These people call four or five times a day. Local news did a fraud report on them, said they have hit all fifty states. Rip off scammers, spent 189 million on their vacation, New cars etc.
I got a call from them at 8:03AM today. I live in coastal SC but don't know anyone in the upstate with an 864 number, so I didn't pick it up. I only saw after the fact that it said Children's Cancer.
The article provided in an earlier post is enlightening, plus I've done research on them before, and they really do give very little to those they claim to help. What they do give is usually a box full of unusable crap. One person called it "a slap in the face" because they thought they were getting real help and instead got what was essentially a box of garbage. Lots of random used clothing, etc., that hadn't been sorted through. The only story I read of anyone getting money to help with medical bills and the like was from a person who knew the family who runs the "charity" personally. I couldn't find anything that said they give money for research.
The family that runs these "charities" basically spends a bunch of money paying these telemarketing companies to raise money, pays themselves a ton of money, then gives whatever pittance is left, usually in the form of donated "goods" (read: useless crap) rather than money. They can say, "Look, $25,000 went directly to affected families last month," but no one saw a penny, just got boxes of useless garbage with an inflated value. The charity looks good on paper, so they get more donations. They apparently run this scam for children's cancer, breast cancer, and cancer in general.
Legitimate charities will call you (I got a call the other day from a cancer charity to which I donated last year), but they will never actually ask you for money over the phone, just sort of prod you to remember them when you get something in the mail.
If you really want to give to a cancer charity, do your research. As far as kids go, the St. Baldrick's Foundation is reputable, and St. Jude's also does very honorable work. If you want to support the families, the Ronald McDonald House can be a real lifeline to families with children who are hospitalized far from home.
I'm know for a fact that I'm leaving some other very reputable/honorable charities out, but the long and short of it is, do your research and don't ever give money over the phone. Don't even "pledge" anything because then they will continue to call.
I'm blocking this number, especially because it's not the first time they've called me. (Check how many numbers your phone carrier will block for you, but also check your phone itself. I Googled it and discovered that my phone will block a whole lot of numbers without my having to deal with my service provider.)
Yes read through this thread and you'll see what a piece of human waste this organization and personnel are. Also see a related thread http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-502-716-5497/2#p696123559779512935
After a two-month pause, they're back at it again. I keep an inactive block list record, so I just reinstated these dolts. I'll see how long it takes for them to get the message this time. .
These people are relentless.. They called my home several times, I didn't answer..I don't know how, but they got my cell number, now they are blowing it up. It's getting to the point that .we need a Do Not Call List for Charities