Charges at cash machines (ATMs)

96% of all cash withdrawals are free and at the majority of ATMs in the UK there is no charge for cash withdrawals when using a debit card or ATM card.

You will only be charged

a) if you have a credit card, store card or charge card and your card issuer charges a cash advance fee

or

b) If you use a pay to use ATM which imposes a charge, sometimes called a convenience fee.

Fair rules on charging

The LINK network allows both free and charging (“Pay to use”) ATMs - Government and Parliament have recognised that charging as well as free machines can help to improve the public’s access to cash and benefit local businesses.

LINK does not itself impose any charges on customers who use ATMs, and does not set the level of any fee charged.

The LINK ATM Scheme does require all ATM owners and card issuers which use the LINK network to follow certain rules on charging, and the transparency of charging. In particular, LINK rules

• Forbid double charging, so an issuer fee and an acquirer charge cannot be made on the same transaction;

• Require all pay to use ATMs to carry an on screen message stating that the machine will charge you for cash withdrawals and specifying the amount of the charge;

• Require all pay to use ATMs to confirm the customer’s acceptance of the specific charge and offer the customer the option to cancel the transaction without incurring a penalty.

• Require pay to use ATMs to carry external signage stating that the machine will charge you for cash withdrawals;

• Require that when LINK members provide signage pointing towards pay to use ATMs, this should carry a warning that the machine will charge;

The LINK ATM Scheme seeks to maintain and enforces these rules, including by regular surveys of ATM signage.

Members of the public are encouraged to report any ATMs which they consider to be in breach of these rules through our on-line system, Contact Us or telephone on 01423 356000. LINK always follows up any such notifications with the LINK member concerned.

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