LINK welcomes Citizens Advice survey on cash machines

LINK looks forward to using the results of the Citizens Advice survey to support its initiatives to ensure full transparency of cash machine charges.

LINK operates the network to which free and surcharging cash machines must connect, and sets rules requiring clear warnings of any charges for cash withdrawals. Cash machine operators connecting to the LINK network all accept that they must comply with these rules.

• Where LINK is informed by Citizens Advice that there are cash machines that do not comply with LINK's rules, LINK will confirm whether this is the case and as appropriate require the cash machine operator to bring the machines into compliance.
• LINK will use evidence from the Citizens Advice consultation, alongside that gathered from its independent survey work, to inform the review of the new LINK rules on transparency that it introduced in July 2005.
• In consultation with LINK Members, Citizens Advice, the National Consumer Council and other interested parties, LINK will consider what further work to improve transparency of charges would provide genuine benefit to consumers.

LINK is committed to transparency of charges, and agrees that there should be clear warnings about when charges will be imposed, and how much these will be.

LINK introduced rules requiring clear warnings of charges in July 2005.  It has subsequently commissioned extensive independent surveys of compliance with these rules, the results of which were published in December: (http://www.link.co.uk/press/mn_press_release%20160206.html), and which resulted in fines for the minority of charging machines that were found not to comply with one or more LINK rules on transparency.  1.6% of machines did not comply with the rule requiring an on-screen warning of the charge, and all 2,000 machines surveyed complied with the requirement to ask customers to confirm acceptance of the charge or cancel the transaction.

A disappointing total of 13% of machines did not, however, comply with one or more of LINK's rules - in particular rules requiring warnings on the casing of the machine and warnings on certain signs pointing towards the machines. A follow-up survey to check that these machines have been brought into compliance is currently taking place.

LINK has been pleased to consult with Citizens Advice and offer assistance in preparing the Citizens Advice survey. 

Cardholders or advice bureaux who wish to find details of their nearest cash machines and whether they are free or surcharging can find this information through the ATM locator on the LINK website (http://locator.link.co.uk).  96% of all cash withdrawals at ATMs are made free of charge.  While the number of surcharging ATMs has risen rapidly there has not been a decline in the number of free ATMs or consequent erosion in free access to cash.

-ENDS-

Notes for editors

The LINK network supports both free and surcharging cash machines.  Like the government and Treasury Select Committee, LINK believes that surcharging is a legitimate business model that can increase access to cash and benefit local economies, with the proviso that charges should be fully transparent. 

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