The phone call no Aussie would want: 2GB host Ben Fordham exposes alarming ‘pushy’ charity trend

A charity has been slammed after one of its workers was caught out harassing a man and pushing him to donate money over the phone even after repeated refusals.

John was contacted by a woman claiming to be from the Victorian-based charity organisation The Fundraising Centre. 

The call was played out on broadcaster Ben Fordham’s 2GB radio program on Monday morning.

The woman is heard constantly asking John to donate different amounts of money.

Questions are being raised about Victorian charity The Fundraising Centre and their high-pressure phone tactics to obtain donations

‘This work is really important because just in the last year one-in-five Australians have experienced food insecurity, whereby nearly a quarter of this group represent children,’ the woman is heard saying.

‘That’s out future generation, and that’s the saddest thing.’

‘I’ll just let you know we’re looking for one-time donations and the minimum gift is $25 because this is actually enough to feed one adult for a whole week.’

John declines to donate but the woman doubles down in pressuring him to make a payment.

After John declined to donate the woman relentlessly presses telling him the charity can ‘hold off on the donation’ until a later date that ‘suits’ him.

‘I don’t wish to support today,’ John repeats.

Seemingly undeterred the woman says: ‘We’re at least asking all of the community if they can support with $20 today because it’s amazing how $20 from everyone can add up.’

‘So can we put you down for $20. 

When John again says no the female caller doesn’t miss a beat as she pressed him again. 

‘Honestly ever dollar goes such a long way. So how much are you comfortable to help with today?’ she says

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‘Zero,’ is John’s reply.

In response the caller continues to lecture John about the dire circumstances many people find themselves in before asking: ‘Is this a cause you’d consider supporting?’ 

Sydney radio host questioned whether the charity worker was a real person because of her unnatural phone manner

The woman’s lack of interaction or even acknowledgment of John’s response made Fordham question if she is flesh and blood.

‘Doesn’t sound like he was talking to a human being, it’s a human voice but it sounds like it’s a bit of a robot,’ Fordham says.

Fordham argued elderly people might feel pressured to hand over money under such duress.

The overbearing tactics have seen charity bombarded with one star reviews online with people slamming cold calling hard sell.

‘Aggressively beyond the pail! Cold call early evening,’ said one.

‘Refused to provide detail on how the private unlisted number on the ‘do not call register was obtained and continued to evade the question.’

Another wrote: ‘Abusive telemarketing phoning people up wanting money donated.’

‘Felt really dodgy and the upselling at the end of the call trying to make my donation an ongoing one was poor form. I had to be rude to get out of the call. Have blocked the number,’ added a third. 

The Fundraising Centre is owned by DTS Group who claim to have worked with ‘some of the biggest national charities’ on their website. 

DTS Group’s slogan is ‘fundraising experts’. 

A spokesperson from The Fundraising Centre told Daily Mail Australia that the organisation was reviewing the way it asks for donations. 

‘We regret that a recent call involved repeated requests for a donation and apologise for this unacceptable experience,’ the spokesperson said.

‘This is not how we operate and we are reviewing our processes to ensure this isn’t repeated.’

‘We recognise it’s important to treat all potential donors with respect, including when they decline to donate.’