I went to use an ATM at a gas station near my house. The transaction was denied with a message saying ‘bank not available.’ I then tried another ATM at a bank nearby, and it told me I had insufficient funds. When I checked my bank account online, it showed that the first ATM debited $160, but I didn’t get any cash! I spoke to the attendant, but she wasn’t much help. She called the owner of the machine, and apparently, they got an email saying the machine was malfunctioning. Now, 48 hours later, I’m still without my money. Has this happened to anyone else? What should I do next? Will the bank reverse the charge automatically, or do I need to take action?
This sounds like a communication error between the ATM and the bank network. Usually, the money will be returned to your account after a few days. If the funds are still gone after that, you should call your bank and file a dispute. They’ll investigate and get your money back.
@MysticMirage
It’s more of a billing dispute rather than fraud.
Beryl said:
@MysticMirage
It’s more of a billing dispute rather than fraud.
True, but if there was a skimmer on the ATM, it could still be considered fraud.
Beryl said:
@MysticMirage
It’s more of a billing dispute rather than fraud.
True, but if there was a skimmer on the ATM, it could still be considered fraud.
If it was a skimmer, the transaction wouldn’t show up as an ATM withdrawal like this.
Contact your bank directly and file a dispute. They’ll usually investigate by checking the ATM logs, and if everything checks out, they’ll refund the money. Keep any documentation just in case, and follow up with both the bank and the gas station if needed.
Hopefully, you took a photo of the error message. It could help your bank resolve the issue faster. Either way, I’d report it to your bank immediately to get the process started. The sooner they know, the better.
Definitely report it to your bank and explain the situation. They can help you resolve the issue. It’s frustrating, but the bank will usually be able to reverse the charge if they find the error.
Dispute it with your bank. They’ll request an audit of the ATM’s cash balance, and if the machine has more money than it should, they’ll credit your account.
Just file a dispute with your bank. They’ll look into it and request an audit of the ATM. If the amount in the machine matches what’s expected, they’ll credit your account. The process usually takes up to 10 business days, but you should get a provisional credit if it takes longer.
I work in card disputes, and this is a common issue. Just file a dispute with your bank under ‘ATM error – cash not dispensed.’ The ATM owner will audit the machine and verify if the cash was dispensed.
The transaction was denied, so no money was dispensed. The funds are probably on hold and will be released back to your account within a few days.
Your bank might not be able to help if the ATM says the money was dispensed. If the ATM owner isn’t cooperating, you might be out of luck. Next time, avoid using sketchy gas station ATMs.
Tsuna said:
Your bank might not be able to help if the ATM says the money was dispensed. If the ATM owner isn’t cooperating, you might be out of luck. Next time, avoid using sketchy gas station ATMs.
Actually, many gas stations have bank-owned ATMs. What you said isn’t necessarily true.
@Bailey
I was referring to independently operated ATMs, which are often found in smaller stores. They’re less reliable.
Tsuna said:
@Bailey
I was referring to independently operated ATMs, which are often found in smaller stores. They’re less reliable.
Just an update: I filed a dispute with my bank, and they’re requesting an audit of the ATM. There are cameras that would show I didn’t get any money, so I’m hoping the audit clears things up. If the machine is being shady, who knows what happens next!