House-to-house collections

Questions about ‘no-cold-calling’ areas

Questions about ‘no-cold-calling’ areas

 

Do ‘no-cold-calling’ stickers apply to house-to-house collections?

Guidelines on ‘no-cold-calling stickers’ now apply to charity collections. Please do not knock on doors with stickers that say ‘no cold-calling’, ‘no fundraisers’, ‘no charities’ or similar, unless it’s the home of someone you know.

Which stickers apply?

You must not knock on doors with ‘no cold-calling’, ‘no doorstep callers’, ‘no calling without appointment’, ‘no charity fundraisers’ or other similar messages. You may knock on doors with stickers displaying a more specific request (or targeting a particular group), for example: ‘no salespeople, traders or junk mail’, but any approach should be made with caution and sensitivity.

How does this relate to ‘no-cold-calling’ zones?

Many councils have designated certain areas as ‘cold-calling control zones’ or ‘no-cold-calling zones’. These should be identified with signs on walls and lampposts etc throughout the area.

Many local authorities have decided that charity collections are still allowed in these zones. Please check our list of councils and their policies. If your council isn’t on that list, try contacting them directly – let us know if they respond by emailing CAidWeek@christian-aid.org

If your local authority has confirmed that charities are exempt, you may collect as normal. Otherwise, please do not call in those zones and follow the guidance we’ve given on ‘no-cold-calling’ stickers. If you have any questions, ask your local Christian Aid office.

What if it’s the home of someone I know?

If you know the occupants of the house, this doesn’t count as a cold call. Similarly, if you’re calling at the homes of your neighbours, have done so for several years, and know they usually donate, this is not classed as a cold call and it’s fine to knock.

Can collectors still leave envelopes at a ‘no-cold-calling’ house?

Yes, you can post an envelope through the door of a ‘no-cold-calling’ house, as long as you don’t knock. We suggest including an address where they can leave the envelope if they choose to donate.

What happens if a supporter makes a mistake and calls at a ‘no cold-calling’ house?

While all collectors should take care to look for a ‘no-cold-calling’ sticker before knocking, occasionally, these can genuinely be missed, especially if a sign or sticker is obscured or faded.

If a sticker is not seen and the resident reacts negatively as a consequence, please apologise, be respectful and leave immediately. You should also let your Christian Aid Week organiser know so that we can avoid collecting at that address in the future.