How to Deal with Charity Telemarketing This Holiday Season

The Christmas season is a time for giving. For charity telemarketers it is a time for getting your dollars for donations. A survey of people on the National Do Not Call List shows that many on the list do not understand there are exemptions. The first of which are politicians and their political campaigns. It is not without notice that the people who made the law, made themselves exempt from it. The second are charities. To better state, the second group of exempts I should point out is supposed to be legitimate charities. Another irony is that both groups have a common thread in that they each have their share of bad seeds infiltrating them.

You have the right to ask.

In many cases the ratio of dollars to charity and dollars to telemarketing companies can be as low as 1 to 10 or lower. You have the right to ask what percent of your donation actually goes the charity cause. The caller is also by law required to give you their real full name, the name of the company and its location. You have the right to ask if the caller is being paid for performing the job. The catch is you have to ask before they will give the information.

What you should never do.

Never respond to personal questions. Do not give out credit card, checking account numbers, any banking information, or social security number over the phone. There is no reason a donation would ever require this information upfront. Do not offer to give your mailing address, let the telemarketer confirm the information they already possess. If the mailing address they give you is wrong, be on the safe side and confirm it anyway. In many cases, this is a trick to guide you into handing over personal data. Never let the caller address you on a first name basis. It is a common ploy used to lead you into a scam. Some honest charity callers try the technique, because it makes the person more comfortable and gives the caller an opportunity to up your donation pledge. Never pay a donation pledge online that has been solicited by a telemarketer. Do not allow the telemarketer to have your email address. While they will tell you these methods will speed up the transaction, they can make you ripe for instant identity theft.

What you should do.

The best thing to do is to stop the call and ask that they send their request by mail to the address they have on record. Again, if they give you a wrong or outdated address, play it safe and confirm it anyway. Check online for know charity scams with the Better Business Bureau and by search using the keywords "charity scams." When at the Better Business Bureau site search out the telemarketing company name.

If you really do have it in you to donate to a charity, search out the direct address to the agency. They would be happy to accept 100% percent donation money in lieu of receiving a partial cut. Remember many times the other person on the phone may not be a volunteer, but paid to do the job even if it is legitimate. Think about that as they try to up your donation. Ask yourself are you giving more to the charity or more to telemarketing company?