Why fees feel sticky: Agent networks pay several upstream costs that move with FX and fuel. There is the scheme fee per transaction, the processor's fee, the bank's settlement fee, and the agent network's cut. When downtime causes reversals or chargebacks, agents absorb some losses and pad fees to compensate. Diesel for kiosks and shop generators has also stayed high, so a ?100–?200 margin used to cover three transactions may now barely cover one.

What you can do: Prefer transfer-in-store where the merchant provides a verified account and confirms instantly; it is often cheaper than cash-out. For personal withdrawals, compare two agents on your street — competition still matters. Keep a simple log of failed transactions and insist on a reversal reference; most banks reverse within T+1 if you escalate with a session ID. Lastly, if you withdraw frequently, batch to fewer, larger withdrawals; per-transaction pricing punishes small, repeated cash-outs. Cashless helps, but until failure rates drop, agents will price in risk.