Most withdrawals are free across the LINK network but sometimes you may be charged.
Charges for Cash
Around 95% of cash withdrawals are free of charge and at the majority of cash machines in the UK there is no charge for cash withdrawals when using a debit card or ATM card.
You will only be charged if;
- you have a credit card, store card or charge card or your card issuer charges a cash advance fee (this is very unusual), or
- if the ATM or cash at the till operator indicates you will be charged.
Fair Rules on Charging
The LINK Network allows both free and chargeable ("pay-to-use") access to cash. Government and Parliament have recognised that chargeable as well as free access to cash can benefit the public and local businesses alike.
LINK does not itself impose any charges on customers access cash, and does not set the level of any fee charged. LINK does require all cash machine and/or cash at the till operators and card issuers to follow certain rules on charging, and the transparency of charging. LINK rules:
- forbid double charging, so a bank fee and an ATM fee cannot be made on the same transaction;
- require all pay-to-use ATMs and cash at the till terminals to carry an on-screen message stating that the machine will charge you for cash, and specifying the amount of the charge;
- require all pay-to-use ATMs and cash at the till terminals to confirm the customer's acceptance of the specific charge and offer the customer the option to cancel the transaction without incurring a penalty;
- require pay-to-use ATMs and cash at the till locations to carry external signage stating that the machine will charge you for cash withdrawals;
- require that when acquirers provide signage pointing towards pay-to-use ATMs and cash at the till locations, this must carry a notice saying that there will be a charge to access cash.
The LINK Scheme seeks to maintain and enforces these rules, including by undertaking regular surveys of ATM and cash at the till location signage. If you see a cash machine or cash at the till location that does not comply with these rules, please contact us.
