Have called several times over past few days without live voice on pick up. Tonight, when picked up, got boiler room sound, and woman said she was calling for AC Services. She said, trying to start conversation, that I was very hard to get a hold of. No kidding. I don't answer calls from telemarketers or charities. I told her did not want to be called ever again. Not certain this will work.
I do not have much informatiion indicating whether AC Services is a legitimate collection for charities or not, but you should never give money on cold calls. You are inviting to be defrauded or have your identity stolen. At best, the charities pay their staff and not the persons in need. You might wish to evaluate any charity through services such as Charity Navigator.(http://blog.charitynavigator.org/)
Here is a partial report on the charities -- http://blog.charitynavigator.org/2011/02/mond ... -community.html
Monday's Movie - Associated Community Services Telemarketing Calls for Charity
This report, by WXYZ-TV, highlights the inefficiency of for-profit telemarketers and reminds you to HANG UP THE PHONE when they call asking for a donation. Some of the charities this particular firm, Associated Community Services, fundraises for include:
Breast Cancer Society :subject of an investigation by the NY Attorney General
Law Enforcement Education Program: consistently spends at least 90% of its budget on fundraising
Operation Lookout: nearly 83% of its budget is spent on fundraising
Children's Cancer Fund of America: >50% spent on fundraising
Youth Development Fund: >80% devoted to fundraising
Cancer Fund of America: in 2009 25% of its budget was spent on fundraising; in 2007 more than 56% was spent on fundraising
National Children's Leukemia Foundation: in 2007 it spent nearly 80% of its budget on fundraising
Many of these same charities can be found on our Top 10 list of Charities Overpaying their For-Profit Fundraisers.