# DEC warns some tsunami donations may take a month to process

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2005/02/02/dec-warns-some-tsunami-donations-may-take-month-process/
- Published: 2005-02-02T00:00:00+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has announced on its website that some donors
might find that it takes until the end of February for their donations to the DEC
Tsunami Earthquake appeal to be processed.
In fact, the DEC is giving out mixed 
messages to donors. On [one page](http://www.dec.org.uk/html/asset_1395.shtml) it
reports that “We hope to have all donations processed by the end of February.” On
[another page](http://www.dec.org.uk/html/asset_1326.shtml) it says “We hope to 
have all donations processed by the middle of March.”

It explains that “the sheer scale of the response has led to delays in processing
a small proportion of donations.” It asks donors to “please bear with us” if donatons
do not appear on their bank or credit card statement.

Sadly, such an approach could damage the beneficial effects on charitable giving
that some are anticipating after the massive public support for the tsunami appeal.
If even the umbrella body can’t process credit/debit card donations for two months
or more after they were received, especially when the gifts were for an emergency
appeal, then the public would be entitled to wonder just how effective fundraising
charities are.

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