Concern over threat to ATMs in local Post Offices - Thurso

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 28th May 2009

Local MP, John Thurso, has written to the Chairman of Royal Mail expressing his grave concern over the attempt by Post Office Limited to recover money from subpostmasters who install free-to-use ATMs.

Commenting John Thurso said:

"The installation of free-to-use ATMs in Post Offices came about as a direct result of a report by the Treasury Select Committee. The intention was not to charge people for access to cash. It was also the intention that this would not be a cost burden to subpostmasters. Post Office Limited is now seeking both to charge subpostmasters for the provision of money and back payments for two financial years. This is wholly unacceptable and will result in most subpostmasters taking the ATMs out of their Post Offices."

John Thurso also believes that the terms of the contract signed between subpostmasters and Post Office Limited did not permit Post Office Limited to make these back charges. In his letter to the Chairman of Royal Mail, who control Post Office Limited, he states "The failure of Post Office Limited to undertake their contractual obligation to invoice on a monthly basis renders them unable to make a back claim for the payments".

John Thurso said:

"Our Post Offices are vital to our communities. Free-to-use ATMs should be not only a benefit to the user but also not a financial burden to subpostmasters. To charge in this way defeats the entire purpose of the Treasury Select Committee's recommendations and I have therefore also written to the Minister responsible to ask him to look at this"