Action demanded over 99p ATM charge by NoteMachine

Welsh Liberal Democrat assembly member Kirsty Williams is demanding action over NoteMachine’s decision to add a 99p charge on the only 24-hour ATM in a town in her constituency.

The owner of Hay On Wye Post Office had worked hard to secure a free-to-use ATM for the town, according to an aid for the assembly member, who added that the loss would be detrimental to cash-only retailers nearby.

Read more: NoteMachine enforces 99p ATM charges

Welsh Lib Dem leader Jane Dodds said she was “concerned” about the move and confirmed that Williams had written to the Post Office to demand action. Better Retailing understands that the Post Office response laid the blame at the door of NoteMachine and that the politician is now pushing the ATM operator – which is headquartered in her own constituency, to change its decision.

Williams said she had also raised the issue of NoteMachine’s ATM charge with chancellor of the exchequer, Sajid Javid. An aid to Williams added that the local council may consider paying NoteMachine for the ATM to remain free to use and said that the local problem highlighted ‘wider issues of access to cash.’

The move came a week after the Welsh government removed small business rates relief on all ATMs in the country, forcing shops like Hay On Wye Post Office to pay thousands of pounds per year extra tax from next April.