So far I have caught two different "charities" in a lie. Or it seems that way when they hang up quickly.
Conversation I had with one charity---A call from Navigators that support the troops. No problem, please send me information so that I can look over it.Wants me to send $50+. But first I would like some information.His response: haven't you heard of Navigators. Of course I have. For many years, but I haven't heard of the part of supporting the troops.He hung up. ( wouldn't that say it may have been a fraud?) Still haven't receive the information.

Today I got another phone call from a "charity" concerning "fulfilling a child's wish". I have heard of something like that too. The lady was thanking us for our past support. Ok, a little light comes on. We haven't supported in the past.I said we haven't sent any support. Then she said well your husband did last year. Again , caught her in a lie. My response----I don't think so. She hung up. My suspicion is that it was another fraud.

Stuff like this really bothers me because there are charities that are for real and who are in need of support.

Now I am off my soapbox.Just be careful concerning these so call "charities".
Trina

Trina-

I so hear you. I always ask if the caller is a paid solicitor or a volunteer. I do not donate in the first case.

In a weak moment last month I pledged a nominal amount to a charity, but was a little slow getting the check back in the envelope they sent me. I get a second "reminder" call, which didn't upset me until I told the fellow that I knew it had been mailed but wasn't sure of the exact day since my husband had mailed it. "Well, we entrusted that envelope to you." What????? Where does he get off talking to me like I am being scolded in the principal's office? I will never donate to them again.

The one that really gets me is the charity for fallen Michigan State Police officers. I think it is a wonderful idea, but they use paid solicitors which puts up a red flag for me in the first place. They are really pushy, which offends me. My girlfriend has two sons who are police officers and they told me how little actually goes to the families, and to pay for college for children of fallen officers. The first few times when I tried to politely decline, they tried to guilt me into donating. That was the wrong thing to do! So I gave them my reasons. Still would not take no, so at this point I told them the number of times that my son, who is in the armed services has assisted MSP in apprehending and transporting suspects, and no was offering to pay for his children's education. The day they could guarantee that his family would be provided for by this fund if he should fall assisting them would be the day I donate. Then I hung up. Now I just tell them I am not interested and hang up.

Okay, I will get off this soapbox, too. LOL

You will have to tell them to take you off their call list or they will start up again. I had the same thing with MADD. I finally wised up to the fact they were only getting a small percentage of my donation. I was soooo mad!

That doesn't even work sometimes- I recieved four or five calls in less than a week from a local charity.

Your MADD comment made me laugh. Saw a bumper sticker the other day for DADD- Dads Against Daughters Dating! Too funny!

I've been on the no call list for home and cell phone forever, but they still manage to get through quite frequently. We started asking them to hold on while we get the "person" on the phone they are asking for, and turn on ultra conservative talk radio and place the phone in front of the speaker. Rush usually makes them hang up pretty quickly. Once we hear the beeping we just calmly put the phone back on the charger.

I figure we might as well educate them a little bit while they inconvenience me. I have yet to get a repeat call from the same solicitor twice

I just ask for their name and company they are solicitating for so I can turn them in since I am on the do not call ist. They hang up pretty fast. For a couple of years after being on the list they did not call me now all of a sudden they are again, and the campaigns too.

The one I hate is where they call you and ask YOU to hold on. I hang up.

I would never take their job. It would never pay enough.

Nanci

I early voted - 2 weeks ago, and in the past 1-1/2 weeks I got almost 3 calls a night - recorded calls - about voting for them, or supporting a specific candidate. And messages left on my phone. ARGH! I wish they'd leave me alone.

I voted this morning, and there was some girl shivering to death standing outside the polling place holding an Obama sign. Obviously she froze her few remaining brain cells before she got dressed this morning...especially since my precinct is nearly all republican. Since she was also in violation of sign restrictions she was asked to leave the premises

This is so frustrating. ROFL Jenn, I love your solution!!

I have an answering machine and keep it on, so I screen my calls. Anyone who really wants to talk to me, leaves a message. If I know who it is and want to talk to them, I pick up the phone. Sure does keep me from listening to those solicitors.

Dorian

We're on the "do not call" list too and have been for a long time. We still get callers. I won't talk to them. If I want to donate something, I will be the instigator. I don't like for people to call my home and ask for stuff/money. Someone called about a month ago that I had told to remove me from their calling list, they had been told more than once, mind you...I screamed as loud as I could into the phone. Needless to say, they haven't called back. There's more than one way to skin a cat, LOL.

Janice