Steve Suttill wrote:

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paul brady wrote:

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PS when written its "The RSPB2 and not "the rspb" ;)

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Sorry Paul, you've lost me there

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Sorry forgot to press "shift" with the 2 button! You will notice the we always use "The RSPB" in print expect for when used in the logo device in the same way that a lot of companies do

paul brady wrote:

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PS when written its "The RSPB2 and not "the rspb" ;)

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Sorry Paul, you've lost me there

Interesting discussion ... And I think the most valid point amongst these is the term "Cold Calling" as it automatically draws up negative connotations and gets the discussion off on a bad footing. As somebody earlier pointed out that this is not cold calling as you are already giving to the charity in question, trust me I have had experience of cold calling from a previous job and I didnt like doing it!

Can I ask that if anybody has any complaints about a specific call that they want investigating (time and date is useful) to let The RSPB know as all calls are recorded.

The best is done to ensure that the agency working on behalf of The RSPB represents the charity and its cause in the correct manner. It has no interest in getting short-term fixes, it wants people to join for the right reasons ie to Save Nature and for them to stay members for a long time. Obvioulsy, as any charity would do it explores opportunities for further support whether that be additional donations, taking part in surveys or volunteering and the bulk of that comes from existing members.

As for the suggestion of spending more time getting new members, I can assure you that I am doing my best to do that, we have expeanded our in-house membership team and so far its going very nicely, so thanks to all those new members but more importantly thanks to all those who continue to support us ..... even given their little foibles with us.

PS when written its "The RSPB2 and not "the rspb" ;)

Pete Hines wrote:

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To stop all cold calling to landlines and mobiles see TPS (Telephones Preferential Services) - it works

http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/ctps/number_type.html

There is another site to stop the begging letters.

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This is good advice but I'm already subscribed to this service Pete. Whilst it stops a lot of calls, there are a few that get through. The RSPB will not contact you by telephone if you request it. My gripe is that they resort to this type of fund raising in the first place. I must reiterate that this is my personal position on the topic and I wondered if others were of the same opinion.

To stop all cold calling to landlines and mobiles see TPS (Telephones Preferential Services) - it works

http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/ctps/number_type.html

There is another site to stop the begging letters.

I didn't want to put forward my view until others had but I must say I agree with John (and others with the same view) here. Frankly the RSPB is so important for conservation both in the UK and abroad that I feel not supporting the work they do is quite a drastic step. It's also worth noting that a lot of minor problems that I have heard of have been sorted by emailing someone 'high up' within the charity and I'm sure this could be resolved in the same way. I've never been cold called but from what I gather this is not the rspb but a company they hire because of current low membership (the reason for the brand change - note the purpose of the RSPb and actual work the charity do have not changed) so this should I'm sure be sorted out by contacting someone who can do something about it. Let's hope this can be easily sorted out as the concerns are obviously valid.

JOHN TYMON wrote:

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Adrian Drummond-Hill wrote:

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My main gripe is cold calling harms the pockets of vulnerable people, usually the elderly who may not be able to afford it. They play on the conscience of the callee to cough up extra donations etc. For those of us with stronger wills it's not too much of a problem because we will deal with it in our own ways but the more susceptible may not be able to. I think cold calling is akin to pressure selling and I consider it to be unethical. I'll find other ways of supporting wildlife but it won't be the RSPB or any other charity that employs cold callers.

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Maybe its worth you mentioning it ,when you do your talk at Bolton RSPB on Thursday, I have never been to an RSPB group meeting, but there may be someone who is an official of the RSPB there, to discuss the issue with.
To me I don't answer the phone unless I know the number as we get so many cold callers it becomes a pain, that's the best way or just put the phone down on them and they won't call back. but what I do know is we need to support the RSPB, as much as possible as I can see a future where there will be only birds on reserves like the RSPB provide, and without the RSPB, there would be no RSPB local groups either. just a thought.
Also a good way to get round it is to have the membership as a gift from a family member for xmas, then no one bothers you at all, as I have been a member for a long time ,get it as a gift off my daughter every xmas, which is better than socks and Jumper,and have never had a cold call from the RSPB.

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I don't think that's the right thing to do John as I don't want to use the night to gripe about cold calling. I'd rather it be a memorable evening for other reasons.

Adrian Drummond-Hill wrote:

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My main gripe is cold calling harms the pockets of vulnerable people, usually the elderly who may not be able to afford it. They play on the conscience of the callee to cough up extra donations etc. For those of us with stronger wills it's not too much of a problem because we will deal with it in our own ways but the more susceptible may not be able to. I think cold calling is akin to pressure selling and I consider it to be unethical. I'll find other ways of supporting wildlife but it won't be the RSPB or any other charity that employs cold callers.

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Maybe its worth you mentioning it ,when you do your talk at Bolton RSPB on Thursday, I have never been to an RSPB group meeting, but there may be someone who is an official of the RSPB there, to discuss the issue with.
To me I don't answer the phone unless I know the number as we get so many cold callers it becomes a pain, that's the best way or just put the phone down on them and they won't call back. but what I do know is we need to support the RSPB, as much as possible as I can see a future where there will be only birds on reserves like the RSPB provide, and without the RSPB, there would be no RSPB local groups either. just a thought.
Also a good way to get round it is to have the membership as a gift from a family member for xmas, then no one bothers you at all, as I have been a member for a long time ,get it as a gift off my daughter every xmas, which is better than socks and Jumper,and have never had a cold call from the RSPB.

Is it because the rspb (RSPB if you wish!) is in need of the cash or is it simply overstretched/or is over stretching itself? I totally disagree with the cold calling because of the poor image it portrays and as stated by others that vulnerable people are at risk of being taken advantage of. Hopefully people at the top will take note that members are not impressed. That said, is it known whether non members have been targeted?

My main gripe is cold calling harms the pockets of vulnerable people, usually the elderly who may not be able to afford it. They play on the conscience of the callee to cough up extra donations etc. For those of us with stronger wills it's not too much of a problem because we will deal with it in our own ways but the more susceptible may not be able to. I think cold calling is akin to pressure selling and I consider it to be unethical. I'll find other ways of supporting wildlife but it won't be the RSPB or any other charity that employs cold callers.

This is a tricky one, i too have had this expereince, i am someone who gives to the RPSB and the WWT and also saves up all his small change and then gives it to Risley moss in the donations to feed the birds, so i class myself as a charitable person but i do dissagree with this cold calling idea, maybe once a year when your membership is up would be acceptable but not a few times a year, i think Dave T has the best way to deal with it by telling them politely that if you get one more call your are going to cancel your membership but not actually do it, but just hopefully get took from the callers list


8.35 at night is not a good time to cold call anyone,

Glad you wrote "rspb" Ashley and not "RSPB"

Although I'm a long-standing member I don't think much of the "rebranding" and the fact that Birds magazine is no more

Have to agree with Iain on this one. As irritating and uncharacteristic of the rspb that the cold calling is, a mass boycott of them is just going to be detrimental to birds and their habitat. I think that during a recession it must be seen as a necessary method to generating funds. Guess its a case of have a bit of patience, state your disapproval of the method and finish the call but I feel cancelling memberships is a bit extreme on my opinion. I literally just got off the phone from another ppi claim cold call but I simply hung up after a polite no thanks.

Just to provide a counter point to this discusssion, I too was recently contacted by the RSPB using the cold call method, although in my personal opinion it isn't strictly cold calling as when we joined we consented to be contacted by the RSPB and are hence considered 'warm' leads.

Whilst I don't condone the technique used, it is obviously successful and if it raises valuable funds for wildlife then surely that is a good thing?

I happily raised my membership subscription because ultimately it benefits wildlife, such as Turtle Doves and Cuckoos, or something further afield, e.g. Sumartra, an approach which I happily support and agree, plus I wanted to do more for wildlife and conservation such as protecting habitats and flyways as without these we would have no interest or 'hobby'.

I have also had at least four calls from the RSPB hired agency in the last 18 months. I am certain that they target members who pay by direct debit as after a bit of sweet talk, do you feed the birds in your garden and do you visit the bird reserves?, they ask me to increase my quarterly payment by a couple of pounds.

I absolutely despise cold calling at any time of the day, the last one was at 8.35pm as I was getting my Grandson to sleep. I told them that if I got one more call I would cancel my membership.

It seems strange that the RSPB, WWF and the Wildlife trusts continually hound their members with calls and begging letters instead of getting out and looking for new members.

Craig Higson wrote:

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Did you speak to them about it Aidrian? If yes, what did they say, particularly if you mentioned cancelling your membership?


I stopped my membership of the WWT many years ago because I was sick of getting extra requests for funding.


I'm sure they've changed how they do membership as well now, with a 'minimum' suggested contribution. I wonder if this is something off the back of that? I do hope they don't ring me!

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I emailed them to find out if they supported cold calling and they said they did as they got a lot of funds that way. They went on to say that anyone who wants to be taken off their list could contact them and they'd take them off. I replied that I was cancelling my subscription and also removing them as a beneficiary of my will. I haven't heard anything since.

Did you speak to them about it Aidrian? If yes, what did they say, particularly if you mentioned cancelling your membership?

I stopped my membership of the WWT many years ago because I was sick of getting extra requests for funding.

I'm sure they've changed how they do membership as well now, with a 'minimum' suggested contribution. I wonder if this is something off the back of that? I do hope they don't ring me!

Nick Isherwood wrote:

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I was contacted last week too; the third time in the last eighteen months. These 'begging' calls really grate me and like Mark said its not the RSPB who are actually calling but a fund raising organisation that they've employed. On this occasion the lady on the phone stated to me that the Rspb had paid them £40k with a hope of them raising £250k. I know the rspb have to raise money somehow but this type of high pressure call on its members isn't good. Surely there must be better ways.

Incidentally, I was speaking to friend about this a few weeks ago and he said he'd never had any cold calls because he pays his subscription in full at the start of every year. Worth thinking about if you can afford it.

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My subscription was by Direct Debit. It has just been cancelled.

I was contacted last week too; the third time in the last eighteen months. These 'begging' calls really grate me and like Mark said its not the RSPB who are actually calling but a fund raising organisation that they've employed. On this occasion the lady on the phone stated to me that the Rspb had paid them £40k with a hope of them raising £250k. I know the rspb have to raise money somehow but this type of high pressure call on its members isn't good. Surely there must be better ways.

Incidentally, I was speaking to friend about this a few weeks ago and he said he'd never had any cold calls because he pays his subscription in full at the start of every year. Worth thinking about if you can afford it.

They did it a few years ago as well. I wasn't best pleased with the 'high pressure' sales technique-so had a go at the chap on the end of the phone. It transpires that the people making the calls were working for an agency which the RSPB hired. The bloke who phoned me admitted to getting commission on any donations.

The fact it is happening again must mean it proved cost effective?

Has anyone else been cold called by the RSPB? I have and find it very annoying, I'm so incensed that I will not renew my membership or support them in future. I don't think this is the way forward for the organisation. I suspect it may backfire on them. It has in my case. (Rant over)