Public complaints about charity clothing collections have risen by more than 200 per cent, according to unofficial figures from the Fundraising Standards Board.

FRSB chief executive Alistair McLean told Civil Society that while the complaints regulator has yet to even collate annual returns of complaints from its 1,300 member charities, complaints from the public directly to the FRSB on the issue of charity collections has risen more than two-fold in the past six to 12 months.

“We’ve seen a significant increase in complaints being received from members of the public, which we redirect to our member charities where possible,” he said.

The 200 per cent rise in complaints does not suggest that the FRSB has suddenly been inundated with clothing collection complaints, however, as it is an increase on what had been a low level of complaints to begin with, said McLean. In final 2009 figures – which include data from member charities – there were 224 complaints about charity ‘door drops’.

Last year’s complaints, said McLean, pertained to both theft and bogus collections. McLean said that he had informed civil society minister Nick Hurd of the extent of this rise.

“Members of the public are upset about it,” said the chief executive.