Banks / Cash Machines

crana999

from the example of the small local shop it seems it isn't just the "big guys"..

anyone know of anywhere that charges extra for cheques?

Poppy9

Small traders are wary of accepting cheques because so many bounce. Even if you have correctly completed the cheque guarantee card number and are below the limit (£50 or £100) it is difficult to get the bank to honour the cheques.

When trading we regularly had cheques bouncing due to closed accounts. At least with card payments if you swiped the card on the bank electronic machine (as opposed to the manual machine) you were guaranteed your money if they had authorised. When you bank cheques you can bank a bundle of 1 or 100 the cost is the same about 30p for the lot (unless of course you have negotiated free business banking).

Fatboy_NSS

Free ATMs are never going to go away, no matter what kind of scare story the Daily Mail tries to publish. As my area manager always points out, a counter transaction costs us £1 whereas an ATM transaction costs us less than 10p, plus ATMs make far fewer mistakes than branch staff. Removing our free ATMs would increase costs rather than lower them. In addition we currently get to show our adverts to customers of other banks using our ATMs. I'm sure we like being able to advertise cheaply to other banks' customers and would like to carry on doing this!

In response to some of the comments above, my nearest cash machine is in my local coop 2 mins walk away which charges £1.50. However 6 months ago my local cash machine was at a bank branch 30 mins walk away. So I have not been disadvantaged in any way by the introduction of the charging machine.

Poppy9

Does the 10p ATM transaction cost relate to ATMs at staffed branches only or all ATM's?.

In our local council offices we had a small sub branch open 3 days a week for 2 hours. Always very busy with queues etc. When the council renewed their contract for banking services this was withdrawn due to the cost involved. Staff asked if there was a possiblity of an ATM as the building has over 2000 staff. We were told no as it was too expensive.

I know private firms are the only ones charging now for ATMs but last year it was the banks themselves who started charging but withdrew it after complaints. If I remember rightly it was free to use if it was you banked with the ATM bank but £1 otherwise.

jellyhead

from the example of the small local shop it seems it isn't just the "big guys"..

anyone know of anywhere that charges extra for cheques?

i don't think my corner shop charges for cheques. i also think there's a limit to their card charge, e.g. if you spent over a certain amount they wouldn't charge you. so the people who are buying cigarettes and alcohol at the same time as their bread wouldn't pay the 19p charge.