Pell & Bales has joined the Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB) in the wake of negative coverage about its telephone fundraising tactics in a Sunday tabloid. 

Last week, the FRSB met Pell & Bales to discuss telephone fundraising practice after the News of the World accused the telephone fundraising consultancy of “preying on the vulnerable for cash”.

Alistair McLean, chief executive of the FRSB, said he was reassured that Pell & Bales maintained high standards of telephone fundraising and had good quality control measures in place.

Several charities contacted by Civil Society after the story broke defended Pell & Bales and said they did not recognise the organisation as the company highlighted in the article.

However, Pell & Bales has now been persuaded to join the FRSB, McLean (pictured) said."“The company is going a step further by signing up to self-regulation of fundraising and managing their complaints handling programme in line with the FRSB scheme."