EXCLUSIVE: End of rip-off ATM machines that charge to fee withdraw cash
RIP-OFF cash machines, which charge people up to £5 to withdraw their own money, are on the decline, saving consumers about £40million a year in fees.
New figures show there are 3,000 fewer fee-charging ATM machines than five years ago and 245 of them closed in the first two months of this year alone.
The number of customers paying to withdraw cash from ATMs also fell from 86 million in 2010 to 62 million in 2014.
By contrast the number of free to use cash machines rose to 50,578, says Link, the UK’s cash machine network.
Last night Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said: “There is real momentum behind the Conservatives’ campaign to allow people to access their cash without being ripped off by dubious ATM fees.”
Ministers set out plans last October to give owners of shops, pubs and petrol stations a discount on business rates to make up the shortfall in rental income if they got rid of a fee-paying machine.
An ATM firm rents space from a retailer then charges customers fees.
The average withdrawal fee is £1.70 but some charge £2.50 and a few £5 or even £10, according to figures last year.
There is real momentum behind the Conservatives’ campaign to allow people to access their cash without being ripped off
There were 21,700 fee-charging ATMs in 2010 and that fell to 18,555 in February, saving about £40million a year in fees.
Consumer groups are concerned that pensioners, in particular, who live in rural areas where there are fewer free machines, have to pay each time they need cash.
Mr Pickles said: “We would encourage councils to use their powers to cut business rates for community cash machines.
"The Government will pay half the cost and this will help support shops.”
A Link spokeswoman said: “Link works with government, local authorities and consumer groups to support cash machines in areas where it would otherwise be difficult to access cash.”
Cardtronics UK, which owns a third of the fee-charging ATMs, blamed “heavy business rates” for fees.
A spokesman said: “Where a machine doesn’t get enough users, or has to pay heavy business rates, fees are used to cover costs.”
