Dear Christian Organization,

Re: Aggressive Solicitations

THIS IS A LETTER FROM AN UNHAPPY DAUGHTER

PLEASE STOP!

I do not appreciate it that you take advantage of the elderly by sending them more books than they can possibly read, calling them persistently and more frequently than is warranted and by constantly playing on their sympathies when you highlight how desperately you are in need of their money gift. Every communication is the same as you graphically show how great the suffering is and how their money is needed and will help through support of your charity.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

It is unconscionable. Is it elder abuse? In the last couple of years I have become more involved regarding my parents’ welfare.  During my visits, I first noticed your frequent calls for support in the form of a solicitation. My folks received your call as well as calls from several groups in a day, like a constant barrage. My parents are not young and this was over-done. They are an easy target because they care about suffering, human need, and the spiritually lost. They especially care about Christian faith and its activities in the global realm. Courtesy is part of their way so they are polite and always listen to the spiel. Maybe so or maybe not, they would agree or not agree to whatever your caller was promoting. Next, I noticed the books. More and more books. Always the Christian books from all sorts of groups, and health books of all shapes and sizes, and the frequent mailings from multiple Christian agencies.

Your list must have been shared with other agencies. Related themes are noticed and the donation “well” was primed. It has become a river of donation solicitations. Not fair. Not right. Not, … Christian. How can it be right to take advantage of our elderly?

The intent is wrong.

Due to circumstances, my sisters and I became more actively involved in our parents’ care. We also became aware of the ongoing barrage of calls, mailings, and other forms of solicitations by your organization and a myriad of other Christian groups. A few were education related, others, pastor-author related, service groups, overseas medical groups and all sorts. Someone from your agency called, not once, but twice in one day! and called the next day.  How can that be right? Frankly, my parents have had enough and are tired of the constant calls. It is an invasion of their privacy and seems like a constant manipulative ploy.

I am disheartened and disappointed. I used to hold your organization in high esteem. No longer.

What could we do? We began intercepting your calls and other agencies’ calls. With our parents’ support, we would state to the caller that our folks’ business would no longer be conducted by phone. Soon it was realized the calls were automated, so we would tell the recording to remove them from the list. “Remove” was the operative world. But your agency persisted. We have tried letters that state to remove my folks from your list. We’ve returned books and asked that they not be sent anymore, but this has not been fully successful either.

We carry on. We love our folks and don’t want them to be preyed upon. Mother and Dad should only support the charities that are dear to them. In addition to this, they should not receive books they never asked for, or receive because of placement on a never ending mailing list. They should not support agencies that hound them, including yours.

Sure, I know you could say that it started with my folks, that they were the ones who agreed to that first gift. That is probably true. But the sad thing is, the constant calls and mailings and so forth are beyond what is acceptable and warranted. The other terrible fact is that many other seniors are being treated in this same way. I happen to know this because I know of several who are, or used to be. One gentleman, a friend of my family, spent nearly six thousand one year in response to phone and mail solicitations. They live modestly. His wife was appalled when it came to tax time and the evidence piled up.

You know, it bothers me when someone is taken advantage of by anyone. It particularly bothers me when a Christian institution crosses a line into a predatory mindset. They might not see themselves as such because it’s been a slow progression. Probably it started when they saw the way money flows and knew people would help them meet the bottom line and keep the organization afloat. Maybe it was innocent at first. I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. But now it’s not okay. What is disconcerting to me is that the givers are seen as an endless well, which is assumed will supply the necessary funds.

I ask you to take a look at your motivation and your integrity. A reasonable approach should be applied and without a play on seniors’ sympathies. As a matter of fact, I gave up my landline phone, in part, because I was tired of phone solicitations and their intrusion into my private dwelling and my time. (I think there should be a law against telemarketing and phone solicitations of any kind.)

This is not a rant. It is the facts from what I have observed, and it is a call to doing what is right, moral, and of good conscious. Honor the Lord in all you do. Do not be unreasonable in your requests and do not call more than once or twice a year, if at all. More than that is taking advantage of the elderly who may not understand or realize they are being played.

Sincerely,

Norma L. Brumbaugh

Have you observed or experienced this problem?

If you are able, take a look at your own folks’ charities, magazines and books. See what looks reasonable or not. You wouldn’t want them to be taken advantage of by those kinds of organizations.

Of note. Many organizations are respectful. I am not saying what organizations I am talking about in this post. You will know who they are if you have received frequent phone calls, mailings and books. However, I would like you to know that it is not in reference to any of Billy Graham or Franklin Graham ministries.