I won't pay $50 pledged to cop union (and the phone operation that solicits $$)

Houston Chronicle ^ | June 24, 2005 | RICK CASEY

[TheWriterTX]

When they call, I tell them that if I want to donate to the police, I will walk to my neighbor's house and give them money, or I'll send my cousin a little extra in his birthday card.

Don't get me wrong. I love cops, and have two in the family, but I hate telemarketing scams, because I know that very little actually goes to the cause it claims to work for.

[Keith in Iowa]

A few years ago, I was plagued by calls for the Iowa State Trooper's Association - to the point where I called the state commander's office - and raised he** for getting repeated calls after telling the telemarketer to stop. The CO's office got the calls stopped, and I got a nice phone call from the Trooper Association's Senior officer apologizing.

[endthematrix]

"In 2002, Illinois officials moved to shut down telemarketing firms soliciting on behalf of four Chicago-area FOP lodges. Among other embarrassments: the firms were run by felons and hired felons to make the pro-law enforcement pitch."

LOL! We have plenty of felons RUNNING Illinois!

I've been asked to sink $50 into this hole. I asked if that sticker would get me out of a ticket and the operator said an unequivocal "YES!" I spun it around declaring that is illegal and they said well yeah, but they'd look the other way if a gave $$$. I said isn't that a shakedown? Bribery? ...and this is law enforcement for you.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

There is no other way you can feel when they call.

They have my name and .......


It's for the widows and children.....


I've known they're solicitors for awhile now, but it's still creepy. Doesn't "no-call" stop these guys?

[Neanderthal]

I had a call today at work from these scammers. They mentioned something about the California Highway Patrol. I hung up on them.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I've been told, the guy/gal that sells you the extended warrenty on a product pockets a big chuck of the money.

[leadpenny]

I hang up on any and all tele-marketers. No exceptions.

[niteowl77]

A few years ago, I was plagued by calls for the Iowa State Trooper's Association

Sometimes I thought I was the only one. "Hello, Mr. Skid? This is John Q. Phoneblower with the Iowa State Trooper's Association. How are you today? That's great. Mr. Skid you're not under arrest or anything, we're just calling to..."

[mrs. a]

The FOP solicitors that call you here in Maryland ask for you by your first name when they call.

The caller always says his name is "Travis." He must be one busy mug because every call we've ever received from these fine folks - I'm talking years here - has been from "Travis."

And yes, they are paid solicitors.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I think this is causes more hard feelings than any good it would do.

Unions!

[Textide]

While living in VA, I got calls from organizations like the "Virginia's Crippled Children of Police Chiefs Foundation" and "Firefighters' Family Support Organization". Pledged and gave money to one the first year. The next year all kinds of police and firefighting 'organizations' were calling. The floodgates had opened.

Never gave again and now hang up on all of them.

[Ed_in_NJ]

Same here -- gave a few times, and they've never stopped calling, tho I've told them to pound sand for over 20 years!

[whd23]

Shortly after the company I worked for closed down I received one of these calls.

Scammer: "...so can we count on your contribution this year?"
Me: "No, I'm sorry. I'm out of work."
Scammer: "Well, how about the 'bronze' level? It's only $25."
Me: "NO I'm out of work, and paying my mortgage and feeding my family comes first." < click >

Talk about pushy..

[jigsaw]

I tell 'em to send me their literature if they want me to consider them. Shuts 'em up and nothing ever comes in the mail.

[MinuteGal]

I got a call (Florida) just last night.......at dinnertime, of course. Rather than the usual male voice, it was a sweet young thing chirping away. So I hung up with less bang than I generally employ.

Leni

[taxed2death]

I love those calls. I donate 50$ a year to my state Police Union. I get a bumper sticker. I put the bumper sticker on my auto.......when I get stopped for speeding the nice officer walks around the back of my auto... sees the bumper sticker and walks back up to my window with a smile and tells me to "slow down" and hands me my papers back.

That's the best d@mned $50.00 I spend every year.

[Eagle Eye]

I tell them they've got a sexy voice and then ask them what they're wearing....male or female!! LOL...it really throws them off track, especially the men!

[Utah Binger]

I tell 'em to send me their literature if they want me to consider them. Shuts 'em up and nothing ever comes in the mail.

Literature and request in triplicate. We are a family corporation, you know, and the board needs formal papers for review.

You never hear from them.

[agrace]

•I secured a copy of the contract the union has with the Houston "sole proprietorship " that runs the phone operation, Public Safety Services. It says the company keeps 70 percent of the first $4,000 it collects per week, 75 percent of the next $4,000 and 80 percent of everything over $8,000 a week. So chances are, $40 of my $50 would go to the people who interrupted my dinner.

Bingo. Anytime any solicitor calls for donations, always ask up front what percentage goes to that organization. They are required by law to tell you. Chances are, it's barely 25-30%, as you found out.

In the last year, we've received only one phone call among many where the entire amount went to the organization - our local fire dept. All the others, including state police and assorted others, were only given a fraction. So only the local fire dept got our money, and all solicitors were told why.