MPs angered at cash machine fees

MPs have stepped up their investigation into cash machine charges and plan to hold hearings with network operator Link and several consumer groups on December 21.

The Treasury Select Committee is examining the increasing number of machines that levy charges and whether consumers are being properly warned. It is also looking at the impact of charges on poorer households.

Committee chairman John McFall recently invited Post Office minister Gerry Sutcliffe to attend a further hearing during a Commons debate on cash machine charges. Sutcliffe replied: 'How can I resist such an invitation?'

About 1,000 cash machines within post offices charge fees.

The debate was prompted by James Plaskitt, Labour MP for Warwick and Leamington, who complained that cash machine charges fell disproportionately on customers with lower incomes.

Scott Housley, head of banking services at Link, said the company is compiling a written submission for the committee. The Link network has about 53,500 cash machines. Almost 21,000 levy charges, but Housley pointed out that these are responsible for just 3% of all transactions.

Housley said: 'We will provide facts to the committee, but we cannot comment on whether charging is good or bad.

'That is a commercial decision by the owners of cash machines and we cannot be involved.'