Clothing collections - UPDATE - don't donate to EC Export
In the past we've warned about commercial door-to-door clothing collections that pretend to be charities. Our advice is usually that unless you recognise a collection by a "big name" charity, you should take usable items to your local charity shop.
We previously said that this organisation appeared OK, but we've discovered from one of our readers that there is no longer a link with the Children's Heart Surgery Fund - in fact in Cardiff EC Export has been prosecuted for making illegal charity collections
Our previous advice was written when the Children's Heart Surgery Fund listed them as a corporate sponsor.
Many thanks to reader "Wales" for bringing this to our attention.
Is it possible to check the truth of whether, or not, they do actually make that donation of £2000
ReplyDeleteAlso, note that their email address is actually export.limited@yahoo.co.uk
For a limited company to have a free web mail account as their main email address seems dodgy in the extreme
At the time we wrote the article, as we've said, they appeared on the fund's own website as a sponsor (though they are no longer shown there) - so presumably they must have made some actual donations.
ReplyDeleteHello
ReplyDeleteI had a leaflet from E&C Export today. I always look up these and usually end up throwing the leaflet in the recycle bin. It looks like this one is destined for it too after reading the following. This time though they are offering 40p per Kilo. I guess paying a small amount saves them from being prosecuted again. I still wouldn't trust them and would rather take my old clothes to the local charity shops.
http://www.charitybags.org.uk/clothing_collections/clothing-collections-by-e-and-c-export-ltd-prosecution.shtml
Thanks - it looks like things have moved on. I will amend the original post (which was written when there WAS a link between the company and the charity)
ReplyDeleteHi, I am the C.E.O of The Second Chance Children's Charity (www.second-chance.org.uk) We are the recipients of E&C Exports charitable contributions. I can confirm that we do indeed receive, monthly, exactly what they say they contribute to us. so any clothing any of your readers have donated has in fact benefited exactly who they say it will. I speak as I find. before accepting the invitation to be partners in this venture I visited their offices, met some of their staff, visited the home of one of the directors, spoke with the local authorities, it all checked out. I am aware of the Cardiff incident and the company was largely re-organised sometime after that incident and only 1 of the directors is still with the company now. The contributions they make are vital to our operating structure. I confirm again that we receive exactly what they say they contribute on their website, on their bags and in any literature they hand out. As far as I am aware, other than the odd slip up, they always obtain the necessary permissions before carrying out a collection. My thanks to any readers who have contributed clothing to them since January 2009, we are grateful... Doug Hulme, Chief executive, The Second Chance Children's Charity.
ReplyDeleteThanks Doug for this update.
ReplyDeleteSince 2012. E&C Export have ceased door to door collections and therefore their connection with The Second Chance Children's Charity. They have now become known as 'Cash 4 Clothes' and pay for textiles taken to their premises dotted all around the country by the donators themselves.. . Doug Hulme, CEO, Second Chance
ReplyDeleteThank you for the update, Doug.
ReplyDelete