Why do ATMs work when they can't give out cash

BenMcr · 07-09-2009, 18:13

This bugged me this weekend

Why do cash machines continue to work if they don't have any cash?

I went round about 4 of them in Manchester and they all sit there flashing as normal - you get to them and then they go 'no cash'

The worst ones are Abbey who don't even tell you until you get all the way throguh the screens - including selecting how much money you want

Why can't they shut down if they run out of money?!

07-09-2009, 18:15

because some do deposits mobilephone tops ups and balance enquires

**Kymmy** · 07-09-2009, 18:15

Because some people just want a balance/mini-statement perhaps

BenMcr · 07-09-2009, 18:17

Fair enough - I have Mobile phone banking for all of that

It's just very frustrating it's not obvious though

**Matt D** · 07-09-2009, 18:20

It would still be helpful if they made it more clear though, earlier on, that they had no cash.

As Ben said, some don't actually tell you until you've gone almost all the way through the process.

martyh · 07-09-2009, 18:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by zing

because some do deposits mobilephone tops ups and balance enquires

exactly, some people still live in the dark ages

i only use a cash machine to take money out ,never to do deposits (cos it takes too long to get to your account ),never to top up a phone cos this can be done on the phone itself and i usually know how much is in my account to the nearest £20

AntiSilence · 07-09-2009, 18:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

exactly, some people still live in the dark ages

Not really. Some people don't have access to the internet for example, and some might prefer to utilise the services offered by the ATM. Some people can't get debit cards either (maybe due to bad credit/bankruptcy etc) so the ATM is useful for them.

My phone is on contract but I don't say that people who use pay as you go or people who still use cash are living in the dark ages, that's just plain silly.

NoKnowledge · 07-09-2009, 18:57

You can tell a ATM isn't working when the flashing green light (just above the card input) isn't flashing.

BenMcr · 07-09-2009, 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoKnowledge

You can tell a ATM isn't working when the flashing green light (just above the card input) isn't flashing.

Maybe they should make it flash a different colour or something if it doesn't have any cash in it

Personally I would prefer in great big letters on the Screen 'NO CASH' that can been seen from a distance.

haydnwalker · 07-09-2009, 22:59

The worst one is... when it says it has cash and doesn't give it out! I've had a machine do that to me once, and I wasn't happy as my statement said it'd given me the money, but on closer inspection it had refunded me the same amount - the bank must have noted the mistake (I presume it had happened to many people for that to happen)

BenMcr · 07-09-2009, 23:07

I've had that at one of the paid for ATMs. But it took a couple of days to refund the difference between what I asked for and what I got