Make sure you know who your old clothes are going to, is the warning issued today by Cumbria County Council's Trading Standards department.
Householders in Ulverston and Carlisle have been targeted in the last few days with leaflets through letterboxes asking residents to put their unwanted clothes and other items in plastic bags for collection.
The leaflets state that people in the developing world or Eastern Europe will benefit from the donations. "It is natural for householders to assume the companies arranging these collections are charities but this is often not the case," warns Phil Ashcroft, Head of Cumbria County Council's Trading Standards department.
"The leaflets usually have a company name and registration number on them, giving the mistaken impression that they are registered charities."
If householders have any doubts about a leaflet asking for donations, they should:
- Contact the Charity Commission Helpline on 0870 333 0123 to check whether the collection is for, or on behalf of, a registered charity, or visit their website www.charity-commission.gov.uk
- Take their goods direct to a local charity shop.
ENDS
Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228-606337