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Free-to-use ATMs disappearing fast, UK watchdog group says

September 18, 2018

The U.K. watchdog group Which is urging ATM users across the country to report problems with their local cash machine — for instance, having to travel a long distance to get to a machine, or encountering constant breakdowns or cash out issues at a location.

"Your story could help us highlight the flaws in the current system and protect your access to cash," a recent blog at the organization's website said.

Citing Link ATM network numbers, Which said that free-to-use cash machines are disappearing at the rate of 250 per month, with the total falling from 54,500 noncharging machines on Feb. 1 to 53,200 on July 1.

Link has promised to protect ATMs located 1 kilometer (.62 miles) or more from the next nearest free-to-use machine. These "protected" ATMs are promised a higher per-transaction payment than those that are more densely distributed. However, 76 of these machines, representing 3 percent of the protected network, have disappeared, Which said.

The Payments Systems Regulator has promised to closely scrutinize ATM distribution across the U.K. According to Which, a PSR spokesman told the organization that Link would be ordered to maintain a broad geographic spread of ATMs and report their status on a regular basis.