Letter: Plagued by 'charity' calls

Sir: Further to David Robinson's letter (9 April), as assistant company secretary of another London-based company I confirm that we also receive many calls such as he describes. We find that typically those using this pattern of address are in fact publishing houses, some of whom retain a high percentage of the funds donated and merely pass on the resultant brochure or booklet to the charity.

Therefore we interrupt all such greetings with an enquiry "Are you a publishing house?" and politely advise them that we only respond to requests received direct from charities; so attempting to ensure that donations reach the worthy cause for which they are intended.

SARAH GHINN

London SW16