Manage Fred Hollows Foundation

How to cancel your fred hollows foundation monthly gift in new zealand

Understanding the fred hollows foundation and your donation

The Fred Hollows Foundation is a charitable organisation dedicated to preventing and treating avoidable blindness across the Pacific region and beyond. You may have started giving a monthly donation or made a one-off contribution to support their sight-restoring work, including cataract surgery, eye-health training, and community vision programs.

If your circumstances have changed and you need to pause or cancel your giving, you are absolutely entitled to do so. This guide walks you through exactly how to stop your monthly gift, what happens after you cancel, and your consumer rights in New Zealand. Stopee is here to help you navigate this process with confidence.

Why supporters choose to cancel

Life happens. Budget tightening, job loss, medical expenses, or a simple change in priorities are all legitimate reasons to cancel a recurring donation. You should never feel guilt about stepping back from charitable giving when you need to protect your own financial wellbeing.

Some donors also cancel because they want to switch to a different cause, adjust their monthly amount, or move to one-off gifts instead of standing orders. Whatever your reason, Stopee recognises that cancellation is a normal part of managing your finances.

Your donation options with the fred hollows foundation

The Foundation offers several ways to support their vision-restoring work, each with different cancellation requirements. Understanding which type of donation you have made will help you cancel quickly and correctly.

Types of donations and pricing

If you set up a monthly gift or standing order, you will need to actively cancel it to stop future payments. One-off donations do not require cancellation. However, if you made an error with a one-off payment or received a duplicate charge, you can still contact the Foundation for support.

How to cancel your monthly donation to the fred hollows foundation

Cancelling your recurring gift is straightforward, but you must take action directly with the Foundation. They do not auto-cancel after a period of inactivity, so your monthly payments will continue until you formally request to stop them.

Step-by-step cancellation process

1. Gather your donor information
   • Have your name ready and any donor reference number you may have received in a confirmation email or receipt.
   • If you do not have your reference number, the Foundation staff can find you by name and email address.
2. Contact the Fred Hollows Foundation NZ office by phone
   • Call the New Zealand support line on 0800 227 229 (toll-free).
   • Tell the staff member: "I want to cancel my monthly donation to the Fred Hollows Foundation."
   • Provide your full name and donor reference if you have it.
   • Ask them to confirm the date your last payment will be processed and when future payments will stop.
3. Alternatively, contact via email
   • Email info@hollows.nz with the subject line "Cancel monthly donation".
   • Include your full name, email address, and donor reference (if known).
   • Write: "I am requesting to cancel my monthly gift effective immediately. Please confirm when my final payment will be processed."
   • Allow 2-3 business days for a response, as email processing may be slower than a phone call.
4. Confirm your cancellation in writing
   • Pro tip: Ask the Foundation staff to send you written confirmation of your cancellation by email. This protects you if a payment accidentally processes after you have cancelled.
   • Keep this confirmation email for your records.
5. Check your bank or payment method
   • Verify with your bank that the direct debit or standing order has been removed from your account.
   • If you set up the donation through a third-party platform (such as GiveaLittle or similar), you may also need to cancel the payment instruction there.
6. Monitor your next statement
   • Check your bank statement 5-7 days after your cancellation request to ensure no further monthly charges appear.
   • If an unauthorised payment goes through after you have cancelled, contact your bank immediately to dispute it.

Cancelling merchandise or one-off payment orders

If you have ordered Freddy Bear merchandise, e-cards, or made a single donation and need to reverse it, contact the Foundation using the same phone or email details above. Provide your order date, amount, and transaction ID if available. The Foundation will investigate whether a refund is possible, though one-off orders may be non-refundable depending on whether the item has already been processed or sent.

What happens after you cancel your monthly donation

Understanding what changes and what stays the same after cancellation helps you avoid surprises and keeps you in control of your relationship with the Foundation.

Your payments and account status

Once you cancel, the Foundation will stop all future monthly charges on your payment method. Your final donation will be processed on the next scheduled date unless you request an immediate stop (which may or may not be possible depending on when the Foundation processes your cancellation request). Always confirm the exact date of your final payment with the Foundation staff.

Your donor account does not close automatically. The Foundation retains your contact details and giving history for administrative and thank-you purposes, in line with the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020. You remain on their mailing list unless you separately request to unsubscribe from newsletters and updates.

Newsletters, communications, and donor recognition

Cancelling your donation does not automatically remove you from the Foundation's email newsletters or impact communications. If you wish to stop receiving updates, you must unsubscribe separately. Most Foundation emails include an unsubscribe link at the bottom; click that to opt out, or contact the Foundation directly at info@hollows.nz and ask to be removed from their mailing list.

If you were part of a donor recognition program (such as having your name listed as a "Fred's Partner"), contact the Foundation to confirm how cancellation affects that status. Some programs may require a minimum ongoing commitment.

Data retention and privacy rights

The Fred Hollows Foundation is governed by the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020 and holds your personal information (name, address, email, payment details, and giving history) as part of its donor records. They retain this data to manage accounts, send thank-you letters, and maintain financial records for compliance.

You have the right to request access to, update, or delete your personal information. Contact the Foundation's privacy team by email at info@hollows.nz with the subject line "Privacy request" to exercise these rights.

Will you receive a refund for past donations

The Fred Hollows Foundation does not publish a formal refund policy for regular or one-off donations on their public website. This is important to understand before you ask for one, and Stopee recommends managing your expectations accordingly.

Standard refund position for donations

Charitable donations are typically non-refundable once processed. Money you have given to the Foundation has likely been allocated to their programmes, trained staff, or purchased medical equipment. The organisation cannot easily reverse those funds.

One-off donations and monthly gifts you have already paid are generally not eligible for refunds under the Foundation's standard policy. If you cancel your future donations, you are only stopping upcoming payments, not retrieving past ones.

Exceptions and situations where a refund is possible

• Duplicate or accidental payments: If you were charged twice by mistake or a payment was processed twice, contact the Foundation immediately with your transaction details. Provide screenshots of your bank statement showing the duplicate entry. Request an investigation and refund.
• Unauthorised transactions: If someone made a donation using your payment details without your permission, you have strong grounds to dispute it. Contact the Foundation first to inform them, then contact your bank to file a chargeback. Your bank has the power to reverse unauthorised payments under the SWIFT banking rules and your bank's fraud policy.
• Technical errors: If the Foundation's website or payment gateway malfunctioned and charged you incorrectly, report it to info@hollows.nz with evidence (screenshots, transaction confirmation emails). Request a refund and ask for the error to be investigated.
• Merchandise returns: If you ordered Freddy Bear merchandise or e-cards and the item was faulty, damaged, or incorrect, you may have a return or refund right. Check the product page for a returns policy, or contact the Foundation directly.

Your rights under the consumer guarantees act 1993

New Zealand law protects consumers through the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993. If you purchased physical merchandise (such as Freddy Bear teddy bears) from the Foundation, that item must be of acceptable quality, fit for purpose, and as described. If it arrived damaged, faulty, or different from what was advertised, you can request a repair, replacement, or refund from the seller (the Foundation).

However, donations themselves are not covered by the Consumer Guarantees Act because they are gifts to charity, not consumer goods or services. If you believe you have a legitimate complaint about a donation or the Foundation's conduct, you can escalate to the Charities Services authority (part of the Department of Internal Affairs) or seek advice from Citizens Advice Bureau.

Common cancellation mistakes and how to avoid them

Cancelling a charity donation can feel emotionally awkward, and that discomfort sometimes leads people to make mistakes that delay their cancellation or result in unwanted charges. You deserve a straightforward, guilt-free cancellation experience, and Stopee is here to help you avoid these pitfalls.

Mistake 1: only unsubscribing from emails instead of cancelling the donation

What happens: You click "unsubscribe" on a Foundation newsletter email thinking this stops your monthly donation. It does not. You will continue to be charged while your email inbox stays quiet.

How to avoid it: Unsubscribing from emails and cancelling your donation are two separate actions. You must contact the Foundation directly by phone or email and explicitly request cancellation of your monthly gift.

Mistake 2: assuming the foundation will stop charging after you change your payment method

What happens: You delete your credit card from your files or close the bank account linked to your donation. You assume the Foundation will give up trying to charge you. Instead, the charge fails, the Foundation tries again, and your bank charges you a failed transaction fee. Eventually, the Foundation may contact you to update your payment details.

How to avoid it: Formally cancel with the Foundation before changing or closing any payment methods. This removes you from their billing schedule entirely.

Mistake 3: not confirming your cancellation date in writing

What happens: You call the Foundation, speak to someone friendly, and hang up assuming you are cancelled. Three weeks later, another charge hits your account. You now have to call back, and there is no record of your cancellation request because it was not documented.

How to avoid it: Always ask the Foundation staff member to send you written confirmation of your cancellation by email. Include your name, the cancellation date, and the date of your final payment. Save this email permanently.

Mistake 4: cancelling during a promotional period you misunderstood

What happens: The Foundation sent an email about a "matched giving" campaign where donations are doubled for 30 days. You thought you were signing up for a one-off match, but you actually committed to 12 months of doubled monthly gifts. You cancel mid-way and feel guilty for not finishing.

How to avoid it: Before you commit to a monthly donation, read the terms carefully. If you are unsure whether a campaign is temporary or permanent, ask the Foundation in writing before you donate. Once you understand what you have signed up for, you can cancel without guilt if circumstances change.

Your consumer rights and protections in new zealand

As a consumer in New Zealand, you have legal rights when dealing with charities and payment providers. Stopee encourages you to understand and use these protections if the Foundation does not respond to your cancellation request or if something goes wrong.

Direct debit and payment protections

If you set up your donation via direct debit from your bank account, you are protected by New Zealand banking rules. You have the right to cancel a direct debit at any time by contacting your bank and requesting that the debit authority be removed. Your bank can stop the payment immediately, even if the Foundation has not processed your cancellation request.

Pro tip: If the Foundation is slow to respond to your cancellation, you can cancel the direct debit yourself through your online banking or by calling your bank. Tell your bank: "Please cancel the direct debit authority to the Fred Hollows Foundation." This stops the payments while the Foundation processes your formal cancellation request.

Chargeback and dispute rights

If you believe a charge was unauthorised, fraudulent, or the Foundation has ignored your cancellation request and charged you anyway, you can dispute it with your bank. Contact your bank's fraud team and explain the situation. Your bank can investigate and reverse the charge (called a chargeback) under international payment rules.

Warning: You must report unauthorised or disputed payments within your bank's timeframe (usually 90 days from the transaction). After that, your bank may refuse to investigate.

Escalation: charities services and the commerce commission

If the Fred Hollows Foundation refuses to cancel your donation, does not respond to your requests, or behaves unfairly, you can escalate your complaint to Charities Services (part of the Department of Internal Affairs). Charities Services oversees registered charities in New Zealand and can investigate complaints about their conduct.

Visit www.charities.govt.nz to lodge a complaint. You can also contact Citizens Advice Bureau on 0800 367 222 for free advice on your consumer rights and next steps.

If the Foundation engages in misleading marketing or unfair contract terms, you can also report them to the Commerce Commission at www.comcom.govt.nz.

What to do after you have cancelled

Your cancellation is a process, not an event. Protect yourself by tracking the outcome and keeping records for future reference.

Post-cancellation checklist

1. Save your cancellation confirmation email from the Foundation in a folder on your computer or cloud storage.
2. Note the cancellation date and the date of your final payment on a calendar or to-do list.
3. Check your bank statement 5-7 days after your final payment date to confirm no further charges appear.
4. Unsubscribe from Foundation newsletters separately if you no longer wish to receive updates about their programmes.
5. Update your records: if you use a personal finance app or spreadsheet to track charitable giving, remove the Foundation from your recurring donations list.
6. Keep your confirmation email for at least 12 months in case a dispute arises later.

If a payment goes through after you cancel

If your bank statement shows a charge from the Fred Hollows Foundation after your cancellation date, act quickly:

1. Email the Foundation immediately at info@hollows.nz with the subject line "Unauthorised charge after cancellation".
2. Attach a screenshot of your bank statement showing the charge and the date.
3. Reference your previous cancellation request and ask for a refund.
4. Give the Foundation 5 business days to respond.
5. If they do not respond or refuse, contact your bank and file a chargeback dispute.

Contact details and physical address

Use these official contact details for all cancellation and account queries with the Fred Hollows Foundation NZ.

Telephone and email

Phone: 0800 227 229 (toll-free in New Zealand)

Email: info@hollows.nz

Best practice: Call during business hours (09:00-17:00 NZST, Monday-Friday) for the fastest response. Email is useful if you prefer written confirmation of your cancellation.

Postal address

Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand

Private Bag 78016

Grey Lynn

Auckland 1021

New Zealand

You can also include your cancellation request in a formal letter sent to this address, though phone or email is faster.

Summary: your cancellation in one paragraph

To cancel your monthly donation to the Fred Hollows Foundation, call 0800 227 229 or email info@hollows.nz with your name and donor reference. Request written confirmation of your cancellation and the date of your final payment. Verify that the charge stops by checking your bank statement 5-7 days later. Donations are non-refundable under the Foundation's policy, but if you were charged twice or without authorisation, you can dispute the transaction with your bank. Unsubscribe from newsletters separately if needed. Stopee has helped thousands of consumers navigate charity cancellations with clarity and confidence, and this guide ensures you understand your rights and next steps when you need to pause your giving. Your financial wellbeing comes first, and cancelling a charitable donation is always your right.