Banking entities have been modifying their conditions in recent years with the aim of inviting their clients to take advantage of the set of possibilities that ATMs offer us. Such as, for example, cash withdrawal. Now, the OCU reports that we will no longer have to pay a commission if we want to withdraw our money from the bank window. Although, yes, with limitations.
As technology has advanced, the number of operations we can perform from ATMs has increased. With the aim of trying to divert a large part of the traffic that the bank offices supported to the ATMs, many entities decided charge commissions for withdrawing money from the window and limit their hours. This decision has always been a source of controversy, since many users, especially older people and other groups considered vulnerable, They are not able to familiarize themselves with the use of ATMs and prefer to continue using the teller service.
Recently, the OCU has reported that people over 65 years of age and users with a recognized disability of at least 33% no longer have to pay any type of commission to withdraw money from the window. A step forward to be able to move forward in the situation that, for the OCU, is not enough: also requesting that the measure “be extended to all users”.
A basic financial service
For the Organization of Consumers and Users, there are no reasons for banking entities to charge for withdrawing money from the counter, considering cash withdrawal as “a basic financial service”. And hence, “should necessarily be included in the cashier service”. The organization remembers that the money it is trying to extract is its own money and it should not have to assume any cost for it.
In fact, the courts themselves have already declared these types of commissions to be abusive. The OCU recalls in its publication the ruling of the Vitoria Provincial Court of June 13, 2022, which considered the money withdrawal service as a cashier service. Adding, furthermore, that it should be maintained with the account maintenance fees that banking entities have stipulated among their conditions.
In the same ruling, it is also stated that many users cannot be required to understand how ATMs work. Calling this scenario as “very burdensome” for them.
A measure that is not enough
As we have previously mentioned, the Government has decided to prohibit this commission for groups considered vulnerable. Specifically, it is specified that the measure is designed for people over 65 years old and to all those who have a disability equal to or greater than 33%.
The OCU states that the measure “It is insufficient”. And, to do so, it is based on the previously mentioned ruling. Considering that the possibility of charging said commission to other consumers is implicitly being recognized, “without considering the arguments of the courts to consider the abusive commission”. Concluding that it should be prohibited for the rest of the consumers, since the collection of this commission implies pay twice for the same service.
