UK Collection Call Center Brings in $200,000 for Charity

There were red noses galore, plenty of tears of laughter and a few red ears as well after Lowell Group turned its call center into a fundraising hotline for Comic Relief on Friday March 16.

Between 7:00pm and midnight, around 70 staff volunteers answered more than 3,000 calls and took an amazing £100,000 ($196,000) in phone donations.

Earlier on, the staff raised £670 ($1,300) themselves by organizing their own fundraising activities. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly when Lowell’s three executive directors were ‘persuaded’ to stand in a bath of goo while staff members paid for the privilege of bombarding them with pots of smelly gunge – an event which was captured on film by the BBC and broadcast to the nation.

It was the first time that the Leeds-based debt purchasing company had donated its call center to be used by Comic Relief and as a thank you to staff for giving up their evening sweets, food, and drinks were in plentiful supply.

Lisa Wragg, who organized the event, said, “There was a great atmosphere in the call center and knowing that you are having fun while helping such a fantastic cause makes it even more enjoyable.”

Chief executive James Cornell, one of the gunge victims, added, “We have a tremendous staff at Lowell, who are dedicated, hard-working and always willing to support a worthy cause. I’m extremely proud of their efforts on behalf of Comic Relief and hopefully we can do it again next time."