British banks and credit card companies have agreed to waive charges on donations to charities raising money for the Asian tsunami disaster.
The Association of Payment Clearing Services announced Tuesday its members had agreed not to claim transaction fees on donations, meaning all the money will go directly to the relief effort. The waiver will be backdated to apply to all donations so far.
"We are all united in delivering this additional contribution to the charitable efforts of the British public," the organization said in a press release.
There had been concerns that charities would have to pay up to $600,000 in charges.
Donations from the British public have reached $146 million and are said to be rising at $1.9 million an hour.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
