Cash machine stole my money - £160!!!

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

I don't know if i'm in the right place or not but i really need to vent this one.

Just on our way back from a meal and needed to go to get some cash (bills to pay tomorrow), as the weather was frightful - i mean wind nearly blowing us off our feet, rain pouring hard and a screaming two year old in a buggy, OH offers to go to the cash point for me so i can head straight home.

Just as i reach home he runs back saying the cash point is faulty. The stupid thing counts the cash but doesnt open the flap - says please take your cash, but no cash!!! Then he proceeds to check the balance after and it took it off the available.

I have phoned my bank (Halifax) and the atm owner(Abbey) and both are treating me like i am lying saying it will need to be investigated and may take 4 days for an outcome, not even my money back, just an outcome. :mad: I told them this is ridiculous as i want my money and more so it was my last amount of cash until friday - I am skint!!!!:mad: The reply is 'Sorry madam, this is the standard procedure! There is nothing more we can do!''.

To make matters worse we have no fridge/freezer at the mo as it due to be repaired next week so have been getting meals on a daily basis - now thanks to this stupid atm we can't even do that. I am furious!!!

Nursery bill has to be paid tomorrow or we are charged late payment, i also have other bills i was due to pay and will incur charges. Does anyone work for a bank here that could let me know the standard procedure? And if there is anyway i could get them to speed up the procedure as i am desperately in need of MY money?

Sorry to vent this to you all!:eek:

milkybars

I don't think you'll be able to speed this process up at all.

Typically they will check the balance of that particular cash machine to see if it is out by the amount you claim you didn't receive. They often also check any CCTV footage to see if cash was actually removed. Was it a joint account? Or was your partner using your card to access your account? This could get you in trouble!

I do sympathise that you are now in a difficult situation. Check out the Old Style thread about using up store cupboard items... I'm sure you'll be able to rustle up a few meals to keep you going.

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

Lol - nothing in the cupboard - we are well and truly stuffed!

No not a joint account, i am sure it's allowed in certain circumstances...ie, someone being too ill - i simply wasn't in a situation to get there with a screaming two year old in the wet and cold. I trust him with my details, as he does I! I am sure many partners do the same don't they?

Enfieldian

Does the cash point belong to the bank that you have your account with? If not then the process could take longer.

They will need to reconcile the machine, i.e balancing the books, which is done on a weekly basis by most banks. If they find that the machine is £160 up then your problem is solved, however they will not do a special reconcile for you, you will have to wait for the results of the scheduled one.

tanith

Yes a lot of people do it but all banks terms and conditions state that you should not let ANYONE else have your card and pin... so if you have admitted that your OH had your card and pin then the bank could get difficult.. hope its not the case and the investigation proves what you say is true

milkybars

Like completely empty? No pasta, tinned toms, flour?

Do you have any friends or rellies that could lend you some money? Or even let you come round for some food? Are you into mystery shopping? If so see if you can book some at food outlets. Erm... I'm racking my brains for you!

I don't know the ins and outs of if the bank would view this a fraud even though, understandably, you trust him implicitly.

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

Wow i think i will be learning to keep a stash of cash at home now instead...even though that is not supposed to be safe. You live and learn i suppose!

No - my account is halifax and the cash point was an Abbey one.

If it does turn out to be their fault (which it is, but i mean they admit it) does anyone know if i can claim back the charges from my bills that will end up unpaid?

butler_helen

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle wrote: »

Lol - nothing in the cupboard - we are well and truly stuffed!

No not a joint account, i am sure it's allowed in certain circumstances...ie, someone being too ill - i simply wasn't in a situation to get there with a screaming two year old in the wet and cold. I trust him with my details, as he does I! I am sure many partners do the same don't they?

This can take up to 28 days to investigate.

Did they give you the money and say that they would take it back if it turns out it was your error? We would normally do that.

I work for a well known bank- we would look at cctv if there was no error found in/on the machine when it was balanced. then the outcomes could be;

-if you left it in the machine and it went back into the machine, you will get the money back

-if you left it there and someone else took it, you will not get it back.

if you want to take it further, your admission of your partner using the account will count against you. Although I would hold fire with panicing about that.

HOWEVER, most cases I've dealt with, have been a dodgy machine- so, although it takes a while, you'll most likely get the money back

butler_helen

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle wrote: »

If it does turn out to be their fault (which it is, but i mean they admit it) does anyone know if i can claim back the charges from my bills that will end up unpaid?

yes I would claim them. It isn't your fault.

normally the machine updates over night, so I would expect it to go back in after midnight...I'd be interested in the outcome, I hear more and more about frauds and machines keeping money.

3plus1

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle wrote: »

I trust him with my details, as he does I! I am sure many partners do the same don't they?

If you're happy to give your OH access to your account, then why don't you just add him to your account? I.e. make it a joint one? That way he can take your money out without you breaking your agreement with your bank and you getting grief for it.

As it stands, you've compromised your security - you've told someone else your pin number. He might be your OH, but to your bank, he's just another person. I'm not sure how they'll treat this.

Going forward, definitely look into making your accounts joint rather than sharing details. It amounts to exactly the same thing for both of you, but gives you more protection. I'm not sure why you needed cash for bills - personally, I pay everything big by card - I hate carrying cash on me, I don't feel safe.

Could a family member give you an emergency loan to get you through this month?

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

Nah - we had been living on all of that as the fridge/freezer is taking ages to be repaired (that cost me a fortune just a few weeks ago- you should see my other thread lol). Just had a look, we have lots of seasoning, one tin of beans, 3 slices of bread, some weetabix and a tin cake and custard, some sweetcorn. Seriously it couldn't have come at a worse time.
So it'll be weetabix and water for breakfast, (yuk, but bubba will eat it) and one slice of bread and beans for each of us and then i'll reconsider breaking the piggy(I know my little girl has money in her piggy bank (prob about £40) but it's just the regret of having to break it to get the cash out - plus then i'll have to buy a new piggy.)

I just can't believe i am so stupid to let myself get in this situation. Its nuts because we went out for a wetherspoons meal this eve to cheer ourselves up over the fridge fiasco and then this happened.

I am annoyed because i wasn't skint until now

Anyway we'll survive somehow until friday, lol i can imagine i will be searching all the trouser pockets in the house tomorrow, i am more worried about the charges i am going to rack up as i have been so good with getting money back on track for the past 6 months and i'm scared this will throw us straight back into trouble.

I'll be heading round my mates house tomorrow to raid her cupboards as she is the only one we know down here. I have to laugh or i'll cry. I'm actually waiting for no3 bad thing to happen as thats the way it seems to go.