Tuesday, April 02, 2013

'Avoid bogus charity collectors'

Irish Charity Shops Association logo.The Irish Charity Shops Association (ICSA) is asking the public to donate their unwanted clothes and household goods to their local charity shop to avoid bogus collectors.

In 2011 a ICSA survey found that in the previous two years over €11 million worth of donations had been lost to bogus collectors. 

“These parasites are misleading the public who donate clothes and other unwanted items in the belief that they are supporting legitimate charities,” said ICSA spokesman Paul Hughes.

“Our collectors often meet bogus collectors on the streets of Dublin, taking bags of goods left out for legitimate charities or passing themselves off as charities,” Age Action stock collection manager Bill Ralph said. 

“The only way to be sure of beating the bogus collectors is to call your charity to organise a collection or drop the bag in to your local charity shop.”

To find a legitimate charity shop near you go to www.icsa.ie/shops