Make sure you know who your old clothes are going to, is the warning issued today by Cumbria County Council’s Trading Standards Department.
The alert comes after a spate of enquiries from Cumbrian residents about firms leaflet dropping and leaving plastic bags on the doorstep for the householder to fill with their unwanted clothing. These are later collected anonymously.
The leaflet states that people in the developing world will benefit from the donations. “It is natural for the householder to assume the company arranging the collection is a charity but this is often not the case,” warns Phil Ashcroft, Head of Cumbria County Council’s Trading Standards Department.
“The leaflet usually has a company name and registration number on it, giving the mistaken impression that it is a registered charity.”
If householders have any doubts about a leaflet asking for donations, they should
- Contact the Charity Commission Helpline on 0870 333 0123 to check whether the collection is for, or on behalf of, a registered charity, or visit their website www.charity-commission.gov.uk
- Take their goods direct to a local charity shop.