bottom line is, this debate will go on”. She added that she had not questioned the Beards since learning more about their experience in Mexico, and she was “ very confident” the money raised for them would be released into her account. |
| The Beards are the fathers of “triplings” – three babies born from one set of sperm and one egg, but carried by different surrogates. | The Beards are the fathers of “triplings” – three babies born from one set of sperm and one egg, but carried by different surrogates. |