Sandra Quinn, Director of communications at Apacs said, “Last year we donated a staggering £1 billion on our cards and it seems very likely that our increasing preference to pledge by plastic has been spurred on by all the growing opportunities to pay online or over the phone.”

Apacs revealed that the first time many people used their credit cards to make donations to charity was soon after the Asian tsunami appeal and claim they have seen a gradual increase in the number of gestures of aid and the average value paid month by month ever since.

However, money education charity, Credit Action said despite these generous people who start to rely on their credit cards on a regular basis or consider them as being essential, should seek financial help with their debts.