7 in 10 cash machines could start charging – or be axed

As MANY as seven in ten cash machines could be removed or impose charges.

One of the UK’s biggest independent machine operators, Notemachine, warned cuts in the fees it receives from banks could leave firms with no other option. It means more than 37,000 free ATMs are at risk.

It comes after Link, which runs the UK cash machine network, told operators the interchange fee, paid to them by banks when their customers use a machine, would not increase despite rises in running costs.

Operators say a failure to raise it in line with interest rates and other costs means an effective cut in income. Typically, a bank pays the operator a 26.5p fee per use, but 29.3p for machines with protected status, where it is seen as essential.

Notemachine said unless the fee is raised, more than 2,100 machines on its network are at risk of becoming pay-to-use. Caroline Abrahams, of charity Age UK, told The sunday Telegraph: ‘For many older people, cash makes day-to-day transactions much easier and widespread availability is essential.’

A Link spokesman said its task is to ensure every high street with five or more shops has free access to cash.