ATM Short Changed Me $100

inotkaayo on 31/05/2016 - 07:32
Last edited 31/05/2016 - 10:46 by 1 other user

Hello Ozbargain community,

I recently made an ATM withdrawal transaction with a international bank in Melbourne CBD, what happened was when it dispensed cash it was short by AUD $100.

NOTE: I was using an overseas account for the same bank entity and I had done past withdrawals before on the same bank and there are no charges.

Upon noticing this , I immediately told one of the staff at reception about this issue. She counted the money I gave her and checked my printed receipt as well.
She called the ATM provider from the number on the withdrawal slip and they advised that the ATM is working fine and online. I told her I will make another withdrawal to check, this time the machine dispensed cash correctly. I argued my case that the machine may have encountered a error. She asked me to go to my online account and verify the withdrawn amount to which I obliged but only to prove I was right. She then went to the manager and minutes later came back and took a photocopy of my ID, ATM card and the withdrawal receipt. I was advised that they will contact me.

Recently I got a call from them advising that I have to address my concern to my overseas bank. I argued the case doesn't have to do with them. All they have to do is call the ATM provider and check the machine. Upon further arguments…she told me that this branch will close within 10 days and If I wanted to get things done I have to do as advised.

I am worried This will only delay things more as I would have to contact my overseas bank / international branch.

Anyone had encountered this same scenario ? Any advice would be appreciated.

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  affable on 31/05/2016 - 08:09

  I used to work with AS400 based banking systems which included playing with ATM's at IBM APC back many years ago. Its almost impossible for an ATM to under-dispense as the ATM counts the notes as they pass into the dispenser. If a note spits into the machine rather than reaching the dispenser it won't be counted so another note will be sent. However it is possible to over-dispense if 2 notes get stuck together so are counted as one. In fact that happened to my older brother many years ago, and like you ironically it was a PITA to get the situation fixed, he had to fill out a complaint form that he was given too much!
  Good luck, let us know how it goes.

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    Flowerbomb on 31/05/2016 - 09:11

    was your bro required to give back the extra dispensed notes? did the bank call him up or he did it out of his own accord.

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      affable on 01/06/2016 - 07:36

      He walked into the branch straight after using the ATM, however he nearly walked straight back out when they gave him the runaround. There would have been no way to determine which customer got the bonus money.

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  Agarwal on 31/05/2016 - 08:40

  Yeah, the standard procedure is generally to contact your bank and then they will contact whoever the ATM belongs to and hopefully when it's balanced and they find a discrepancy they'll refund it.

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  aboabo on 31/05/2016 - 09:39

  Plenty of links via google.

  http://banking.about.com/od/howtobank/fl/What-to-do-if-an-AT…

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  inotkaayo on 31/05/2016 - 10:07

  Thank you for all the responses. I had a friend who had a similar issue. He only had to call the local bank, they made arrangement with the ATM machine support / provider. Money was given back in 5 working days.

  The only difference to my situation is timing. I only hope this will get sorted before the branch closes. Personally I feel these branch dont give a ****** about my issue as they are going out of business.

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  tight-ass on 31/05/2016 - 16:18

  I've been short changed $100 at an ATM a couple of years ago….what a pain in the a$$ it was to get it back. I never used to bother counting the money dispensed from the ATM, but for some reason on this day I did.

  I now count the money every time

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  wc on 31/05/2016 - 16:35

  About 15 years ago I was short changed by $10,it was after hours so the branch was closed. I only contact the branch I think 2 weeks later as I was going on holiday the next day. The branch checked their record/paperwork said according to their record there was $10 excess on that day and I was refunded.