Forum Topic

Cash Machines

So many cash machines charge you these days, and though it's a bit of a cheek it can be tempting to pay up rather then drive/walk to a free machine. BUT about three times lately I have pressed the button agreeing  to pay £1.50 flat rate thinking that it's not that bad if you're taking out £100. But then the machine coughs up £20 and says it's out of cash!  And that is a high percentage. Anyone else suffered?  Surely the machine can be programmed to prompt you with 'I haven't got that much, do you still want to continue?"  I'm so cross :o(

Viv Ellis ● 6899d12 Comments

Ive never heard of that wheeze before. Sure sounds like a scam. I just wonder how many people behind you/after you get £20 too (meaning it could in fact pay out the £100). I always avoid these hole in the walls and would always use the free ones at supermarkets etc.

David Archer ● 6899d

I'm no lawyer but I'm pretty sure it's breech of contract. You've agreed to withhdraw X for a fee of Y so once you press the Commit button it's a done deal.Who operates these things?

Gavin Gilbert ● 6899d

Aren't they Link machines? Sounds like a topic BBC Watchdog would love.

David Archer ● 6899d

Yes they are Link Machines, here is the link:http://www.link.co.uk/mn_homepage.html

Wayne Bridges ● 6899d

Always double check and have a good look at the cash machine BEFORE you insert your card just in case there is some sort of scam going on!I don't even use the cash machines outside the bank, I feel safer inside when using my card. Some people tend to stand too close for comfort, they should have a line drawn around the machine so people in the queue keep their distance.It's a sad state of affairs when one must act with caution nowadays!I do hope you sorted the problem out with the bank.Jean

Robert Julian Fernandez ● 6899d

Thanks Wayne I hadn't had a chance to look yet!

Viv Ellis ● 6898d

The one thing that annoys me about these machines is that they all charge diffent prices. There is a machine near where I live that charges £1.70 yet the one close to where I work charges £1.85 ... its criminal!

Wayne Bridges ● 6898d

They charge different prices because they are run by different operators.The Link Network is owned by the High Street Banks. Link sells its services back to the banks and charges a fee per transaction.  For a normal Bank maintained machine this fee is absorbed into the Banks operating costs.For the 'Operator' maintained machines these costs need to be recouped (I suspect the operators pay a higher fee to Link than the Link members) - together with the hire of the ADSL line, rent to the premises housing the ATM’s , the lease of the ATM’s themselves etc.  The actual profit margin for the operators on each £1.70 transaction is going to be very small.As with most things, you’re paying for convenience.  You’ve always got the option of travelling to a ‘free’ machine

Gavin Gilbert ● 6898d

Well I never. I fired of a grumpy e-mail to the people that run the machines. They called me back promptly, agreed that having to pay £1.50 for a £20 withdrawal is not acceptable  and assured me that if you get a "partial dispense" (ie the machine runs out of cash) you do not get charged the fee.  It's probably worth noting the date/time if this happens though - so you can double check with them or your bank statement. This is dangerously like good customer  service.

Viv Ellis ● 6898d

Well done Viv! It certainly pays to complain.

David Archer ● 6898d

I'm getting more and more like Victor Meldrew every day  ;))

Viv Ellis ● 6898d

I don't like paying for getting my cash at all but in some areas the number of free machines is so low.Take my patch, Northfields, for example. The Tesco machines have disappeared (anyone know why - heard rumour of 'security'?) and the one at the station was broken for over a week. It's a fair way to the next nearest free machine in West or South Ealing.I've taken to using the card to pay for almost everything.

Sam Salisbury ● 6896d