This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/money/2015/jul/07/watchdog-investigate-charities-boiler-room-tactics-pressuring-vulnerable-people

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Watchdog to investigate charities' 'boiler room' tactics Watchdog to investigate charities' 'boiler room' tactics
(35 minutes later)
The information commissioner is to investigate what he called “boiler room” tactics used by leading charities after claims they secured telephone donations from people with dementia and those who are terminally ill.The information commissioner is to investigate what he called “boiler room” tactics used by leading charities after claims they secured telephone donations from people with dementia and those who are terminally ill.
An undercover investigation by the Daily Mail at telephone fundraising company GoGen found that vulnerable members of the public were routinely asked over the phone to commit to direct debit donations after revealing they have memory problems or Alzheimer’s disease. An undercover investigation by the Daily Mail at the telephone fundraising company GoGen found that vulnerable members of the public were routinely asked over the phone to commit to direct debit donations after revealing they have memory problems or Alzheimer’s disease.
The information commissioner, Christopher Graham, said: “These seem to be very serious allegations and it looks as if something has seriously gone wrong.”The information commissioner, Christopher Graham, said: “These seem to be very serious allegations and it looks as if something has seriously gone wrong.”
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Graham said: “The question of interest for us is: are the charities trading in lists of generous people and are charities taking advantage of people’s generosity, or indeed just taking advantage of people full stop?” Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “The question of interest for us is: are the charities trading in lists of generous people and are charities taking advantage of people’s generosity, or indeed just taking advantage of people full stop? This is a boiler room operation, this is cold calling. We need to get to the facts.”
He added: “This is a boiler room operation, this is cold calling. We need to get to the facts.” Fundraisers making the calls were told by their supervisor that the public have “no excuse” not to donate, even if they are confused or terminally ill, the Mail reported.
Fundraisers making the calls were told by their supervisor that the public have “no excuse” not to donate even if they are confused or terminally ill, the Mail reported.
Related: Charities investigated for 'calling vulnerable people for money'Related: Charities investigated for 'calling vulnerable people for money'
It said this was a permitted procedure on fundraising from leading charities including the NSPCC, British Red Cross, Macmillan Cancer Support, Cancer Research UK and Oxfam. All the charities involved say they have ended the practice after being alerted to the investigation.It said this was a permitted procedure on fundraising from leading charities including the NSPCC, British Red Cross, Macmillan Cancer Support, Cancer Research UK and Oxfam. All the charities involved say they have ended the practice after being alerted to the investigation.
The Mail also found that members of the public were being repeatedly called by fundraising firms despite requests to stop.The Mail also found that members of the public were being repeatedly called by fundraising firms despite requests to stop.
Graham said: “Anyone can register with a telephone preference service and say ‘I don’t want to be called’. But if you have got an established relationship with a firm or indeed a charity then they do have a right to contact you. The question is are they overdoing it?”Graham said: “Anyone can register with a telephone preference service and say ‘I don’t want to be called’. But if you have got an established relationship with a firm or indeed a charity then they do have a right to contact you. The question is are they overdoing it?”
The Mail found that call centre fundraisers were instructed to hit members of the public “like a sledgehammer”, by aggressive supervisors at GoGen. One was caught on hidden camera imploring an employee to use “tenacity” in getting more money for the Red Cross out of a 91-year-old man.The Mail found that call centre fundraisers were instructed to hit members of the public “like a sledgehammer”, by aggressive supervisors at GoGen. One was caught on hidden camera imploring an employee to use “tenacity” in getting more money for the Red Cross out of a 91-year-old man.
The fundraisers were even given pat answers about what to say if potential donors mention the death of 92-year-old poppy-seller Olive Cooke, whose body was found in a rocky gorge in Bristol after she had said she felt hounded by requests from fundraisers for donations.The fundraisers were even given pat answers about what to say if potential donors mention the death of 92-year-old poppy-seller Olive Cooke, whose body was found in a rocky gorge in Bristol after she had said she felt hounded by requests from fundraisers for donations.
According to the script, quoted by the Mail, if Cooke’s case is mentioned they are told say: “I can assure you in partnership with the charities that we work alongside we take great care and effort to protect anyone that we suspect may be vulnerable, and have firm training and policies to ensure this is always adhered to.” According to the script, quoted by the Mail, if Cooke’s case is mentioned they are told to say: “I can assure you in partnership with the charities that we work alongside we take great care and effort to protect anyone that we suspect may be vulnerable, and have firm training and policies to ensure this is always adhered to.”
GoGen was unavailable for comment. In a statement to the Mail it said it would be reviewing its procedures and had suspended two members of staff. It said: “GoGen do not support, condone or agree with any of the alleged statements made by staff members. As part of our investigation into your allegations we will be reviewing the processes and criteria by which members of staff are inducted.” GoGen was unavailable for comment. In a statement to the Mail it said it would review its procedures and had suspended two members of staff. It said: “GoGen do not support, condone or agree with any of the alleged statements made by staff members. As part of our investigation into your allegations we will be reviewing the processes and criteria by which members of staff are inducted.”