Beware of Telemarketers Representing Volunteer Firefighter Interests

UPDATE—Telemarketers are reportedly falsely representing themselves as representatives of local volunteer fire companies to solicit funding for a career firefighters' union, according to a release.

This has been an ongoing issue for volunteer companies for at least a year, according to M. Justin Kinsey, vice president of administration for the Baltimore County Volunteer Firemen’s Association.

“If one of these telemarketers call and say that they represent your local volunteer fire company, they are misrepresenting themselves. None of the volunteer fire companies in Baltimore County utilize telephone-based fundraising [sic],” Kinsey said.

"Volunteer fire companies in Baltimore County utilize direct-mail or door-to-door solicitation in order to raise funds from residents and business," the release states.

Kinsey told Patch these telemarketers are people "who either don't know what they're talking about," or "are getting underhanded directions."

The telemarketers are calling on behalf of "the Baltimore County branch of the International Association of Fire Fighters, the union that represents the career (paid) firefighters and emergency medical services providers in Baltimore County," the release states.

Kinsey said union officials have been "somewhat responsive" to claims of misrepresentation, although the issue has persisted for at least a year.

Michael Day, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Baltimore County branch (1311), could not be immediately reached for comment.

Volunteer companies, including Lutherville's own Station 30, rely heavily on donated funding to continue operations. About 92 percent of the operating expenses are covered by donations, according to the station's website.

Click here to find out more about what those donations provide.

Calls like the ones mentioned hinder the year after year efforts of Baltimore County volunteers who need community input to survive, according to volunteer fire officials.

The Lutherville Volunteer Fire Company has set a goal of $250,000 in 2012 alone to cover operating expenses and to make enhancements to equipment.

"Without the support, volunteer fire and emergency medical services companies would not be able to survive," Chuck Bollinger, BCVFA president, said. "We use 100 percent of the donations that we receive to provide for the safety of our residents. Without those donations, we’d be out of business."

More from the release on how these telemarketers operate: 

The telemarketers are given a script that they are supposed to follow that specifies the reason for their call, but if a citizen asks a question to clarify where the money is going, some representatives come up with their own answers.  "We’ve had people call us upset because they were told by these telemarketers 'if there is a fire at your home, your volunteer fire company will not come to help,'" stated Marci Catlett, Vice President of the .  "That simply is not true!"

Have you been contacted by a telemarketer asking you to donate to the volunteer firefighters? If so, email editor Nick DiMarco at nickd@patch.com to share your story.

Click here if you would like to donate to the Lutherville Volunteer Fire Company. (Note: You will be redirected to LVFC.com.)

_____

This story has been updated to more accurately reflect the nature of offenses against the Baltimore County Volunteer Firemen’s Association.