CONSUMER ALERT

MIKE COX
ATTORNEY GENERAL

The Attorney General provides Consumer Alerts to inform the public of unfair, misleading or deceptive business practices, and to provide information and guidance on other issues of concern.

Police and Fire Solicitations -
What You Should Know

We've all received calls from members of our local police or fire departments requesting a contribution. Or have we? How do you know it was really a member of your local department? You probably don't.

However, you should know certain facts about public safety solicitation. You should also know what protections Michigan law provides for you.

FACT - The person who telephoned you requesting a contribution was likely not a member of your local police or fire department. Almost all solicitation by telephone is done by professional fund-raisers who sometimes keep as much as 90% of your contribution as compensation.

FACT - Most public safety organizations are not charitable. Most of them are trade organizations, labor unions or lobbying groups. Even if they tell you about the charitable causes they support, your donation will probably just go to their general fund. In addition, because they are not charitable organizations, contributions are likely not deductible on your income taxes.

FACT - Often times the professional fund-raiser will imply that you will be better protected if you give a contribution - - that emergency police or fire response to your house will be faster. The truth is that contributions to these organizations will have no effect on the level of protection which your police and fire departments will provide.

FACT - If you receive a bill for a pledge you don't recall making, you probably did not make it. It is not uncommon to receive a pledge bill even though you declined to make a contribution, or even if you did not receive a call in the first place. If you request printed information about the organization, you may also receive the pledge bill with it.

What you should know

Michigan law provides the following protections:

• Public safety organizations and their professional fund-raisers must register with the Attorney General's Charitable Trust Section before soliciting.
  
• All telephone solicitations made by public safety organizations and their professional fund-raisers must be tape recorded and kept for 60 days.
  
• The caller cannot tell you that you will receive special benefits or treatment if you make a pledge, or that you will receive unfavorable treatment if you do not pledge.
  
• You cannot be billed for pledges you did not make.
  
• The caller must tell you whether he or she is with a separate professional fund-raising organization.
  

What you should do

• Check with your local police or fire department to see if they are actually receiving any benefit which may have been claimed by the solicitor.
  
• Get information in writing before promising to give.
  
• Check with the Attorney General Charitable Trust Section to see if the public safety organization is registered. Call the toll-free line for checking on public safety organizations: (800) 769-4515.
  
  

If, after checking the organization out, you believe that you have been misled or lied to, or you received a bill for a pledge you did not make, file a complaint with the Charitable Trust Section. The Charitable Trust Section will obtain a copy of the recording of the solicitation and determine whether any formal action should be taken.

Remember, the only way that we will know about a scam and be able to take action is if you file a written complaint. Send a detailed description of your complaint along with any materials you received from the organization. You must provide your name and where you may be contacted. Your complaint will also be forwarded to the organization for response. Send complaints to:

Department of Attorney General
Charitable Trust Section
PO Box 30214
Lansing, MI 48909
Public Safety Info Line: (800) 769-4515