Do you think it's underhanded

[PaulaMM]

for a charity to use an unknown number?

While I don't bother with toll free numbers, occasionally, for some strange reason, my sister's cell phone shows up as unknown and so I do answer those. Today, however, it was a charity.

Please don't think I am stingy or selfish, but it irks me to no end to be tricked into answering and pressured into pledging money. I'm afraid that I was less than gracious to the man on the other end, but I truthfully informed him that at the moment, we are broke. Of course, there was an answer to that: why, I don't have to send it immediately! No sirree! I have about a week before the package gets here AND have a couple of weeks after that to send it back!

Again, please don't think I'm just mean and stingy but A. I tend to give locally to people who I know are in dire straights and B. I really am broke right now. From the end of November to the New Year, we have 6 family birthdays on top of Christmas!

Is it wrong to feel like they should be upfront with a name and number?

[nodmicks]

I agree with you 110 % !!!!

[Nishu]

I don't know the reasoning behind the unknown number but I have to say I don't think you're being stingy at all. I don't like to be bothered at home by charities. I know some charities get a large chunk of money from phone solicitation but I still don't like it.

When I lived in Ohio I'd get a lot of calls asking for donations to a couple different charities and I gave occasionally, but later I tried to locate the charity and couldn't. They were associated with the fire department and sheriff's office, but I called around trying to get info on them and no one knew what I was talking about. I'm fairly certain those charities just didn't exist.

I almost never give over the phone anymore and when I call them I say as much. It's completely unfair and ignorant to judge a person whether they donate at any one time to any one charity. It's smarter and more practical to plan your giving to reputable charities.

[imagine]

not having caller id it doesn't matter to me what their number is.

I just wish they wouldn't call during dinner or after we have settled in for the night.

The ones I hate are when they call on my cell phone. Those I don't answer then they leave voice mail. That is annoying.

[Cricketlegs]

If I don't know the number I don't answer the phone. Yes it does irk me. I am giving the way I want to give. I don't need help locating my charities.

[imagine]

If I don't know the number I don't answer the phone. Yes it does irk me. I am giving the way I want to give. I don't need help locating my charities.

When we had caller id and followed this rule we missed some important calls.

A friend called from her father's work phone. we missed it

American girl called with a question about fixing the doll we had sent them. we missed it they made the decision themselves since they couldn't reach us.

And the ultimate: Not answering the phone because the number wasn't familiar and find out it is the school's phone it just looks weird because it used a phone bank system so the number was odd looking. Your sick child leaves a message to come get them and starts crying because you aren't home.

[Imarachne]

You are right --this day and time, I want to know who I am answering .

[Momto5RN]

sometimes it has sown has a persons name when its really a charity - that irks me more.
and its usually a common last name so it could be anyone from any of the kids school etc

[KeithBC]

I think it's rude for any organization, for-profit or not-for-profit, to use the phone for solicitation.

Our phone-answering rules:
- We don't answer during mealtimes. If it's someone we know, they'll leave a message. It's surprising how many mealtime callers don't leave messages. I guess they had nothing important to say.
- If I pick up and say hello and there's a 1-second pause, I know it's an auto-dialer. No one I want to talk to uses an auto-dialer, so I hang up.
- If the first thing they say is "How are you today?", I will ask, "Who wants to know?" It's extremely rude for callers to not identify themselves immediately.

These rules mean we don't waste very much time listening to telemarketers, and we seldom hang up on our friends.

As for charities, we have selected several that have personal meaning for us and contribute to them. We don't feel guilty about not being able to support every cause.

[frugalwarrior2]

Sometimes people volunteer from home and use their personal phone so that could be it. Or like it was said-it could be a scam.
I used to get hot about cold calls but not anymore. I just say-sorry can't help. They usually don't call back. We have about 6 charities we support. I pick. I don't support the door to door,in the middle of the street or bell ringers though. That I don't trust.

[2ndGenGranola]

At one time we were getting about 4 charity calls an hour (that's after we were on the do not call list). I finally started telling them that I get 4 calls an hour and that I will no longer support in any way any organization that phones my home. I don't know but they must have keyed that into whatever system they got my number out of because the calls decreased greatly (I think I'm 4 a day now).

[Cricketlegs]

When we had caller id and followed this rule we missed some important calls.

A friend called from her father's work phone. we missed it

American girl called with a question about fixing the doll we had sent them. we missed it they made the decision themselves since they couldn't reach us.

And the ultimate: Not answering the phone because the number wasn't familiar and find out it is the school's phone it just looks weird because it used a phone bank system so the number was odd looking. Your sick child leaves a message to come get them and starts crying because you aren't home.

Everyone who knows me knows the home phone is to get the internet into the house.

My kids are grown and or have cell phones and cars. They would call our cells, they can always get Daddy if they can't get Mama or their aunt, grandmother etc. The school has my cell number as well as my dhs.

If it is business they have our cell numbers and /or they should have labeled business caller id.

It is a bad idea for someone who is hearing impaired like I am to answer unknown calls as I am in no position to do business that I can not hear.

No, if it isn't labeled I don't answer it.

[Luv2BeFrugal]

Nope, not stingy at all! I don't like phone solicitations for charity...they're usually VERY pushy and that is just plain rude. (We do donate to a charity, but it's the one we chose).

[Vanilla]

I don't think you're stingy at all.
Who knows what charity/business those are? I used to receive some phone calls asking for donations, my answer was "I've donated to the charity of my choice already" There was someone from 'police & sheriff for boys & girls' (something like that) wouldn't give up after I said that & asked me to donate over the phone (giving him cc #), I asked him for the charity's mailing address & tax exempt id # & I'll mail a donation to them. He hung up on me. That 'charity' never call back again, guess I am off their list.

By the way, I've caller id, I can't skip 'unknown #' because I have overseas calls (those are usually listed as 'unknown').

[Jamielane]

I would not support a charity that calls either and I get that quite alot. Usually its to support police, fire or sick children. I have found if I say I dont do that on the phone they say "Oh we will send you the info and you can look it over and mail it to us." Now I just say "sorry I dont have any money". Of course the really determined ones will say "oh only 5.00 will help. Can you swing that?" I just say "sorry no, but good luck with your cause" and hang up. I find if I ignore the calls they just keep calling until someone answers. Grrrrrr.