Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Charity chugging firm run by boss who was fined £143k over data
Watchdog launches probe over company raising cash for Scope
ONE of Britain’s biggest charities hired a “chugging” firm run by a millionaire who was fined for breaking data protection rules.
Scope used “charity mugging” staff from LPS Promotions – run by businessman Roy Haydon – to stop people in the street and get them to sign up for direct debit charity donations.
But Haydon also ran Elkador Finance which was fined £315,000 for failing to prove people’s data was collected legally.
Elkador went bust in March with £330,271 debts and the fine – reduced to £143,640 on appeal – is still unpaid.
The two companies even share the same address.
Last night the Charity Commission said it would investigate our discovery.
The deal was uncovered after a Sunday Mirror reader was stopped in the street by two chuggers for Scope.
He checked their ID and discovered they actually worked for LPS.
The source said: “I am a supporter of most charities. But I like to check that they’re real fundraisers. I was horrified and felt annoyed that they had tried to coerce me into giving money to them.
“I understand charities need to raise money. But it’s concerning to see that people like this can work in the charity sector speaking to the elderly and potentially vulnerable people.
“I will not be donating to Scope while they are using marketing companies such as this to generate income.”
Disability charity Scope’s latest accounts show it took almost £16million in donations overall.
Chief executive Mark Atkinson is paid £129,000 a year – just £21,000 less than the Prime Minister.
Scope spokesman Philip Talbot said a fundraising firm it used had sub-contracted work to LPS without permission.
He said: “Like many other charities we use agencies to raise vital funds.
“One of the organisations we use is Ultimate Marketing Services. We are bitterly disappointed that without our
knowledge UMS hired LPS to fundraise on our behalf for just three weeks in July.
“UMS should have obtained prior written permission from us to use any other agency.
“LPS is no longer raising funds for Scope and will not do so in the future.
“We are now carefully considering the future of our agreement with UMS.”
Some cities have banned chuggers – mostly young people – after accusations that they harass people in the street.
A Charity Commission spokesman said: “We expect charities to... have clear oversight of all companies they work with so the public can donate confidently to causes they care about.
“We will be contacting this charity to ensure they are taking all appropriate steps.”
The Ministry of Justice yesterday revealed it is still pursuing the outstanding fine against Elkador through insolvency specialists.
Haydon, who co-owns a £1.5million house in Bournemouth, Dorset, said: “I have no comment to make.”
Charities should know companies they work with so the public can give confidently CHARITY COMMISSION SPOKESMAN ON DISABILITY GROUP SCOPE