2 May 2006
The UK's largest building society has called on the government to take decisive action to protect consumers from fee-charging cash machines.
Nationwide made the plea ahead of an ATM summit, due to be hosted by the Treasury later this week. Representatives from building societies, banks and consumer groups will be present at the meeting, designed to enquire into how best to protect UK current account holders.
"It is important that next week's summit on this issue is not just a talking shop. The meeting can only be called a success if it secures a clear and open commitment from all present," said Nationwide executive director Stuart Bernau.
"If banks cannot commit to keeping free cash machine networks, the government must, at the very least, get the industry to commit to clear signs that show people at a glance if they will be charged for withdrawing cash. The government must also commit to monitoring the growth of charging machines and the impact of charges on consumers."
The building society said that it thought at the very least, machines should be labelled with red or green symbols to indicate if they charge a fee for withdrawing cash.
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