# Mobile companies waive fees for SMS donations to Comic Relief

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/03/12/mobile-companies-waive-fees-sms-donations-comic-relief/
- Published: 2009-03-12T12:37:43+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**This year the public can, for the first time, text a £5 or a £1 donation to Comic
Relief knowing that every penny will go to the charity.**

Mobile industry companies 3, O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Virgin and Vodafone have agreed
to waive their usual charges to ensure a £1 or £5 text means a £1 or £5 donation
to Comic Relief, and the Treasury has confirmed that because of this no VAT will
be charged on these donations.

The £5 text number (66609) opened on 2 March and will be one of the options viewers
can use to donate on the night of TV on 13 March.

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Since 27 February Radio 1 listeners have been able to send a £1 text (88808) to 
sponsor the celebrity team on the Red Nose Climb. Both donation lines close at midnight
on 31 March 2009.

The SMS service is being provided by Buongiorno, in collaboration with Mobile Interactive
Group (MIG).

Emma Freud, Trustee of Comic Relief, said: “The spirit of the entire mobile industry
has taken our breath away. We believe receiving every penny from texts donated by
the public will make the most remarkable difference – helping us to transform and
save literally thousands of lives.

“An astonishing £190,000 was donated via the £1 text donation line on the first 
day it opened on Radio 1, and in that week it raised nearly £800,000. We have high
hopes for the £5 text line on Red Nose Day. This stuff works!”

Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Stephen Timms, said: “The Government is fully
behind the very important work of Comic Relief. That’s why I’m delighted to confirm
that no VAT will be charged on donations, so every penny donated will go straight
to Comic Relief.”

Sue Hammett, Community Investment Manager, Orange UK, said: “Orange has just launched
a new community strategy and what better way to kick start it, by waiving our charity
rate associated with text donations to Comic Relief. We know our customers are great
supporters of Comic Relief, so we wanted to make sure we supported them and this
great charity.”

www.bbc.co.uk/rednoseday

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