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April 23, 2008
The Ohio Troopers Coalition has a funny smell
I received a call from a number my caller ID couldn't ID. Against my better judgment I picked it up, gave a quick "Hello," just in case anybody was there, and was about to hang up when a voice came on the line.
The gal calling identified herself as a representative for the Ohio Troopers Coalition and under some questioning told me that 100% of my donation would go to help trooper's causes and that she wouldn't need a credit card right now but would be happy to send me a donation form in the mail.
I can't remember if the gal told me they were all volunteers. That sounds right as it would go along with the 100%-to-the-charity idea they were promoting and would be something she could have said to make that more believable… but I won't swear to it. She did tell me they were not professional fundraisers and that she worked for the OTC; I specifically asked that question.
Anyway, too many people in the past have said 15% goes to the charity when they called so I thought 100% was a pretty good deal. I said I'd give $20.00. She transferred me to another gal.
This gal started telling me about what they were going to send me in the mail, which I really didn't need to hear, and asked me for two additional dollars (for some special need and I was happy to give it) and then for a credit card to authenticate? verify? something my donation. (Basically they wanted to make sure they got my money.)
I told gal 2 that gal 1 had said I wouldn't need to give out my credit card info. Gal 2 then restated I'd be getting something in the mail in a couple of days and asked if they could they count on me to mail my check as soon as their literature got to me.
I assured her I'd drop something in the mail the afternoon their stuff arrived.
It will not be a check, however, but a copy of this which suggests that gal 1 was about 94% off in her estimation of what goes to charities.
You know, as I reread that it dawns on me that she may not have been lying. I believe she said she worked for OTC, and that 100% of donations went to OTC which worked to help Trooper's causes. I took from this that 100% of what I gave went to charities, but I don't think I asked what percentage of my donation would go to a charity... I asked what percentage does the Ohio Troopers Coalition get, thinking that was enough.
Well, it was certainly misleading and I don't think it was by accident.
(And, yes, I am on the no-call list.)
Update: I just reread the Dispatch Article. I'd glazed over this the first time:
The company misled potential donors into thinking that all money given to the Ohio Troopers Coalition would go toward charitable works by using a legal sleight of hand: the fundraisers were classified as employees of the coalition, said Jason Small, the assistant attorney general who filed the case.
Posted by delmer at April 23, 2008 12:11 PM
Comments
UGH! I hate that kind of stuff!
Posted by: Kyra at April 23, 2008 1:35 PM
What I hate most about it is my inability to hang up the phone before a conversation starts ... or to say "I'm not interested."
Damned Midwestern upbringing.
Posted by: delmer at April 24, 2008 12:14 AM
The no-call list does not protect you from "charitable" solicitations, political candidate advocacy, or companies that already count you as a customer.
Posted by: Icy Mt. at April 24, 2008 12:28 PM
Or randomly generated phone numbers like the Gallup.
Posted by: mikeo at April 25, 2008 11:48 PM