Here’s a new low for Oxfam, or rather a different, sneakier low. Three times in recent months I’ve been telephoned by well-spoken young men claiming to be from Oxfam who all begin by saying: ‘I’m just calling to thank you for your past donations, and tell you exactly how much money all the books and clothes you’ve donated to Oxfam have raised for us. Would you like to know?’
Here I hang up. What utter cobblers. I can’t remember donating clothes to Oxfam shops and anyway how would they know about, let alone value and add up any one specific person’s donations? William Shawcross, head of the charity commission has, rightly, torn Oxfam (and others) off a strip for ‘hounding’ potential donors with endless unsolicited calls and harassing passers by.
Oxfam, which considers itself beyond reproach by definition, has responded with outrage:
‘Our fundraisers who go through extensive training to ensure they uphold our values and guard against any inappropriate practice.
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