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Would you use an ATM to donate to charity?

by John Fitzsimons 08 May 2012 |

9 comments | Love

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From this summer, we will all be able to make donations to charity through a cash machine.

12,000 machines, owned by RBS and independent operator Bank Machine, will be first, with others expected to follow later this year.

Each bank can choose which charity or charities to support, and users can choose to donate when they use a cash machine.

Will this help boost charitable donations? Does it make it more likely that you will donate?

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Comments (9)

1

tk0306 posted
Will the charity benefit from Gift Aid?
Posted on 08 May 2012 | Love 0 loves Report
599

Mike10613 posted
RBS is a charity isn't it? :)
Posted on 08 May 2012 | Love 0 loves Report
202

fenemore posted
This will never work for many reasons. I doubt any of the charities will be those I would normally support - they would be the bank's choice.

I am also suspicious of the process - will the money ever reach the charity? How will we know if it does or doesn't?

Finally - I find the whole idea of an ATM prompting me to respond to a donation request, quite repulsive. Imagine it was a teller within the bank asking you to make a donation whilst you pay in a cheque - you might feel obligated. Nobody should feel pressured to donate!
Posted on 08 May 2012 | Love 1 love Report
77

Talent posted
Do you really trust the scum running the banks to pass all of the donations on.... really! How long before it becomes an opt out option than an opt in one? You don't think that will happen.... really!
We are constantly being bombarded with this charadee and that charadee being set up in this persons memory and that persons memory. Charadee overload and nice little earners for some administrators. You don't think so.... really!
Posted on 08 May 2012 | Love 1 love Report
174

JoeEasedale posted
I will choose the charities I support. I will not pick from a list provided by anyone else.
Posted on 08 May 2012 | Love 0 loves Report
879

MikeGG1 posted
The chances that they would offer the charities that I would like to support are pretty remote. They are very unlikely to offer local charities.

Gift Aid would also have to be included.

Mike
Posted on 08 May 2012 | Love 0 loves Report
72

PDB11 posted
I'm with most of the people here - I'd rather choose my own charities. I have a list of about twenty to whom I give by standing order and direct debit, and I like to do a bit of research before adding one to the list.

MikeGG1 and t60306's comments about gift aid are well made. For me at least that's very important, since I'm a higher rate taxpayer.

I think the comments to the effect that the charities will never get the money are unduly cynical. That's pretty easy to audit, since the cash machines will keep a record of donations. BUT I do think it'll be a bit like a charity credit card, or the National Lottery Fund. Yes, giving this way means some money will reach the charities; but there are far better and more cost-effective ways of contributing.

(With one or two exceptions. Two charities whom I have phoned to ask for direct debit and gift aid forms have never sent me anything. But at least I haven't put my money into a black hole!)
Posted on 09 May 2012 | Love 1 love Report
8

Singe57 posted
Charitiies are just one big rip off in general, now the banks are getting involved, I wonder why?
Posted on 09 May 2012 | Love 1 love Report
16

raba9 posted
To question 2: in a word - no!
Posted on 09 May 2012 | Love 1 love Report