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+--- Thread: Charitable "Policeman's Association" Caution, RANT (/showthread.php?tid=187657)
Charitable "Policeman's Association" Caution, RANT - DinerDave - 02-02-2016
One would like to think the Policeman's Association is legit and does good things with the money they collect. But how do we know if they are legit? Is it part time and/or off duty police officers that collect?
Do they contract others to collect? I'm confused.....
A little back story first.
My daughter rents the apartment next door to my MIL. She is there for cheap rent, in exchange for watching out and helping her Gram, (my MIL). MIL is 91 and stubborn, and wants to live out her life in her house, etc. Anyway, last week, someone saying they were from the Policeman's Assoc. came to her house, the visiting CNA sent him away. Don't know if there were any previous phone calls with her promising money, as MIL has some dementia and short term memory issues. Tonight, someone else came to her door, my daughter saw this and told him to leave, as we had no info on this. She also wrote down his plate # and called the police for verification.
The more I thought about this, the more it burned my biscuit. So I went down to see my daughter and MIL and try to get more info. Shortly after I arrived, the collector guy came back.
I met him at the door, and asked if I could help him. Said was collecting for the Policeman's Assoc. I asked for ID, a believable letter from the PD to satisfy my concerns. "All I have is the little receipt that says police dept. on it" he says.
Not happy with this, I sternly tell him that I cannot trust or verify his claims.
"IF you are legit, and I don't believe you are, I would think you would have a good watermarked piece of stationary from the PD saying your name and that you are collecting for them". All you have is what looks like a store bought receipt that could be printed" (town) Police Dept" on it. He tried to explain that this was his first day on the job, was just told to go collect. I then mentioned, " I heard you were here a little while ago, when was that?" He replied an hour and a half.
"My daughter thought this was fishy when she asked you to leave, she wrote down your plate # and called the police to see if you are legit. So one and a half hours later, we still don't have confirmation of who you are or that you are legit. I suggest you get back in that truck of yours and leave right now."
I am agitated to to put it nicely.
Even if he IS legit, don't think he is, what common sense, ethics or what have you for a "respected" organization are out of whack here to repeatedly go an elderly person's house asking for donations? You go to a house, see a CNA caring for an elderly person and you stick your hand out looking for donations? Come to MY house, where I have a job, can make rational decisions about your cause and donate what I want and can afford. Not an elderly, fixed income person.
Sorry for the long rant, but the more I think about this, the more mad I get.
Dave
Re: Charitable "Policeman's Association" Caution, RANT - chopper - 02-02-2016
Mob.
Re: Charitable "Policeman's Association" Caution, RANT - jdc - 02-02-2016
No solictors/collectors and beware of dog sign? I know it doesnt mean anything, but its just something.
I cant stand any door to door guy/religon/what not. Dont freakin bother me. took my no soliciting sign down while painting and havnt put it up yet. ugh. 2 carpet and one pest guy. if I want to get my carpets cleaned or learn more about JW or vote for you ive got this thing called the internet.
Re: Charitable "Policeman's Association" Caution, RANT - mattkime - 02-02-2016
do you get a "policeman's association" sticker? how many parking tickets is your MIL avoiding?
Re: Charitable "Policeman's Association" Caution, RANT - Bill in NC - 02-02-2016
Most likely a professional fundraiser.
Typically the above keep 85%-90%, the charity gets the leftover.
Re: Charitable "Policeman's Association" Caution, RANT - space-time - 02-02-2016
if he was legit, he HAS to tell you how much of the donation goes to charity and how much goes to the collection agency. I didn't know this and I made a donation of $40 to a police fraternity association. Then I found out about this rule. A short month or two later they called back. This time I asked. He was hesitant to say. I told him I know the law, then he admitted that they keep 80% ($32) and only 20% ($8) goes to the actual charity. I realized the call usually takes only a few minutes, so they make a FORTUNE. They make more per minute than doctors and lawyers.
Re: Charitable "Policeman's Association" Caution, RANT - Filliam H. Muffman - 02-02-2016
Bill in NC wrote:
Most likely a professional fundraiser. Typically the above keep 85%-90%, the charity gets the leftover.
I say 99% likelihood that it was a scam charity, especially with the guy saying it was his first day on the job. Typical modus operandi for these outfits.
I will bet the only reason he came back was that someone talked to the MIL on the phone and she had promised a donation. Talk to the MIL and make sure she understands it is a scam charity that preys on old/lonely people. Giving money to any boiler room operation like this will get her on a victims list that they sell to other similar operations.
One time I got a call from a 'Police league' looking for donations. I did a quick online search and found it was boiler room. I made 5 appointments all over town at fake addresses, until they realized I was jerking their chain. I felt a little sorry for the kids they were running around, since they only get paid when they collect. Hopefully they realized it was a scam and found another job.
Re: Charitable "Policeman's Association" Caution, RANT - Black - 02-02-2016
One of my first jobs (I think I was 14) was telephone soliciting for the Illinois Police Federation. Something about selling garbage bags to fund some kind of charity ball or something. The thing I remember most about it was that another kid thought it would be funny to rip the toilet paper dispenser off the wall and the supervisor initially blamed me, exclaiming "damned destructive bum."
The bizarre thing is that it turns out it was a real organization...
http://www.manta.com/c/mmj9fn6/illinois-police-federation
Re: Charitable "Policeman's Association" Caution, RANT - DinerDave - 02-02-2016
Filliam H. Muffman wrote:
[quote=Bill in NC]
Most likely a professional fundraiser. Typically the above keep 85%-90%, the charity gets the leftover.
I say 99% likelihood that it was a scam charity, especially with the guy saying it was his first day on the job. Typical modus operandi for these outfits.
I will bet the only reason he came back was that someone talked to the MIL on the phone and she had promised a donation. Talk to the MIL and make sure she understands it is a scam charity that preys on old/lonely people. Giving money to any boiler room operation like this will get her on a victims list that they sell to other similar operations.
My thoughts exactly, Filliam, I am trying to convince my Sister in law, who has power of attorney to get her phone number changed. Sunday, I intercepted a caller collecting for the "Children of Missouri who's water is tainted"
Today also included a call from "Medicare", they hung up when I took the phone from her. Not sure if I can change her number, as my name is not on the bill.
Dave
Re: Charitable "Policeman's Association" Caution, RANT - Filliam H. Muffman - 02-02-2016
Before my Mom died, I know she got on multiple lists. One organization was still calling almost two years after she died (the fact that the phone line was still live that long was another family issue). I had already set the phone lines on fire up their chain of command to let them know they were trying to milk her ashes. They apologized, but the calls kept on coming. She had gotten on so many victim lists that they kept calling her as a 'new contact.'
DinerDave wrote: Not sure if I can change her number, as my name is not on the bill.If you want, I will talk to your SIL to let her know how bad the situation can be.