People are being warned to be wary of bogus charity collectors operating in Bath city centre, after Bath & North East Somerset Council received a number of complaints from members of the public.
The Council’s Trading Standards and Licensing teams have received reports of emotive causes being used by street cash collectors carrying buckets – who do not represent a registered charity – in order to part unsuspecting residents and visitors with their money.
Cllr Martin Veal (Conservative, Bathavon North), Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “We’re very concerned that people may be duped into believing that they are giving money to a registered charity when this is not actually the case.
“As well as it being troubling for anyone caught out in this way, it’s also unfair on the many legitimate charities who may be missing out on vital donations.
“It is our intention to take legal proceedings against those who are not complying with the law.
“Some of the individuals that we’ve received complaints about have the materials you would normally associate with legitimate charity collectors, such as branded outfits or buckets.
“However, the causes they are collecting for are rather more ambiguous which leads us to question whether any of the monies donated are reaching good causes after all.”
All street charity collectors need to have a permit from Bath & North East Somerset Council, with the exception of those who are specifically selling periodical publications rather than collecting donations.
The Council is working alongside Avon & Somerset Police to ensure that collectors stick to the rules.
Bath and North East Somerset Policing Area Chief Inspector Kevin Thatcher said: “We will support our colleagues in the Council on this issue.
“Our neighbourhood team of police officers and PCSOs regularly patrol Bath city centre on foot and will be checking that anyone collecting money from members of the public is a genuine charity collector.
“If they come across anyone who can’t show they are collecting for a registered charity, or who aren’t affiliated to the charity they claim to represent, we will work with the Council to ensure they are dealt with appropriately.”
If you’re unsure about giving money to a street collector:
- Ask the collector what their registered charity number is and look it up if necessary;
- Ask the street collector how much of the money they receive actually goes to charity.
Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Licensing team is keen to hear from anyone who believes they have been approached by unregistered street collectors, or who may have given money believing them to be genuine charity collectors.
Get in touch via [email protected] or call 01225 477531.
