I will never give a dime to Sierra Club again!!

[LynneSin]

And this isn't a joke: it's a freaking RANT!!!!

About a year ago I did some things with the local Sierra Club. I'm a democrat who loves the environment and what better way to get involved than to help out with the Sierra Club. I made a donation and enjoyed reading their magazine.

At some event that I attended, they asked for phone numbers. This was a local event looking for people to help out with local Sierra Club activities. I was filling out a sheet of paper on a clipboard with a list of names, not some official Sierra Club document.

Now I have 2 numbers and if I give you my home phone number that means I hope to never ever hear from you again (usually it's for purchases or information requests that require phone numbers - it's my real home number, but I never answer the phone, I have the ringer turned off and the volume on the answering machine turned down). Real people that I like and I want to keep in touch with get my cell phone number.

So at this Sierra Club meeting I gave them my cell phone. I wanted to help out and suggested they call me on my cell phone if they needed me to do anything.

Sierra Club the organization has never called.

Sierra Club the Credit Card through MBNA does. All the time. Frustrating as hell and everytime I tell them I'm not interested and please take me off the list - well they don't. And I got another one again. And BTW, since somehow I got signed up for something from Sierra Club (even if I never asked for it), that 'Do Not Call' list will not block it.

GEez, and the lady that called me was a real asshole. I don't even think she's qualified to take orders at a fastfood restaurant. Instead of nicely replying "Well I'll make sure we'll take you off our calling list (which they've said before and never done) she actually tried to hard sell me to why I should get ANOTHER credit card to help support the Sierra Club. First, ironcially, I work for a credit card company (I'm in Delaware - who else would I work for? Du Pont?) and I said why would I even bother to get my competitor's credit card. She had the audadicity to say that she had a friend who worked for my company and said it was a horrible company and that's why I should get an MBNA credit card (BTW, I love my company and our CEO's is a major contributor to liberal causes - checked him out on OpenSecrets.org). Then I asked her point blank why she just wouldn't take me off the list and her reply: "Well I guess you're just not interested in helping out the environment". Geez, did you ever think if I want to 'help out the envirnment' that I would just make a donation to Sierra Club instead of getting another credit card and running up interests so they can possible get 1% of the interest that I'm creating???!!!!. Plus since a bulk of that interest would be going to a company that is a major contributor to republican/Bush, isn't that ultimately going to HURT our environment, not help?

So I called the local Sierra Club and explained to them that I was very unhappy that they gave my phone number to MBNA and explained that I will no longer be doing anything with the Sierra Club since they are selling our names out to credit card companies. I mean, I get junk mail from some of the other environmental groups, but junk mail doesn't bother me. PHONE CALLS ON MY FREAKING CELL PHONE TO SOLICIT FOR CREDIT CARDS....that bothers me.

Ok, off my soapbox

[Aristus]

1. I'm sorry you had such a lousy experience with the Sierra Club, Lynne.

Wow! That really takes the wind out of my sails re the Sierra Club. I like to think that liberal organizations are better than their conservative counterparts, but I guess not. Next you'll tell me Mother Jones runs sweat shops in Thailand.

[LynneSin]

3. To be honest, outside the credit card incident I really haven't

But it seems the only calls I get from the Sierra Club isn't how can I help out their cause but how can I sign up for their credit card.

I get junk mail from these folks all the time, but they are another great environmental group. Today, thanks to the Sierra Club, I'll be signing up and using them to help protect our environment.

http://nature.org/

[BiggJawn]

9. Well, I belong to both...

AND the National Wildlife Federation, too, (I have a certified habitat and I'm a trained habitat steward)

Funny, but I have never been solicited for any credit cards.

I understand how you feel. I signed up with the Indiana Democratic Party to volunteer and do my bit to stem the tide of creeping ReTHUGlicanism, and what do they do? have some loser who didn't campaign because he thought he found a loophole to win his race in the courts contact me...
Froze my ASS off working the polls that day...

Sorry the credit card flap has left a shitty taste in your mouth towards the Sierra Club. I still think they're on "Our" side against Chimpy and his big-buck land-raping supporters.

[wryter2000]

2. I think that's illegal

I think it's illegal to make junk phone calls to numbers where the recipient has to pay for the call. Certainly, it's actionable if you specifically asked to be put on their own do-not-call list. Consult with your state attorney general about that, but I'm pretty sure there's a stiff fine for continuing to call after you've told them not to.

Check it out, and the next time you get a call tell them you're going to report them and they'll be fined.

[LynneSin]

5. It's illegal unless I gave them my number

Which I did thinking it was so the local chapter could contact me to help out with events in Delaware.

So what they are doing is totally legal and extremely irritating. I wish someone would talk to Sierra Club and discuss with them that what little money they are making off the credit card will not offset that the bulk of the money still goes to MBNA and 75% of their donations go to Republicans and George W. Bush.

So in all reality - they're hurting the environment!

[SOteric]

16. It might still be illegal

if they didn't advise you that they might distribute or sell your information for the purpose of fundraising, sales or credit promotions when you gave it to them.

If they did, or if there was even the tiniest of notices on the personal info sheet you filled out, - then you're kind of a boob to have been so whimsically presumptive and casual with your information. I'm sure you've learned a lesson.

If they didn't, -you've got a case.

[Systematic Chaos]

4. I would be every bit as upset as you sound

About the only kind of charitable cause I would even halfway trust with my money or time is a no-kill animal shelter or something. And that's a shame because I really do want to help some good causes, but I know from a number of different anecdotes just how fraudulent these organizations can be.

You know all those donations of furniture and stuff that the Salvation Army will collect from people who just drive up and drop it off? I've had formerly homeless people tell me that the lovely volunteers and staff of the shelter will comb through that stuff and help themselves to the nice stuff on a regular basis. And this is the kind of stuff people who have had their lives disrupted NEED to start over!

Tell them to stick their credit card up their @$$ with a 2x4.

[SoCalDem]

6. That's why I only give to organizations that GIVE stuff away

and not sell it..

Call Catholic Charities or LightHouse for the Blind, if you have one in your area..:)

I always ask if they Sell or Give away stuff when someone calls asking for a donation..:)

I believe in charity, because when you are broke enough to humble yourself and ASK for help, the peoson on the other side of the desk/counter/phone line, should NOT try to SELL you something :(

[DuctapeFatwa]

8. Women's shelter, AIDS hospice, Immigrant services

They will usually be glad to get any usable items you may have, and in the case of orgs who service people living with AIDS and recent immigrants, you can volunteer, and get to know actual individuals who can use your stuff, and either they and the orgs can always use donations.

[ArkDem]

7. Check this out

http://www.sacbee.com/static/archive/news/projects/environment/index02.html

[leftofthedial]

10. MBNA is the WORST!!

Working Assets switched to them and I got four or five MBNA marketing calls a day!

Horrible.

[electricmonk]

11. Another link re: Sierra Club and MBNA

MBNAsucks

I posted this link earlier this week up in LBN but thought I'd put it up again for you so you'll know your not the only one pissed at the way they are tied together.

[LynneSin]

12. I'm forwarding that link to my local Sierra Club

I tried to explain to the woman at DE's local club (not the woman who tried to press a credit card on me) and she said that Sierra Club is a non-partisan organization out there to help the environment and not a 'democratic' or 'republican' organization.

My reply:

Well, would the Sierra Club knowingly donate money to George W. Bush to help get him elected in 2004? (her answer - no, we are definately opposed to Bush and his environmental policies)

Then my reply was "Why would your organization knowingly setup their credit card organization with a credit card company that is a known right-wing organziation and major contributor the Bush and other environmentally unfriendly sorts?

She asked if there were other credit cards that would work out a deal with them. (I tried to keep my mouth shut since I do work for MBNA's competitor a more liberal leaning corporation), but I said how about NOT doing the credit card spiel and instead just ask for them to send contributions directly to you. More of the profits that MBNA is making off of Sierra Club Credit Card owners are probably going to Bush and his regime than to Sierra Club.

Then I hung up - idiots!

Edit note: that website listed my company as one of the more socially responsible ones! Woohoo!!!

[ohmyman1]

13. credit card ads

Whenever I get a credit card ad in the mail, I send their postage paid envelope back to them with a pizza coupon in it.

[Dookus]

14. Years ago...

when I had precious little money, I "joined" the Sierra Club.

Within a month I was receiving almost weekly soliciations from them for MORE money, often with pre-stamped return envelopes.

They wasted more $$ than I gave them trying to get MORE from me, also while creating mountains of junk mail.

[Deja Q]

15. My condolances

Corporate america sucks. ALL businesses sell out peoples' names and numbers to "earn" extra money.

I don't even bother with anything these days and I sure as hell don't fill out contest forms. Because (a) they'd take my name and addy and sell it to everybody else and (b) I get calls from people saying I'd won a big contest I had purportedly entered. :eyes:

[LynneSin]

17. Yeah, but what pisses me off is I never did that

I gave an organization and people I trusted and who I met personally and who asked me if I would help out with events and causes my cell phone number and THEY gave it to corporate MBNA.

I remember when I gave it to them, I was working a campaign last summer for a local DE candidate and the Sierra Club was there. I told them I was a member and I told the guys at the Sierra Club both that I wanted to help out with their events & boths. They had a beatup clipboard with a sheet of paper on it and a list of names for volunteers. This was not an official looking sheet, just some printer paper with handwritten columns on it asking for names, addresses, email and phone numbers for volunteers. I gave them my phone number and said they should call me on this number because I never answer my home phone and I confirmed it was for volunteer reasons only. I wouldn't even have been upset if they used the number from time to time to call for fundraising; where I would directly send them a few bucks to help them out.

I know how these credit card companies work, I work for a major credit card company. When MBNA took on Sierra Club they asked them for all their mailing lists. Simple as that.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

18. Well I'm just glad that hasn't happened to me

Well I'm just glad that hasn't happened to me cuz I would hate to get mad at the Sierra Club. They have done a lot of good here in Montana on the environment, not just raising awareness but also doing the heavy lifting of lawsuits stopping some of these illegal timber sales.

[jody]

19. An alternative is to become active in your local Sierra Club chapter

and make a real difference. Just joining an organization and expecting others to do all the hard work is not enough.

Consider that as advice your grandfather would have given you. :-)

[LynneSin]

24. It was the local chapter that I gave my cell phone number to

But then again we're all in Delaware, the credit card capital of America (with South Dakota running a close second)

[jody]

26. Delaware has several beautiful areas that need to be preserved.

You say "credit card capital of America" but the way jobs are being exported by the multinational corporations, the real "credit card capital of America" will probably be a small village in India.

[inthecorneroverhere]

20. go after 'em!

Definitely write a memo and keep this thing 'hot' with your local Sierra club chapter people. Ride their backs! They shouldn't be supporting this kind of (bad) hustling!

This is totally ridiculous, especially considering your background in the credit industry.

Write up an 'alternative' proposal about how the Club could keep contributions flowing without hard-selling people. Think about different 'projects' folks could support - everything from building Mt. bike trails to building hiking trails to building interpretive centers to action against coal-burning air pollution to action in favor of stuff like wind generation....

[Kat45]

21. Re: the do not call list

I'm not certain, but I think charities are exempt from it, as are companies you do business with. MBNA being affiliated with the Sierra Club through this credit card thing has probably taken it upon itself to consider itself exempt. :shrug:

[dpbrown]

22. MBNA is the devil

Sierra Club should not be associating with them, at all. I've cut up every credit card I ever had that was an MBNA card.

[incontrovertible]

23. I'm sorry, but LOL

I know it's a rant, not a joke, but as an objective observer, it's a hilarious little anecdote.

I guarandamntee you I won't be giving the Sierra Club my phone number now!

"Let this be a lesson to you, Lisa: Never help anybody."
- Homer J. Simpson.

No good deed goes unpunished, eh?

[Piper3069]

25. How to solve THAT little problem

Here's how you handle this, it takes some time but the personal satisfaction is worth it. You send them a letter asking to be removed from their list. They never respond, of course. Then you file suit in small claims court, asking for the maximum in damages. The phone rings with a real person apologizing for the "misunderstanding." You can end it there and be removed, or receive a freebie or perk because they will not show up in court. I've done this twice with similar situations and the payoff comes like clockwork. Sorry about the Sierra Club, but if you want to end the credit card hassle and receive some satisfaction, follow this procedure. Small claims court is still free from corporate control.

[Ramsey]

27. What did they say?

When you called the local Sierra Club? That whole thing is seriously FUBAR! I think you should insist that they insist you are taken off that call list!

MBNA is seriously evil, they will NEVER EVER leave you alone.