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UK convenience store group urges LINK to cancel fee cut amid crisis in cash access

December 31, 2019

The U.K.'s  Association of Convenience Stores is urging LINK, the entity that controls that country's ATM network, to cancel its next planned fee cut in order to stem the loss of low cost cash access through the reduction in machines. 

ACS says that thousands of free cash machines have been removed due to the cuts in fees paid to ATM operators, resulting in thousands of people across the country being unable to access cash from their bank accounts. 

ACS said the next cut is one year away, and is calling in LINK to return fees to pre-2018 levels. 

"Protecting access to cash is crucial for the millions of people that still rely on it every day," James Lowman, chief executive of ACS, said in a release from the association. "Communities across the U.K. have been left without a cash machine as a result of LINK's programme of cuts to interchange fees, with many more only being able to get to a machine locally that charges to withdraw money."

Gareth Shaw, head of money at Which, a consumer organization that has followed the ATM issue in the U.K., said that access to free ATMs is already low in the country, and is urging the government step in to ensure free cash access. 

John Howells, CEO of LINK, responded to the announcement in a statement released to Mobile Payments Today: 

"Cash use is falling and LINK data shows ATM use also declining at over 10% year-on-year," he said via email. "LINK believes that every community should have free access to cash and so has increased interchange where necessary to maintain a free ATM. Where an ATM isn't possible, LINK supports the free withdrawal service available at every post office."

Cover image: iStock.