Troop Aid Doorstep Collection - A Warning from Trading Standards

We have received an enquiry regarding the charitable collections being made for Troop Aid.
The bags are apparently marked to say that the Company collecting on their behalf is D & P Textiles Ltd, however on verifying that information via the charity’s website there is a warning not to provide items for that Company to collect as they do not act for them.

Troop Aid did have a relationship with D & P Textile Ltd (who have since liquidated), but after a breakdown of their relation the Company was no longer permitted to collect for them.  There remains some confusion as the charity themselves are reporting use of the bags to their local Trading Standards and Police, but collectors for the charity have been confronted in another part of the UK, and it appears that the charity themselves may still distributing bags bearing D & P Textile Ltd’s information.

Trading Standards would therefore advise you to act cautiously if you choose to donate to this charity.  Clearly D & P Textile Ltd of Aldridge, Walsall are no longer trading, however it remains unclear whether the charity are allowing old bags to be used, or whether the collections are fraudulent.

Anyone wishing to make a donation through house collections should do the following:

* Check – Legitimate charity collection bags will clearly state what organisation(s) funds are being raised for and feature a registered charity number. Check these details with the Charity Commission.

* Look for the tick – As with any fundraising appeal, you can look for the FRSB tick logo indicating that the charity is signed up to fundraising regulation and to industry standards.

* Call – A legitimate collection should include a working landline telephone number for you to call. Call this or your local council to query the collection.

* Report - After making these checks, if you think that a collection is not legitimate, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit www.actionfraud.org.uk.

Should you have concerns about the house collection bag left on your door step please feel free to send it in to Trading Standards (our address is below), or email us at the following address –Trading.Standards@bromley.gov.uk with the information on the bag, or even a photograph/scan of the bag itself, and we will do our best to confirm the details before the collection is to be made.

Kind Regards

Samantha Phillips
Trading Standards Officer