The only thing Telefund in Los Angeles had going for it was that you could set your own schedule. You couldn't be a minute late or you might not get a seat. The lists kept to get an unbooked seat were not well organized....you could travel to work and easily never get on if you weren't scheduled.



Amenities were awful; at one time they had a kitchen; it was closed because a few workers wouldn't clean up and they wouldn't go after them; they just punished everyone. Last time I was there, they wouldn't even provide a cup for water; you had to bring your own.



Co-workers could be very unpleasant, competitive and rude. Not all of them....



Pay awful. Minimum wage unless you're a very good caller.

You can't possibly live on minimum wage in L.A.



If they ran out of numbers or the phone system crashed, you get sent home without pay.



Worst of all, if after two hours on a four- hour shift, if your numbers are not good, they send you home. Your numbers could easily improve in those last two hours, but you'll never know.



I worked for Telefund for years and it got steadily worse.



Charities and political organizations that sign on with Telefund use them because they get results.



If you don't want to be called, do NOT provide a telephone number on any donations you send to them or to the charity directly. If they do call, ask to be put on the Telefund Do Not Call list and they will.



If you are a member or a giver to any charity, the National Do Not Call Registry does NOT apply to you; only to cold call marketers. It is completely legal to call a previous donor who has provided you with a telephone number.



Having worked for Telefund, it is hard work for very little pay. Callers who don't raise the funds get fired; they're a tough company to work for. The causes are good and that is why I and other people work there; they support the causes.



Give directly to the company if you don't want to hear from Telefund.