Amref Health Africa in Canada

TL;DR: After 20 minutes at my front door collecting my personal information, my one-time donation was deemed as "wasting the charity's time". A rep from this charity knocked on my front door this evening to collect a donation on behalf of this charity. I told him that our household already had several charities that we supported and that I would discuss with my husband whether we wanted to donate online through the website at a later date. He pushed me to donate now so that "he would get the recognition for his time". Annoying, but fair enough I guess. I agreed to donate; of which the process is ridiculously time-consuming and inefficient. He first recorded my full name, mailing address, phone number, and email address. Then he explained that he would call the charity on speakerphone to process the donation. He told me they would be pushy to get me to sign-up for recurring payments, but that I could choose not to. I did tell him I wouldn't be signing up for that. Then he made the call to the charity ... where they dictated my personal information back to me (including spelling) to confirm it's correct ... even though I could see it on the rep's mobile tablet literally right in front of me. Some of the information they verified twice. At this point I started to get increasingly frustrated because this process had been going on for 15-20 minutes. (I could have donated myself through the website in about 2 minutes; at this point I'm inconveniencing myself literally for the sake of doing this rep at my door a favour.) The guy on the phone then proceeds to verify that I'm signing up for their recurring payments, to which I replied that I wanted to make a one-time donation. The rep in front of me then got mad and told me that I was "wasting the charity's time" because they apparently don't accept one-time payments. This is a subscription-based "charity" and they wouldn't even take my one-time donation. I fired back that he TOLD me I could choose not to sign-up for recurring payments and that I could make a one-time donation, to which he replied "that's not what I said." At no point was the word "subscription" ever used during this process and it wasn't even clear to me that I couldn't make a donation until after 20 minutes of wasting my time. Absolutely ridiculous. I guess the mothers in Africa aren't in need of medical care THAT bad.

If you're reading this as they're at your door, end the conversation right now. Run. This charity is brutal! The sales pitch is dishonest--a "one-time" payment that you later find out is recurring, among other things. Worse, they didn't even cancel it when I asked them to. I sent a long, polite email to the CEO, the address responsible for donations, and others explaining the fact that I understand they need to have income and about third-party fundraisers, but that the sales pitch that people were getting was dishonest. I provided details and examples and asked them to stop my recurring payment. I never heard back, but whatever. Lo and behold, I was charged again over a month later. Time for a stop payment with my bank, I guess. Do yourself a favour and end the conversation right now.

I made a donation with Amref in January what I know from my experience they have updated their system and it’s very easy to make changes and adjustments to your donation at any time convenient to you. Love the cause and what it stands for

I was very disappointed with the door-to-door sales person that came to my door in Seton tonight around 7:30. I let him give me the pitch for the charity and he stated he wouldn't be collecting. But then proceeded to try to sign me up for recurring donations and when I said I wouldn't be donating today - because I like researching a charity before doing so - he acted all taken aback and said he "thought we were on the same page". Overall it wasn't a good experience and left a bad taste about the charity as a whole.

I am extremely dissatisfied with Amref. A sales person came to my door and mentioned they were not taking cash on the spot; but proceeded to take my information regarding monthly donations. I felt harassed as the sales lady kept looking at me weirdly and continued to ask about my personal life when that is not necessary. I repeatedly tried to shut down conversation but she persisted. Overall, the organization seems sketchy and I would avoid all interaction from their "sales" people.

Be careful! I asked Amref to stop my monthly donations. They did it for four months and then, without my consent, started charging my Visa again. That's fraud! I called Visa and had to cancel my card. I now have to wait a week for a new card and then contact every auto-payee I have to give them my new Visa number. You do something in good faith for what seems to be a good cause and they abuse your generosity.

They randomly started double charging my account without my consent ($20 twice a month so $40/month) and I noticed it after 3 months and called to cancel today. the lady on the phone said they refunded me the double charge and said my donations are now canceled. We will see if they really cancel my account or if I will have to change credit cards. I’m very upset as I really wanted to donate to a good cause but reading these reviews and knowing how they took my money without my consent disheartens me.

I have called the organization this week. Got verbal confirmation that you would not credit my grandmother's about after she fell for your scam. Today she goes and looks at her banking information and $30 has been taken out. Clearly there is nothing wrong with your back office and you process people's information regardless if they ask you not to. This is illegal! You've scammed an 80+ old lady.