Article Noodle

This to me meant that customers could access their account information, withdraw needed emergency funds or even make last minute deposits to their checking and savings accounts outside of the regular banking business hours with no hassle.

In theory this is the much publicized image that banks all over the world tend to promote. For years I must have been extremely fortunate in that I have not had any unusual or unpleasant experiences using the automated services.

Recently, however this happy relationship between myself and the robotic teller took a decided turn for the worse. Years of positive experiences using the machines instantly disintegrated as the ever vigilant machine captured my debit card and then refused to give it back.

Normally you would expect that to happen when the bank itself would issue a special alert indicating that the card in question was reported either lost or stolen. The A.T.M. would then do its duty and hold onto the missing card until the banking authorities could be notified.

In my particular situation there may have been a flaw in the machine’s overall maintenance programming instructions. I had deposited a check into my account and was waiting an electronic confirmation that the transaction had been accepted.

The blinking computer screen asked me if I wanted to make another deposit, complete a withdrawal or quit. I pressed the make another transaction button and await some type of electronic feedback. Nothing happened.

Anxiously I pressed every available transaction button I could find to unfreeze the machine. No luck. The machine turned itself off and my debit card and bank deposit envelope were held captive in the bowels of the machine. I was getting frustrated and angry.

Posted near each machine was a telephone number that a customer could call if they were experiencing difficulties with the machine. Luckily I had my cell phone with me and started dialing frantically.

An affable, computerized recorded voice welcomed me to the call center and offered me a menu of options I could choose to assist me with my problem. I patiently waited as the female voice listed the numbers and the departments the numbers would contact.

After a few anxious minutes the number I required was listed and I pressed that extension on my cell phone. The line was busy and again a friendly computerized voice thanked me for contacting the bank, informed me that all banking personnel were presently servicing other clients and asked me to please wait patiently for the next available banking associate.

Five minutes passed by uneventfully. Again the voice thanked me for my patience and asked me to remain online as my place in the electronic quay was dependent upon my remaining connected. I took a deep breath and waited. I now wished that I had recharged by cell phone battery so that I would not only lose the signal but my place in the waiting line of customers.

As I patiently waited for someone to assist me the ATM came back to life. The motor inside the machine whirred, hummed and clanked. It appeared that it was attempting to reboot itself and began a type of scheduled maintenance procedure on itself.

I wondered what this indifferent machine was doing to my card and deposit envelope. I had gone to the bank this day to also withdraw some money to purchase groceries. The bank was closed and I needed the cash badly. What to do?

( Continued………..)