Presence

I don't get it..if he was a fraud..why refuse cash?

Dag

Good question; perhaps because you can add 000 on to checks?

Could be , Greg, but if he turns down cash gifts even if he recives no checks, I'd have to wonder what his story is

I think either hes a fool....or is trying to keep accurate donation records

we were also warned

IMHO, people should not give to anyone without any local credentials (i.e., from the Agudah). That is really our only form of quality control. Everyone has some "story", and the main thing that I take a peek at is the expiration date of the collection window. (Also, if I happen to smell cigarettes, then that is a red flag).

As was discussed locally earlier, the local institutions and needy take precedence. And I have no tolerance for any verbal or non-verbal comments from the collector as to the subjective acceptability of the amount.

He came to our house, too, and seemed very sketchy to me. I agree with Dr. E; I don't give to anyone without a teudah from the Agudah.

I believe he must be the "gentleman" who came to our house Sunday morning, showed my husband several checks he had received in large denominations, and then handed back to my husband the $10 check he received (made out to the Agudah).

Assuming that this person is in actuality Jewish, would there be an issue of contacting secular local or Federal authorities and reporting the person for fraud? As far as I know, the Agudah really has no formal and efficient mechanism of notification that a given person is blacklisted.

This particular person notwithstanding, isn't it time for the whole issue of "collecting" to be addressed (not just the local vs. non-local aspect)? To me, things have gotten way too automated and impersonal including commissioned drivers, cell phones, synchronized "sweeps" of local shuls, some of the more "assertive" collectors with entitlement mentalities, the disruption of davening, etc. Sometimes, there is the tendency to just sit back and snicker, but the whole enterprise is disconcerting at times. I'm sure that there are genuine collectors and needy individuals/causes out there, and their interests should not be compromised by a flawed system--which I'm sure is better here than elsewhere

Did this man _only_ speak Hebrew? Did he carry those checks in a looseleaf binder inside plastic sheet protectors?

he only spoke hebrew to me. you are correct about the binder.

I should have posted about this guy. I remember years ago that a Meshulach came into the Shul where I was davening and asked the Rav to write him out a check for the cash he had. The Rav refused.
He explained later that the man wasn't interested in the money but in the Rav's name. He could then show the check to other people and claim that he had an endorsement from the Rav.
A few months ago (like with Presence) this guy came to me. Since he did not have Te'udah, I offered cash, but (like others here) he refused. More than money, he wanted a check that he could show others.
And indeed when he re-appeared two weeks ago, he took care to show me all of his certifications and, finally, the checks he received from others in the community because he was trying to prove that I hadn't donated to him, contrary to my claims.
Only after he left did I finally remember what had happened. I offered, he rejected.
The next day, I saw him around my neighborhood again.
Fortunately Rabbi Heinemann seems to have a reasonably good system in place and men like this are not common. Maybe he really had an honest claim at some point. Certainly if his claims are true he's been through and going through a lot. But I'm very skeptical right now.

It is definitely time for each community to address the issues of meshulachim head on. From what many people are saying, is that they are coming at all days and all hours of those days and nights and it is making the mitzvah of giving into an unplesant interuption of the precious little family time.

On top of that, there are a few bad apples who have definitely ruined the reputation of a most likely honest majority.

I agree with Dr. E, especially about the interuptions to davening.

While its bad enough that he's probably a fake, I'm surprised no one is taking issue with the fact that he's showing people other people's checks. What I give to any individual person or institution is none of anyone else's business. I would refuse to give just based on that behavior.

I've got to agree with aishel. Isn't it a high form of tzedakah to give anon? While writing a check isn't exactly anonymous, showing the whole neighborhood that Mr. and Mrs. Silver gave X dollars is improper without their explicit permission.

Aishel, you are 100% right; I meant to mention this, I felt the same way.

he came to our house and i gave him a check made to teh agudah. he took it.