Automated Teller Machines (ATM) have certainly revolutionised banking and made life easier for bank customers. Thanks to these machines, consumers can now withdraw money from their account any time of the day or night and anywhere in the country or even anywhere in the world.
However, like any electronic gadget, they can also malfunction when not serviced properly or, due to operator errors, power failure, voltage variations. When that happens, consumers can well be in for frustrating experiences.
Imagine this scenario: you are travelling in another city and depend on your ATM card for your cash requirements. You insert the card, and you neither get back your card nor the money. Or you are urgently in need of money and you insert your card, only to get messages such as “Your transaction has been cancelled” or “Bank communication failed. Please try after some time” or “Temporarily unable to process”. You then hunt for another ATM and, for all you know, that may well be short of cash. Long queues in front of ATMs are also a common sight, particularly when the cash is being refilled or the machine is being repaired.
Most consumer complaints refer to the machine refusing to give them any money, even though the transaction slip indicates that the money has been withdrawn. There are also complaints of illegal withdrawal ? pass books showing withdrawal from ATMs, without the consumer having done so. It’s time banks spruced up servicing of ATMs and provided trouble-free service without any cash dispensing errors. Or else, they may well be hauled up before the consumer courts for deficient service.
Robberies outside ATMs are also on the rise. Consumers have been waylaid outside ATMs and forced to withdraw large sums of money from their accounts, at gun point. So banks need to step up security near ATMs too.
Meanwhile, here are some tips for safe use of ATMs: change your pin number soon after you receive the ATM card. Always collect and preserve transaction slips and cross check the details with your pass book. The magnetic strip on the back of the ATM card is sensitive and can become deactivated through proximity with other cards or other magnetic reading equipment. So keep the card in such a way that the magnetic strip is protected. If your card gets jammed, retained or lost or for any other ATM-related problem, call the helpline provided by your bank and follow it up with a written communication.
