The Institute of Fundraising wrote to the 16 charities in October after it had received complaints about over-emotional language and 'guilt-tactics', such as enclosing small gifts in mail-outs. The institute's voluntary code of practice on charity junk mail says charities should not try to generate donations by making people feel embarrassed or guilty.

The website thirdsector.co.uk today reports that only four of the charities have confirmed that they are willing to co-operate with the institute to try to meet its best practice guidelines. Three sent replies that the institute has not yet classified as either satisfactory or concerning, and four have so far declined to reply. Third Sector has also learned that some of the charities deny that their their mailings contravene the code of conduct. At least one charity has acknowledged it breaches the code, but has said it is not willing to change its practices.

The Institute of Fundraising may decide to bring pass the complaints to the Fundraising Standards Board. However, because the charities are not a member of either organisation no action can be taken against them. The only sanction the Fundraising Standards Board can take is to withdraw membership, and the self-regulatory body is not allowed to 'name and shame' non-members.