Anne Main: St Albans commuters' are being seen as a convenient 'cash cow'
6th March 2007
This week Anne Main was disappointed to learn that FCC (First Capital Connect) will not abolish their newly adopted policy of allowing ATM machines at their stations to charge fees for cash withdrawals.
This week Anne Main was disappointed to learn that FCC (First Capital Connect) will not abolish their newly adopted policy of allowing ATM machines at their stations to charge fees for cash withdrawals.
In response to her representations to FCC Anne Main received a letter saying that:
"....As with all commercial tenants across the railway network, Train Operating companies receive rental income from businesses that occupy premises at stations. This income enables FCC to invest on infrastructure improvements that contribute to enhancing the customer journey experience.
-the letter concludes -
"Whilst I understand that new charges or fees are rarely welcomed, I firmly believe that once that the ambitious plans that we are now rolling out begin to take affect that customers will be more understanding."
Anne said: I am disappointed that FCC has chosen to continue with a system that removes customer choice and will mean that fees will be an ongoing issue. The station and surrounding site are set to have a significant number of new homes and many residents would have probably welcomed having a free local ATM facility at the station as the nearest free facility is quite a distance.
The justification for this decision is that FCC wish to have ATM machines at other stations on their route and that the banks were not prepared to extend the service because of the lack of size and volume of customers. Yet this means St Albans station which is busy and lucrative for FCC, loses a free facility which many of my constituents found extremely useful.
Yet again St Albans gets a poor deal as FCC have decided to allow Card Point to have access to this ready and profitable market, instead of retaining the previously free facilities on the existing 12 stations covered and allowing Card Point to provide their service at the other 66 stations not covered.
It appears St Albans commuters' are being seen as a convenient 'cash cow'. "
