'Aggressive' collectors: Council investigates

Auckland Council is to investigate 'aggressive tactics' used by a group of collectors. Photo / Thinkstock

Auckland Council will investigate a group of collectors using "window-cleaner style methods" at traffic junctions during the weekend to see if they were working legally.

The Herald has been told that the collectors, who had no identification badges, were working at the carpark outside Countdown Supermarket in Greenlane and at the corner of Greenlane and Great South Rd on Saturday afternoon.

Cleaner Sandy Logologo, who was approached by a collector while driving from the supermarket, said the group used "window cleaner-style methods" to collect money when the lights turned red.

"They just ran across each time the lights turned, hitting on car windows and asking for money," Mrs Logologo said.

"Their buckets were marked with only their handwriting and had no indication as to where the money was going to, but they said they were members of a church in South Auckland when I asked."

A Countdown staff member, who wanted to be known only as Pasan, said the group of about 10 collectors were also operating rather aggressively within the carpark.

Most of the collectors looked Polynesian, and were wearing different high-vis jackets, and with some wearing T-shirts that said "young people".

"As far as I am aware, they were not authorised by the supermarket or any of the other businesses operating here," Pasan said.

"They were not wearing any uniform [and did not have a] standard collection bucket, so I can see that people were suspicious as to whether they are genuine."

He said the group were there collecting for a couple of hours on Saturday afternoon, but did not return yesterday.

Auckland Council spokeswoman Angela Jones could not confirm yesterday if the group had a permit, but said it was highly unlikely that the council would grant them one to operate at carparks and traffic junctions.

"A group, as described, would require a permit from council where we will look at whether they belong to an official organisation," Ms Jones said.

Charities such as the Red Cross and Heart Foundations are among the organisations that had been issued with permits to collect on the street.

Last year, bogus collectors claiming to be working for St John Ambulance were reportedly operating nationwide after the Christchurch earthquakes.

INVESTIGATION

-Auckland Council will investigate a group of collectors using "window-cleaner style methods" at traffic junctions.

-Collectors require a permit from the council.

-Charities such as the Red Cross and Heart Foundations are among the organisations that had been issued permits.

Do you know anything about the collectors?

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