Look at http://ag.state.il.us/PDF_IMAGES/Indexes20100511/01016722-2007.pdf and you can see that 80% of the donations go to Telenet & Associates, Inc.  This statement is for the year 2007 and I can only imagine that the figures haven't changed that much for the current years.  Donator Beware!

How are you donating on the phone? Where did I say we asked for a credit card or checking account and routing number. The mail isn't even sent out by them and any checks you write are to the organizations. TAI at least, represents legit organizations. They're definitely making money on admin costs and make sure that the pay scale for employees is so impossible to meet that you will not keep your dollar per hour rate up high enough. Like I said, just a bunch of kids and people who can't find jobs. Uneducated or not, it's not their fault. By the way, they get penalized (fired after three times) for hanging up before the other person if their tapes are being reviewed.

Also, for anyone questioning why the national do not call list doesn't work.

If I register my number on the National Do Not Call Registry, will it stop all telemarketing calls?
No. Placing your number on the National Do Not Call Registry will stop most telemarketing calls, but not all.

***Because of limitations in the jurisdiction of the FTC and FCC, calls from or on behalf of political organizations, charities, and telephone surveyors would still be permitted, as would calls from companies with which you have an existing business relationship, or those to whom you?ve provided express agreement in writing to receive their calls.***

However, if you ask a company with which you have an existing business relationship to place your number on its own do-not-call list, it must honor your request.  You should keep a record of the date you make the request.

To be honest, it's best not to donate to those who call you on the phone.  They would not necessarily be shut down if they were not legit, as you indicated.  The best thing to do if one wants to donate to charity is to instigate the donation themselves, after checking out the charity. I have been called by those companies you allege are working for legit organizations, and have found a couple of them to be total scams!  I followed up and checked and the place for which they said they were collecting, never heard of them.  So you see, you never know.  Better to instigate a donation on YOUR end rather than when someone calls on the phone.  Also, those places that claim to be calling for other parties are usually using lists that are ages old.  I constantly get calls for someone who had my phone number long before me.  I have had my number for years now.

The best policy is NEVER donate to someone who calls you on the phone.  Many are scams. SOme could be legit but honestly, you never know.  Better to donate to a charity that you KNOW is legitimate. Donate directly to that charity (to their address).  Check them out first. Be sure they really exist.  Just because they have a web site doesn't mean they're legit either.  Places like the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the World Wildlife Fund, The ASPCA, are all legit, along with countless others.  Skip the phone donations.  It's really the safest way.

They called us early on a saturday morning, well before the hours in which fund raiser calls are permitted! The caller ID makes them look like an "official" call. This is wrong. Glad I could look up other comments about this number online.

I don't know why people don't understand this. They are NOT an illegal organization. They are contracted BY those charities who pay them a percentage based on donations. You write you're check to the charity itself, they are simply calling to secure a possible donation amount (YOU DON'T HAVE TO WRITE THE CHECK EVEN IF THEY DO MAIL YOU THE INFORMATION).  I used to work for them when I was a kid and I promise you it's 100% true. These people are not criminals contrary to your beliefs and to be honest most of them are 16-18 y/o kids just trying to make their 6.50 (or whatever it is now) per hour. If they're calling and hanging up, it is because they really don't wanna call any more than you don't want them to, it's just the randomness of the dialer. If they were doing something illegal, trust me with all the complaints about them they would be shut down. Also, if they're being rude even, it's impossible to really do anything because it really is a revolving door of people. They work, quit, come back, quit and so on. Seriously, just don't answer the phone; and don't ask them questions about the charity you know they can't answer. Like I said they're just a contracted company who has a bunch of kids working for them.

The caller said they were from Wishing Well but the number came up as Dupage County

police/fireman already gets paid $$$$ for their services
and usually have a killer pension as well.  all from u an me via taxes.
i would thank them for their work but it's their freaking JOB to help us!!!!

if u don't wanna be kill/maimed/hurt, don't enter into these 2 professions.
why do you even solicit for more donations?

if you got hurt on your job, will the freaking police/fireman donate to you or
have a fundraiser on yr behalf?

f with the donations!!!

I got a call from the same number and they said they were from "Wishing Well", I told them to removed my number, that they were a bogus company and hung up.

Getting very upset with this guy calling.
He claims to represent some Order of Police org. He says "we are the guys who pull you over" ?
Need money for widows not windows. A trying to be funny individual.
Just hung up and you should too!!
Tried to report them at the DO not Call network to complain but they do not accept this number. Think they are using a legal govt. name and number and getting away with it. They start calling at 8:00 am already.

harassing calls

Had some guy call from this number who claimed to be collecting for Vietnam Veterans. When I asked a question he hung up on my. Scam.

These are professional fund raisers who do not represent any police/fire organization. When I pressured him to tell me what percent actually went to the police, he hung up on me. Once they identify themselves as police or fire fundraisers, do yourself a favor and hang up and don't feel guilty. We pay enough taxes already.

They are at it again. I am glad I checked this site as I always do when strange numbers appear. Like most when I saw DuPage Co, IL I thought it may be important, but since I live in Cook County I did not answer.
So far they have called 12 times in 3 days. I finally answered to ask them to stop, but that got me nowhere.
HANG UP or do not answer, if you do they will find 100 ways to keep you on the phone and scam some money.

Said they are TAI calling for the FOP.  Asked him who TAI was but he had no idea who he was working for,  asked him again who TAI was, could not answer, asked a third time, he finally hung up.  Gotta have some fun back at these irratating callers.

Why don't they list "Fraternal Order of Police" on the caller ID?  How sneaky - I thought it was an important call, not a hi-pressure fundraising thing.

When it says DuPage Co IL on caller ID you think it is important. It isn't. When I told him I had already ask them to remove my name from calling list, He still wanted to talk to me and had hard time taking the hint.
Caller ID: DUPAGE Co IL

There are a bunch of guys behind a strip mall somewhere I think in Glen Ellyn or something and they sell ads in this huge catalog for your company but the problem is the catalog goes no where. They ship a bunch to the people who buy the ads and then you're supposed to find a way to distribute them. They are basically selling, and you are basically buying - air.

I've been inside their operation. They don't represent the police, they are borderline legal and the time I was in there there was this huge board with names - which they change in and out of every couple of days. They have business cards preinted up with phony names and there's an old bald guy with a gold chain around his neck shuffling calling cards.

If you don't mind giving your money to guys just this side of crooks go ahead.

This is the fund raiser for the DuPage Faternal Order of Police Lodge 109.
They start off with a message to wait for the next available rep., then a person asks if this so-an-so.  They hung up when asked who they were.

Had some guy call from this number who claimed to be collecting for Vietnam Veterans. When I asked a question he hung up on my. Scam.

Why don't they list "Fraternal Order of Police" on the caller ID?  How sneaky - I thought it was an important call, not a hi-pressure fundraising thing.

I got a call from the same number and they said they were from "Wishing Well", I told them to removed my number, that they were a bogus company and hung up.

The caller said they were from Wishing Well but the number came up as Dupage County

These are professional fund raisers who do not represent any police/fire organization. When I pressured him to tell me what percent actually went to the police, he hung up on me. Once they identify themselves as police or fire fundraisers, do yourself a favor and hang up and don't feel guilty. We pay enough taxes already.

They are at it again. I am glad I checked this site as I always do when strange numbers appear. Like most when I saw DuPage Co, IL I thought it may be important, but since I live in Cook County I did not answer.
So far they have called 12 times in 3 days. I finally answered to ask them to stop, but that got me nowhere.
HANG UP or do not answer, if you do they will find 100 ways to keep you on the phone and scam some money.

Said they are TAI calling for the FOP.  Asked him who TAI was but he had no idea who he was working for,  asked him again who TAI was, could not answer, asked a third time, he finally hung up.  Gotta have some fun back at these irratating callers.

This is the fund raiser for the DuPage Faternal Order of Police Lodge 109.
They start off with a message to wait for the next available rep., then a person asks if this so-an-so.  They hung up when asked who they were.

There are a bunch of guys behind a strip mall somewhere I think in Glen Ellyn or something and they sell ads in this huge catalog for your company but the problem is the catalog goes no where. They ship a bunch to the people who buy the ads and then you're supposed to find a way to distribute them. They are basically selling, and you are basically buying - air.

I've been inside their operation. They don't represent the police, they are borderline legal and the time I was in there there was this huge board with names - which they change in and out of every couple of days. They have business cards preinted up with phony names and there's an old bald guy with a gold chain around his neck shuffling calling cards.

If you don't mind giving your money to guys just this side of crooks go ahead.

Getting very upset with this guy calling.
He claims to represent some Order of Police org. He says "we are the guys who pull you over" ?
Need money for widows not windows. A trying to be funny individual.
Just hung up and you should too!!
Tried to report them at the DO not Call network to complain but they do not accept this number. Think they are using a legal govt. name and number and getting away with it. They start calling at 8:00 am already.

When it says DuPage Co IL on caller ID you think it is important. It isn't. When I told him I had already ask them to remove my name from calling list, He still wanted to talk to me and had hard time taking the hint.
Caller ID: DUPAGE Co IL