People in Britain donated a total of £1 billion to charity using debit and credit cards last year, new figures have revealed.
The data, released by the Association for Payment Clearing Services, also showed that the average donation using a debit or credit card was £44.75 during 2007.
It also revealed that there were 2.9 million more donations by debit card and 1.3 million more by credit card, when compared to 2006.
Sandra Quinn, director of communications at the firm, said: "Last year we donated a staggering £1 billion on our cards and it seems very likely that our increasing preference to pledge by plastic has been spurred on by all the growing opportunities to pay online or over the phone ."
She added that credit cards linked to a charity are a way in which consumers can contribute money to good causes without an extra cost to themselves.
However, last month moneysupermarket.com claimed that charity credit cards are not an efficient way to donate money .
Steve Willey, head of credit cards for the firm, explained that someone who spent £500 on a Comic Relief card will only donate £36 to charity.
He suggested transferring to a better deal and donating some of the money saved to charity instead.
News Side
Credit card donations on the rise
Mon, 17 Mar 2008
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