In many countries, there are no ATM surcharges. Even the US did not have surcharges until relatively recently. Remember that when you use an outside ATM, your bank pays the ATM owner a fee already. The surcharge is just extra.

Under Visa/MC rules (I believe), if there is a surcharge it has to be disclosed on the screen before you complete the transaction, and you must affirmatively accept it. Unless there is a language barrier and you're randomly pressing buttons, it's impossible to get charged a surcharge without knowing it.