Credit cards and Haiti have created a small controversy on Twitter.

Many potential donors are turned off by the fees charged by credit card companies on donations. That’s an understandable reaction.

However, we’d provide a counterpoint- to get money quickly, credit card payments are often the only way. There are obviously other ways to transfer money, but many involve a fee or a time constraint. The Red Cross online alternative to credit card payments, Amazon Payments, has a transaction fee as well.

It’s easy to take umbrage at charges off a tragedy. Still, it’s worth considering the benefits of credit cards in a tragic situation as well as assessing the negatives. Maybe that can generate reform after the fact.

Tags: amazon, controversy, counterpoint, credit card companies, credit card payments, credit cards, donations, donors, haiti, money, red cross, tragedy, tragic situation, transaction fee, umbrage, understandable reaction