When you get a leaflet though your door stating they're collecting clothing and other items for the Third World or Eastern Europe, your conscience would probably make you dash to your wardrobe and sort out your old clothing. But wait a moment - many of these so-called 'charities' are completely bogus and are nothing short of a scam! The items they're collecting aren't going to the Third World - but are ending up in various Car Boot sales around the country!

For the second time within a year I have been targeting by a 'business' named OLONEX. The authorities are fully aware of OLONEX, including the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA), The Office of Fair Trading (OFT), The Charities Commission, various Trading Standards agencies around the UK, and the Police. But is anything being done to stop this scam? The simple answer is NO!

The Advertising Standards Agency even made an Adjudication against OLONEX on 12th February 2003, and on the 23rd May 2003 the ASA asked the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to consider taking legal action against OLONEX. Because none of these organisations appear to have any teeth OLONEX happily continues to rip-off the unsuspecting householder.

When I received a leaflet through my door on the 28/05/04 (for the second time in a year), Rip-Off Britain decided to return the 'sting'.

Click pics to view larger images

As instructed on the OLONEX leaflet I neatly left a plastic rubbish bag outside my front door for collection between 8.00am and 7.00pm - and waited with video camera at the ready. At around 11.00am a big white van turned up and a man jumped out and grabbed the plastic bag from my doorstep. I dashed out the door with my video camera and started filming. I attempted to question both him and the driver about their business activities, but he ignored me and ended up throwing my bag into the back of their van and drove off at great speed. Little did they know - my plastic rubbish bag contained just that - household rubbish!

So who are these people who operate OLONEX? I already had their Limited company particulars 'OLONEX LTD Reg No. 4497391' but noticed that the company was in fact 'dissolved' on the 4th May 2004 - but according to their leaflet the company is still 'active'. Of course, apart from the bogus leaflet that purports items collected end up in the Third World, to state a company is still active when in fact it's been dissolved is fraud, and is a criminal offence!

GOTCHA! Click pics to view larger images

If you get a leaflet through your door, first check-out to see if it's genuine. If it's a bonefide charity it will have a charitable reference number that you can easily Search on the Charities Commission website. A registered number will either be a six figure number beginning with 2,3,5,6,7,8 or 9; or a seven figure beginning with 1. OLONEX originally didn't mention they were NOT a charity, but their recent leaflet states they are a 'business', but the now defunct Company registration No. could still fool you into thinking they were a charity. So don't get caught out!

BBC South East News Story by Jon Hunt Click here

UPDATE - 4th Oct 2005

Yet another apparant bogus company run by another Lithuanian national is collecting clothing, etc., named: HELP & TRUST LIMITED - Company No. 05545477

I suggest you avoid them, and if you do get a leaflet through your door report their activities to your local Trading Standards office.

Their details:
Name & Registered Office:
HELP & TRUST LIMITED
TOP FLAT
2 BURCH ROAD
NORTHFLEET
GRAVESEND KENT DA11 9NG
Company No. 05545477
Status: Active
Date of Incorporation: 24/08/2005
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Company Type: Private Limited Company
Nature of Business (SIC(03)): None Supplied
Accounting Reference Date: 31/08
Last Accounts Made Up To: (NO ACCOUNTS FILED)
Next Accounts Due: 24/06/2007
Last Return Made Up To:
Next Return Due: 21/09/2006