I saw this advertisement on television the other day. I think it was on the TV channel, Classic FM.
It’s from the Dog Trust here in the UK. The advert’s basic message was: Pay us a pound a month and that’ll (sort of) sponsor a dog. Accompanied by nice music and some footage of a little dog jumping about happily, it was enough to get my attention.
‘A pound a month? Sure thing,’ I thought. Might as well.
My handset was already out so I waited for the end of the advert and, sure enough, the phone numbers began to display.
Excellent.
I waited for the text portion.
Only…. that never came.
If you want to sponsor a dog, you have to phone up.
Thing is, I know how these things work. I know that there’s a lady in a call centre somewhere sat waiting for me to phone. She’s ready to type all my details into a system that will then direct debit me a pound a month, on going… and send me out a nice thank-you letter.
Trouble is, I’ve got no patience for a 4 minute ‘my name is’ session.
I just couldn’t be arsed to phone. In the plain light of day, I know that previous sentence will read terribly… does it make me out to be some heartless arse?
Or, does it point to the reality. The truth.
There’s another way. I would have sent a text message. I genuinely would have sent ‘DOGTRUST’ to some shortcode for 1.50… or, actually, 3.00 pounds (just for the convenience of not having to speak to Mandy in Huddersfield).
I bought the ad’s concept. I wanted to transact.
Only the chartiy hasn’t bothered getting itself a shortcode.
I wonder what IDIOT telecommunications consultancy or service provider has advised them not to do this — or has STOOD BY whilst the marketing manager at the Dog Trust has ignored the medium of text.
It’s absolutely 100% ridiculous.
What’s more, I’ve had enough.
I’m going to do something about it.
PS you can get info at sponsoradog.org.uk.
The problem is, maybe there is no way, via prem SMS, for charities to get their extra 28p per £1 if you are a UK tax payer on a regular 12 monthly text payment (hence why we see it for one off donations where any money payed out from the ops is acceptable, but not monthly donations where ultimately more money and tax revenue can be garnered).
1. The RSPCA let people text in order to sponsor a dog. So happy to say that at least some charities “get” mobile!
2. Ewan, the keyword DOGTRUST on 60300 is now in your iTAGG client account. Simply login to configure it to return a premium rate sms autoresponder; and then let the Dog Trust know that they are now fully tooled up for mobile sponsorship. I’ll also be happy to donate our slice of the psms to the Dog Trust.