BHS members cold called in evenings from a call centre

[Moss]

I was a bit surprised to receive a 'cold call' tonight from a call centre - who said they were the BHS. I said it isnt the BHS - he said it is.

Well now, I knew the BHS didnt work in the evenings so I questioned them and it appears it was a company called Blue View.

What on earth are the BHS up to.

How can a charity afford to use call centres like this. Is this what the membership fees go on ? I thought it was to help horses and welfare and education etc., but not to pay a call centre.

It was to get me to gift aid, but all the same! HAS anyone else had one of these calls. I was pretty disgusted actually.

 

[dieseldog]

Yes I did, and Yes I signed up for Gift Aid. I didn't have a problem with it and I am pleased that a charity has had enough sense to do an investment appraisal and work out that it is worth investing some money in phoning its members up to get an extra 25% roughly from our membership fee.

 

[Nosey]

Yes I did asking me to OK the Gift Aid. Didn't bother me tho as they were polite and quite quick. I normally get very irate at cold calls esp. as we are members of Telephone Preference Service so shouldn't get any. Did wonder why they needed to do this tho - should really be something that is asked when we renew membership which I did very recently.

 

[Impy]

I don't know why you have a problem with it so long as the caller was polite. The BHS will no doubt be gaining overall from the added funds from gift aid, even after paying the company to call all members.

 

[SecretSquirrell379]

They have called me too for Gift Aid, they rang me during the day on my mobile, I explained I was at work and they called me back later at a more convenient time. It they have get just half of the memebers to do Gift Aid then that 28% will make a huge difference

 

[hairycob]

The chances are the call centre is paid on the basis of how many people they get to sign up.. They called me & I was quite happy.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

I suspect its because there are so many members who joined and renewed before Gift Aid became common place - would rather they have the 28% than the government.

 

[Dubsie]

It's a LOT more cost effective if you don't have many staff to use a call centre, particularly for specific tasks such as phone people at a time when they're in (early evening). Call centres generally charge a flat fee per call, so if it's a fixed sum for the BHS it's a lot easier for them to budget for - and to gain the gift aid it's surely well worth it?

 

[Ashgrove]

I got the call and was happy to talk to a very polite man.

 

[qwertyuiop]

Do you have to give them your National Insurance number? I don't like giving personal details out to people who, especially those who call out of the blue.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

No - no details needed - they will just tick a box next ot your membership number/details. I think the taxman then just multiplies the number of gift aid members by the 28% and gives the total back to the BHS.

 

[sidesaddlegirl]

I got my BHS Giftaid letter in the post today and I sent it off this afternoon. I wonder if some people got letters and some got phone calls?

 

[qwertyuiop]

[ QUOTE ]
No - no details needed - they will just tick a box next ot your membership number/details. I think the taxman then just multiplies the number of gift aid members by the 28% and gives the total back to the BHS.

[/ QUOTE ]
How do they know that the people who tick the box pay sufficient income tax then? They could all be pensioners, unemployed or children!

 

[siennamum]

I don't think TPS applies if it's an organisation you have a relationship with. Just like the bank, they can still call you.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

[ QUOTE ]
How do they know that the people who tick the box pay sufficient income tax then? They could all be pensioners, unemployed or children!

[/ QUOTE ]

They have those basic details on your membership form - ie your DOB/which membership you have. Besides which some pensioners still have to pay tax on their savings and have paid plenty in the past - kids will pay plenty in the future and unemployed - well assuming its temporary they will have contributed if its long term they will be playing the system - again!

 

[dieseldog]

[ QUOTE ]

How do they know that the people who tick the box pay sufficient income tax then? They could all be pensioners, unemployed or children!

[/ QUOTE ]

They ask if you are a UK Taxpayer - if you dont pay tax they can't claim it back.

 

[alwaysbroke]

OH was called on Saturday morning now makes sense that it was a call centre!

 

[flowerlady]

I don't know how they are getting round this as when I was on a charity you couldn't claim gift aid if you gave them anything for their membership. Because the charity I was on sent a news letter twice a year to it's members we couldn't claim gift aid. The BHS give badges (when you first join) newsletters, free 3rd party insurance and the Magazine?????

 

[hairycob]

I've often been asked about gift aid when I visit museums etc that are run by charities e.g Bletchley Park so maybe the rules have changed.

 

[nona1]

Ooh at last I can be an 'expert' as we process gift aid claims at my company.

the HMRC runs gift aid and they do a certain number of random checks on the declared taxpayers to make sure gift aid is payable. They also have specialised audit teams; they invariably come and audit a charities first time claim, and can audit later claims if they want/it looks dodgy to them/you draw the short straw.