The public is being asked to take part in an online survey on the national Citizens Advice website www.adviceguide.org.uk about how cash machine charges affect them. Adviceguide was a winner in the e-Government National Awards 2005.
Citizens Advice is concerned that this has an unfair impact on people on low incomes, who often need to take out small amounts of money in more frequent transactions. The charity is also worried that often people are not warned about the charges being made.
Almost 6,000 bank closures since 1990 have left many of those who can least afford it with little option but to use high-charging convenience cash machines, or else spend money on fares to reach places where they can access their money for free.
A pilot Citizens Advice poll of more than 1,200 people found that a quarter use a charging cash machine at least once a week, but four in ten say they were not warned in advance of the charge and one in five don’t know where to find free machines.
David Martin, head of campaigns at Citizens Advice, said: “Charges for using cash machines are excessive, unfair and on the increase. They hit people on low incomes and those living in deprived areas particularly hard, and this is made worse by recent bank and post office closures, and the move to pay all benefits into accounts. We think banks and cash machines should always display clear warnings about when charges will be imposed and how much these will be.
“The results of this survey will indicate how clear the warning signs on cash machines really are. We also want to make sure people know where they can find free machines locally, so local bureaux will be collecting information in their area and publicising the location of free machines.
“We hope everyone who can will take part in our quick and easy survey online of how cash machine charges affect them. The findings will be used in local campaigns around the country as well as being used in our national Citizens Advice campaign for a better deal for everyone.”
Quelle: Publictechnology, 03.03.2006
