BBC News: The number of ATMs in the United Kingdom that charge fees for cash withdraws jumped last year, according to the Association for Payment Clearing Services.
Overall, ATM numbers rose to more than 54,000 units across the U.K. during 2004. Of that 54,000, more than 7,000 (about four out of 10) are independently operated, and most charge a fee of approximately 1.50 pounds (U.S. $ 2.75) to withdraw cash.
In total, the number of independently operated cash machines rose from 14,436 to 21,683 during 2004, according to Apacs.
The spread of fee-charging ATMs is being investigated by a committee of parliament, concerned about the high charges.
Rosemary Calendar, a spokeswoman for Nationwide Building Society, said fee-charging ATMs will soon be the norm. "By the end of 2006, we predict the number of fee-charging machines will overtake free machines," she said.
(Read also ... ATM backlash drops off in UK)
