Post Office vows to pay external ATM rates for Scottish stores

The Post Office (PO) has committed to paying the external ATM business rates on behalf of all its Scottish stores.

The news comes after stores were left feeling “put out” for being excluded in the Supreme Court ruling in 2020 that would see retailers in England receive more than £500m in rebates.

The decision ended a near decade-long struggle by supermarkets and ATM providers to remove separate rates payable on external facing machine.

Following this, the National Federation of Subpostmasters have written to the Scottish government and the Scottish Assessors Association and are awaiting a reply about the decision of the High Court in Scotland being overruled.

PO confirmed the news to Better Retailing today and told postmasters to expect letters detailing the announcement tomorrow.

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A spokesperson said: “ATM Rates in Scotland are governed by the Scottish Assessors Association. For many years we actively supported Postmasters who operate an external ATM to appeal the rating principle at various levels which culminated in a case being heard at the Lands Valuation Appeals Court. This is the highest court of appeal in Scotland and there is no further route of appeal. We have been and continue to work with the NFSP on what can be done with regards to the ratings principle in Scotland following the judgement at the court of appeal in England & Wales.

“We fully recognise the costs operating an external ATM places on Postmasters in Scotland which is why from the 2022 – 2023 financial year we will pay the ATM business rates for all Postmasters in Scotland that have an external ATM. We have informed Postmasters in Scotland that are retaining an ATM of this support.”