Letter: Charity collectors' aggressive doorstep behaviour is not on

SIR — As many people will know, it is very difficult, nigh impossible, to avoid a barrage of scam phone calls and emails. It’s quite easy to feel frightened or worried by this and, of course, worse still to be an unwitting victim.

This week, however, unwanted calls took a new turn; charity collectors have begun assailing residents of Mudeford, after dark, in their own homes. These are not in fact scammers but properly registered (and polite) collectors for Barnardo’s.

But what are they doing ringing the doorbells of residents on cold, dark evenings? Not even once, but twice in the same week.

What has it come to when elderly people, or indeed anyone, is harangued on their own doorstep in the dark, and asked to hand over bank details, phone numbers and email addresses.

Why was it not adequately explained that the bank details were not for a one-off payment but for a monthly direct debit? This is unacceptably aggressive behaviour from a charity organisation. Surely this must stop?

Whilst no one has any objection to charities raising money and doing exceptionally good things, I’m afraid I do object to these visits and the tactics involved.

Can we not escape unwanted harassment from all sides?

Mrs S McLean, Address supplied

Barnardo's fundraiser says sorry...

SIR - I wanted to respond to Mrs S. McLean over her concerns about our charity collectors.

We would like to reassure your readers that our fundraisers are regulated and conform to strict guidelines and codes of conduct. Their aim is to engage people in conversation about the life changing work of Barnardo’s and ask them to support us with a regular gift.

Fundraisers are permitted to collect between 9am-9pm Monday-Saturday, and 10am-9pm on Sundays. We tend to get the majority of our responses in the evening hours as this is when most people are home. Our fundraisers are identifiable in light green Barnardo’s clothing.

Face-to-face fundraising is a vital source of income for Barnardo’s. It allows us to continue providing services that transform the lives of thousands of vulnerable children across the UK.

It is certainly not our intention to cause distress or concern to people in their own homes and if this is the case, we sincerely apologise for this.

Paul Beard, Barnardo’s regional fundraising manager