Irrational fear of cash machines

bobblebob

Dunno if fear is the right word, but whenever i use a cash machine, i always have this fear that it will swallow my card and not return it. Its never happened to me, but has to friends so maybe thats where it comes from.

Seems daft and its not something that will stop me using them, but it does always pray at the back of my mind when i put the card in. I think im abit weird

prowla

s isn't near t on the keyboard.

opinions4u

It might happen. A typical ATM will swallow half a dozen cards a day. Usually out of date, occasionally damaged, sometimes "reason unknown" which usually means delinquent account. It could also be a dodgy machine!

1) Always use your own bank's ATMs - then you can walk in and ask for your card back. Not possible with LINK ATMs from another bank.

2) Even if you can't get your card back, just ask your bank for a replacement and it will be provided.

MoneySaverLog

Not so much that, more so that someone has placed a skimming device to the machine outside, or it short changing me and having no one to go to at 7am in the morning when the branch is shut.

pendulum

Don't use them then, I have got by so far without them, I've only used an ATM a couple of times in my life mainly to try it out.

jfh7gwa

pendulum wrote: »

I've only used an ATM a couple of times in my life mainly to try it out.

?! I'm impressed that you've got away with this for so long.

I need cash to pay for bus and train tickets to work (debit cards too unreliable at the platform, and official advice is to "carry a backup card" - not helpful), I'd be screwed if I decided to avoid using ATMs! I literally wouldn't be able to function as part of my daily routine... (I presume you just go to a bank branch when they're open during the crappy working hours of most banks?)

MoneySaverLog

I just go into the bank once a month, take out what I need in cash as personal spending money, and the rest gets sorted by DD or SO.

Then each day take out what you need to spend. It's also a good way to budget and stop spending impulsively. You do also have the back up of the debit card when out shopping too.

jamesd

It's not a very practical solution but move to the US. The machines there don't take the whole card in them, you just swipe. Can't keep the card if the machine never had control of it in the first place.

andrew-the-cat

Never had it happen to me but I do always worry about it happening every time I use an ATM. Doesn't put me off it, though I don't draw out much cash now that I have multiple cards and contactless.

One of our ATM's at work swallowed a guys card late on a Sunday night once, he came back 30 minutes later with a hockey stick and smashed up all 3 machines (completely wrecked them).

MoneySaverLog

I'd have thought about giving it a thump myself, but to come back with a hockey stick and trash 3 machines, well that's just not hockey.

agsnu

bobblebob wrote: »

Dunno if fear is the right word, but whenever i use a cash machine, i always have this fear that it will swallow my card and not return it. Its never happened to me, but has to friends so maybe thats where it comes from.

Many people have a second "backup" account for situations just like this with a bit of emergency money in - if your primary card gets swallowed, you can just go and use the card for your backup account while you're waiting for the replacement.