Link up for free (Link)

Member Name: choklatgirl

Product:	Link
Date:	01/10/01 (67 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Its free, convenient

Disadvantages: Increasing overdraft

The Link was set up the mid 1980’s by an organisation of 40 + financial institutions and is essentially a shared network of cash machines which are distributed throughout the United Kingdom. The aim is to decrease the expansion costs for the alliance members and by extension, lower costs for their customers. A nice idea in principal, but maybe someone would like to take a look at my last bank Statement?

Nowadays, the Link is nearly as well branded and established as Visa and MasterCard signs. I had always believed that the Link was a free of charge service, so wherever I went in the country, come rain or shine I trekked around the town until I found a Link ATM. I was wrong, it depends where you are and which card you choose to use. The rules of the money game are as follows:

If you card issuer usually charges you for cash advance, a withdrawl via the Link is not free.

If you are in a small ATM (e.g. in a corner shop) it is not likely to be free. The owner can add an additional £1 or £2 to your withdrawl. It tells you on screen, but if like me you are just grateful for getting out money you may not be aware.

The habitual chargers - Diners Club Card and AMEX will charge you no matter whether you use Link or not. At least you can save yourself a walk to one of the other 30 000 cash machines.

Earlier this year there was a distinct possibility that we’d be paying for all Link cash withdrawls, in addition to all the other charges we get stung for. For the time being this threat has gone away as the alliance have reached a no fee agreement.

In case you are interested, here are the majority of the larger members of the money Mafia:

Alliance & Leicester
Abbey National
Barclays
Bristol & West
Birmingham Midshires
Halifax
HFC Bank
HSBC
Nat West
Nationwide Building Society
Northern Rock
Sainsbury
Tesco

Summary: