ATM furore
The MP for Rutherglen and Cambuslang has launched a campaign to ban fee-charging cash machines as he continues to call for better banking facilities.
Gerard Killen wants to make charging cash machines illegal and protect free access to cash.
The MP for Rutherglen and Cambuslang is on a oneman crusade to ban feecharging cash machines as he continues to call for better banking facilities.
Gerard Killen wants to make charging cash machines illegal and protect free access to cash with the introduction of a 10-minute bill in the House of Commons.
Mr Killen says the continued closure of local branches could see the proliferation of fee-charging ATMs in his constituency and others.
The MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West said: “Banks are closing across Scotland with only their word that they will leave a free-to-use cash machine in a local community.
“I’m worried we are heading towards a situation where free cash machines are rarer and rarer. I want to ban these fees, but also bring in some kind of protection for the free availability of cash, whether that’s through the post office or existing bank network.
“These need to be done side by side.”
Mr Killen said fee-charging ATMs in his constituency were overwhelmingly located in poorer areas, with people on low incomes more likely to have to pay to access their cash.
This, he says, only plunges people further into poverty.
Three of the six fee-charging ATMs in Rutherglen and Cambuslang are in areas of high deprivation in Burnhill, Fernhill and Bankhead.
Mr Killen added: “So many people still rely on cash, particularly the elderly and those who don’t have large incomes. These people tend to withdraw money more regularly. If they are being charged £2 or £2.95 every time they make a withdrawal that will have a massive impact.
“We are sleep walking into this situation and as always it will be the most vulnerable that will pay the most.”
Mr Killen hopes the House of Commons will have a time to allocate to him to introduce his bill, which he is seeking cross party support for.
It has already won the backing of Citizens Advice Scotland.
Sharon Hampson, manager at Rutherglen and Cambuslang CAB, said: “Overall, one in five members of the public do not have convenient access to a free-to-use machine and a further reduction will severely limit people’s ability to access their money.
“Several of our debt clients have mentioned cash points and charges as we have a dearth of cash machines in Cambuslang.
“Rutherglen Main Street may have around half a dozen which are free, but the cost to clients from Cambuslang could be significant if the cash machine at Costas and the Post Office are out of order, meaning the clients require to either walk to Rutherglen or pay bus fares for themselves and their children.”
John Howells, chief executive of Link - which manages the ATM network, said: “LINK’s aim is to ensure an extensive, free network so that no consumer is forced to use a charging machine.
“We have been in touch with Mr Killen’s office to look at the current provision across the constituency.”
LINK’s aim is to ensure an extensive, free network so no consumer is forced to use a charging machine . . . John Howells of LINK