# BT steps in to help DEC handle online donations

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2004/12/30/bt-steps-help-dec-handle-online-donations/
- Published: 2004-12-30T00:00:00+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

BT is helping the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) handle online donations after
the umbrella body’s Web site failed to cope with the volume of traffic it has been
receiving for the past 48 hours.
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has struggled
to make its online donation service available in the wake of unprecented demand 
by the UK public to make online donations to its Tsunami/Earthquake emergency appeal.
The online donations were being handled by Securetrading.net.

 

 

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Donors who click to give online are now being directed away from the DEC’s site 
to a secure donation page on a BT microsite at donate.bt.com. BT’s support is acknowledged
at the bottom of the donation form with a

 

“powered by BT” logo button and the text “Secure donation powered by BT”.

 

 

Donors attempting to give at the original Securetrading.net Web page are automatically
redirected after one second to the new BT donation page.

 

 

UK Fundraising suggested earlier today that it was about time that the DEC sought
external and preferably donated technical help to ensure that its Web site was able
to handle the demand.

 

 

Although BT’s assistance seems to have resolved this issue, the DEC’s site’s front
page still says, in red text, “Due to high volume of traffic on our website you 
may experience difficulty making a donation online… please please try later, we 
need your money”.

 

 

BT has also donated £500,000 to the DEC appeal and said that it wanted to work with
other major corporations to assist the appeal for funds. The communications company
is also providing equipment and locally-based telecommunications experts in the 
affected regions.

 

 

As well as the online donations service BT is also supporting the DEC fundraising
efforts by providing network management and technical expertise for the appeal help-
lines, together with volunteers to answer phones during a live appeal for funds 
at the BT Tower.

 

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