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-   -   London bank ATM fees (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/london-bank-atm-fees-975065/)

clevelandbrown Apr 20th, 2013 07:29 AM

London bank ATM fees
 
I've read that the EU has a law that banks in the EU cannot charge a fee for an ATM withdrawal. This law does not apply to non-banks, so I have been careful, and successful, in using only ATMs that are marked as bank owned.

However, we will be going to London, and my guidebook says that some banks charge a fee and some don't. Is that correct? If so, which banks don't charge the fee.

Please note that I am not asking about the fee my bank charges, nor the conversion fee that the ATM card companies charge (that is often passed on my our banks, or even augmented). I have a handle on that end of the process.

janisj Apr 20th, 2013 07:31 AM

I have never been charged fees by a bank ATM in the UK

jamikins Apr 20th, 2013 07:39 AM

Nope banks here don't, and you will always be told if the non-bank machines do before you do the transaction.

sofarsogood Apr 20th, 2013 07:46 AM

UK banks and building societies offer free cash machines in their branches and some other locations, for example shopping centres.

There are fee-charging machines owned and managed by independent companies. Non-bank providers charge customers to use their cash machines and these may be found in petrol stations, bars, newsagents etc.

A notice on the outside of the cash machine will say there is a fee, typically about £1.50 per withdrawal. In addition, an on-screen message tells users that if they withdraw cash a fee will be incurred.

If you see a machine which charges a fee simply find another machine.

Michael Apr 20th, 2013 07:50 AM

If you have a BofA account, there are no charges at either end (assuming there might be one in the UK) when withdrawing money from a Barclays ATM.

hetismij2 Apr 20th, 2013 08:27 AM

For a start you are misreading EU law.
Banks are not allowed to charge anymore for a Euro transaction aboraod than they would at home. SO my bank offers free banking, so I am not charged for taking out Euros in say france.
Another bank may have a charge per ATM transaction, in which case that charge applies if you take out Euros in France, just as it would in your home country.

For non Euro transactions, so in Denmark or the UK for instance, I can be charges a fee for the transaction by either bank.

I am afraid the same applies to you as you are always making a foreign transaction.
For the most part you won't be charged, but there is no law which prevents a bank, anywhere in the EU, from charging you.


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