Paying to use an ATM

[flip-flop]

How many people on this site are prepared to pay a charge to draw their money out?

I have gone miles out of my way before just to avoid paying - probably used more in fuel than the charge so is probably a bit of a Pyrrhic victory - but I just can't stand the thought of being charged.

[mycats]

In my village there is a choice of the post office and if that is closed, the machine at the garage that charges �1.60 !! To take MY money out! It drives me mad! If at all possible I will wait with no cigarettes or milk lol till next morning, so I can get it out for free from the post office

[Bohne]

I am not going miles out of my way to find the right ATM, usually the right ones are around, though.

[Maggie-Mae]

I would go out of my way to avoid paying charges because its the principle of thing - why should you have to pay to get your own money. God, we get ripped off enough in this country as it is!!

[kevshakry]

its penny wise pound foolish to go miles out of your way to avoid a charge unless its proper worth it - i dont think it is. there must be a machine somewhere near that doesnt charge.

[Whickerman]

Although there are no ATMs here in Ireland that charge like that, each bank can chanrge their own customers a fee - usually about 25cent - for each transaction. However market forces have forced banks to reduce or drop all charges - free banking is now the norm. All it took was for one bank to make the change, then everyone switched accounts - amazing how fast the others moved too then. They make their money on loan interest etc.

[libertie]

Does annoy me, but I usually do it anyhow, just can't be bothered with the inconvenience of looking around! Often use cashback at the supermarket..slightly embarrased to admit that I don't know if I'm charged for that service though!!

[Ethel]

I would NEVER pay. I am appalled that the local Spar shop is also charging for 'cashback' with purchases.

Needless to say they have lost my custom.

[natalie_1982]

There are only 2 cashpoints on the estate I live on, one at the shop and the other in the pub, neither the pub nor the shop do cashback any more because they get a percentage of the fee charged by the ATM that they supply.

Last week me and my husband went to the pub and went to withdraw cash and the machine was broken, we wanted some change for the pool table but had no cash on us at all and although the pub would take our money via debit card for the drinks they would not give any cashback even though the machine was broken!

If I am in town I make a point of using a machine that doesn't charge but at weekends at home I don't have a choice or it means I have to take enough cash out to last me a weekend from a non fee charging ATM.

Also, the machines near me you can withdraw a maximum of �60 so if you needed more than that then you have to do two transactions and get chared twice!!

[horsestache1]

I hate having to pay to withdraw cash. In our village we only have a garage (2 miles away), and the ATM charge is �1.50, this is disgusting, particularly if you only want �10.00.

[alijangra]

Im lucky I live very central in a city so many, many banks with free ATMs. My local pub does have a machine that charges and I have seen me use it out of sheer laziness as there is a Lloyds TSB bank across the street!

[flipflop104]

God no - I too would go out of my way or do without something rather than getting charged by an ATM - it's outrageous!

Especially seeing as interest charged on loans, etc. is so high and interest gained from savings is so (relatively) low.

Luckily I live in a city and there are plenty of choices and very few who do charge (usually in pubs, etc)

[WoWo]

Why shouldn't you pay for a service which is offered. They are charging you for the use of a machine which costs money to produce and run.

If you are bothered why don't you get your wages in cash and stick it under the bed, no bank fees or cash machine charges ever again.

I don't have a problem paying the fee for the convenience of having 24 hour access to my money. Simple as that.

[Famous5]

One of the reasons why we must use ATMs is that so many banks have closed their local branches for reasons of 'efficiency'. The charge is another way for them to increase their already vast profits.

The banks are saving on salaries, rents, rates etc and then clawing in our money on top.

More and more places are getting plastic friendly and eventually cash could disappear (remember cheques and postal orders?), so we may not need ATMs or bank cashiers anyway.

I guess the banks will then find another way of draining us

[joko]

i agree with wowo.

I hate having to pay a charge and would make a bit of a detour to avoid the fee, but you can't really blame them for charging

- would you provide a similar service - buy an expensive machine, operate it 24 hrs a day, regularly stock the machine and even allow customers from other banks to use it, causing you to have some administrative tasks - for nothing??

they don't have to have these machines installed - it is a bonus - you can always just go to your branch, taking time off work to do so, and queue up if you'd prefer.

as i say I don't want to pay either, but the outraged indignance expressed here is laughable.

its like huffily refusing to pay for 'fresh air' for your tyres at the petrol station - you are paying for the facility not the result - i'd like to see them get the air in there themselves without the use of the expensive high pressure air pump and cannister, provided by the petrol station for a few pence!

remember when there was no such thing as cashpoints?