Dan Rogerson MP for North Cornwall

Dan Rogerson, MP for North Cornwall, has today highlighted the new rules to protect local consumers from unwittingly paying cash machine charges. Almost half the UK's cash machines now charge a fee, typically around ?1.50.

Rural constituencies like North Cornwall are particularly badly hit, as banks are few and far between, and many people from local communities can only access their money via a charging cash machine. Mr Rogerson is supporting a new campaign to protect the free cash machine network and ensure that consumers who do not want to pay charges are able to make that choice.

From tomorrow (1st July 2005) ATMs that charge a fee will have to display a clear sign showing how much it will cost to withdraw money. Posters and other adverts for the machine will also have to make it clear that there will be a charge to withdraw cash.

Commenting, Dan Rogerson said
"I welcome the new rules and will support the principle that consumers should be able to see before using the machines that a charge will be incurred for withdrawing money."

"Five years ago virtually all cash machines in the UK were free, but nearly every other machine now charges a fee. According to a report conducted by the Nationwide Building Society, consumers are paying more than ?200 million a year in unnecessary charges for accessing their own money."

"I am very concerned about this rapid growth and will be working to ensure that a free ATM network is protected for constituents in North Cornwall who do not want, or cannot afford, to pay to access their cash."

"Any constituent who has been charged by a cash machine without the proper warnings should report it to LINK on 01423 356000 or email linkinfo@link.co.uk, and let me know about it."