Comments on: A lousy way to solicit donations http://www.disabilityhappens.com/a-lousy-way-to-solicit-donations.html And the journey to heal begins... Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:35:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: privacynut http://www.disabilityhappens.com/a-lousy-way-to-solicit-donations.html/comment-page-1#comment-2175 privacynut Mon, 05 May 2008 18:00:43 +0000 http://www.disabilityhappens.com/?p=77#comment-2175 While Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is probably a very worthwhile cause, they are extremely aggressive and, in my opinion, even deceptive in their fund-raising efforts. Almost every weekday since late February at least -- that's more than two months -- LLS has called me from a variety of telephone numbers and names (as indicated on Caller ID), including: "LEUK LYMPH SOC" 1-914-513-2848 "TOLLFREE NUMBER" 1-866-460-0286 "THANKYOUFRMLLS" 1-914-513-2848 Since the calls generally are made during the day, when I am at work, perhaps the organization is attempting to reach a spouse that I do not have, in the apparently widespread belief among telemarketers that stay-at-home wives are generally easier touches for such pitches. (Women of every stripe should be especially offended by this egregiously sexist practice.) I finally happened to be home one day when one of these calls came in. When I answered, the person on the other end indeed identified himself as being from Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I instructed him in no uncertain terms to make sure that the organization never calls me again. I should point out that I have not ever donated to LLS, nor have I ever ever provided my name or telephone number to the organization. Perhaps if I had been a past donor it might be understandable for them to call me, but this...! The nuisance calls are just the beginning. I am the keeper of my mother's financial affairs, as she is elderly and incapacitated. Not long ago, a letter addressed to her was forwarded to me. On the front of the envelop was this notice: "BENEFITS STATEMENT ENCLOSED." I receive many such letters from legitimate insurance providers and processors. However, this letter contained not the expected statement of medical benefits but, instead, a pitch from LLS that listed the "benefits" of supporting the organization. In this country non-profits enjoy protected status when it comes to advertising and, especially, telemarketing. I believe that Congress and the Supreme Courts should put an end to this protection, however, because it is often abused, as in this egregious example. While Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is probably a very worthwhile cause, they are extremely aggressive and, in my opinion, even deceptive in their fund-raising efforts. Almost every weekday since late February at least — that’s more than two months — LLS has called me from a variety of telephone numbers and names (as indicated on Caller ID), including:

“LEUK LYMPH SOC”
1-914-513-2848

“TOLLFREE NUMBER”
1-866-460-0286

“THANKYOUFRMLLS”
1-914-513-2848

Since the calls generally are made during the day, when I am at work, perhaps the organization is attempting to reach a spouse that I do not have, in the apparently widespread belief among telemarketers that stay-at-home wives are generally easier touches for such pitches. (Women of every stripe should be especially offended by this egregiously sexist practice.)

I finally happened to be home one day when one of these calls came in. When I answered, the person on the other end indeed identified himself as being from Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I instructed him in no uncertain terms to make sure that the organization never calls me again.

I should point out that I have not ever donated to LLS, nor have I ever ever provided my name or telephone number to the organization. Perhaps if I had been a past donor it might be understandable for them to call me, but this…!

The nuisance calls are just the beginning. I am the keeper of my mother’s financial affairs, as she is elderly and incapacitated. Not long ago, a letter addressed to her was forwarded to me. On the front of the envelop was this notice: “BENEFITS STATEMENT ENCLOSED.” I receive many such letters from legitimate insurance providers and processors. However, this letter contained not the expected statement of medical benefits but, instead, a pitch from LLS that listed the “benefits” of supporting the organization.

In this country non-profits enjoy protected status when it comes to advertising and, especially, telemarketing. I believe that Congress and the Supreme Courts should put an end to this protection, however, because it is often abused, as in this egregious example.

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