Sent to Local to Leominster Wednesday 29th April 2009.

Hi Adrienne

Thought I should mention a scam that seems to have come to Leominster. A leaflet through the door this morning from SHC Collections is asking for unwanted clothing, bedding, shoes, handbags, belts, cosmetics, towels, underwear and perfumes, ‘to be sent to the third world’. They masquerade as a charity but aren’t, they are a limited company, and cursory searching on the net has revealed they are active all over the country and doubtless some people fall for it, although they should wonder what poor people in the third world need with handbags, cosmetics and perfume!

They are clearly selling what they get, and just perhaps, a tiny percentage is given to a charity [some leaflets apparently have cuddly kittens on the front!]. I don’t know if it’s actually illegal and the police can investigate, although where they are based seems a mystery, and when they will pick up from houses is just given as Friday 8am, for Leominster. An email address given on the leaflet apparently elicits no reply.

This is such blatant taking advantage of people’s good nature and desire to help the less fortunate, and is doubtless a money making venture. I shall take a walk round town on Friday with my camera in the hope I can spot them. They say to put stuff out before 8am, so clearly plan on collecting before most people are out and about.

It might help if you were to place a warning on your site to alert people to the true nature of this.

Best wishes

Peter

On searching the internet it appears that these leaflets are appearing all over the country. They are a limited company not a registered charity. Unless the leaflet shows the full details of the charity and gives a bona fide charity number then it should be assumed that the organisation is collecting the goods for profit.A very small ammount may go to charity.
If you wish to donate goods then there are many charity shops in Leominster who would be only too willing to take your items.