Don't EVER forget your card in the ATM (especially if it's to a bank of which you aren't a member)

The BBQ Pit
1

Well I learned a hard banking lesson the day before yesterday. I frequently use an ATM that is part of a bank that is right near my home; a bank that I do not belong to as a member. It’s just convenient because it’s so much closer than my bank.

Anyway, I was in a hurry and I just grabbed a bit of quick cash and I inadvertantly forgot my card in the ATM and drove off without it. I remembered my mistake about an hour later and hurried back up to this bank before it closed.

I went inside and informed a teller of the situation and inquired as to what I needed to do to get my card back. After confirming that they did have my card, the teller informed me that they were unable to give me my card back-as I was not a member at their bank. She said they had no way of verifying why the machine “captured” my card-even though I told her I simply forgot it and I had my identification readily available.

I asked to speak to the manager and I was greeted with the same stonewalling. When I asked what the possible reasons might be for them to be unwilling to give me my card back, the manager said, “Well, the card could be stolen or something.” But I then said “Would not my ID take care of that concern?” Her response: “I’m sorry sir”. :confused:

And she also kept saying that if I was a member, then they would be able to give me my card back. How would that change anything? They said that then they would be able to verify the reason that the card was captured by the ATM. But I don’t understand this, what possible reasons, other than a stolen card or a forgotten card would result in the card being captured? And every single transaction is logged on the ATM, regardless of whether the user is a member or not. This manager was unwilling (or unable) to explain any of this to me.

Out of desperation, yesterday I went back to my bank in hopes that they may be able to help by contacting the other bank and explaining why the card was captured. However, by the time I contacted the bank that had my card, they informed me that, per banking policy, the card had already been destroyed. :smack:

So just because I, being in a hurry, forgot my ATM card in the machine, I am being forced to cancel the card and have my bank issue me a brand new card. This means being without my card for however long it takes for this card to be issued and come in the mail; and all the inconvenience and headache that goes along with not having that card in the meantime.

Either I am missing something here or this fucking policy is nonsense.

2

That’s pure bullshit. No arguments here. You are lucky it didn’t get stolen, at least. Not that that would make me feel much better in your shoes, but there’s a thin lining to this cloud of shit.

3

What are they thinking? They won’t give it back because it might be stolen of forged? As if a person would go into a bank and ask for their “stolen” card back.

This wasn’t Wells Fargo was it?

4

No, Dort-Federal Credit Union actually. But my bank (Citizens) has the same policy and they told me that such policies are fairly standard.

5

That does suck (and that bank is full of shit) but fortunately it doesn’t take long for a replacement card to be sent to you…its a few days, then you have to activate it.

Time to dust off the checkbook!

6

So someone admitted to having your personal property and then wouldn’t give it back after they admit they found it on their property, and then destroyed it.

This can’t be legal.

7

I would just like to hear the rationale behind such a policy.

8

I honestly think you should have called the police and asked them to help sort it out for you. Just because it’s their “policy” doesn’t mean they have a legal right to hold your card. Especially if you can provide proof of identification.

9

I once accidentally left my BoA ATM card in a BoA ATM and apparently, at least with BoA ATMs, “captured” means “shredded and new card issued.”

10

ATM cards are the property of the issuing bank, not the account holder. This is printed right on the back. I think that detail, along with the fact that such policies are standard, should shed some light on the situation. The banks are looking out for each other, not you.

11

Read the back of your card, it belongs to the issuing bank.
I lost a card in an ATM in Canada once. Went inside IDed myself and they gave it back.

12

It sucks that they destroyed the card instead of giving it back. I’m surprised you have to be without a card for several days, though. I’ve had to get replacement cards twice - once when my bag was stolen, and once when I lost my card. The first time, which was in Canada, the issuing bank gave me a temporary card to use while my new one was being mailed to me. The second time, here in Maryland, my credit union made me a new ATM card while I waited in the office. I’d be even more pissed at my own bank for making me wait for a replacement, than at the first bank for following a silly policy, but that’s just me.

13

Why not? What if it was part of the standard agreement that almost all banks have when you use their machine as a non-member? Then do you think it would be legal?

They told you the rationale plainly and clearly. You just don’t like it or agree with it. They kept it because they don’t have a record as to why it was that the card was captured. It could have been for a closed or overdrawn account. How would showing them your ID verify that you had funds? It could have been forged and you were trying to get it back.

It makes perfect sense that a forger would try to get a forged card back from a different bank knowing that there wouldn’t be records.

Apparently such policies are standard. It’s not bullshit or evil or whatever else special snowflakes think shouldn’t apply to them. It’s businesses protecting themselves from what they think is a potential liability.

14

I imagine the police would tell you it is a civil matter and not a criminal one.

15

Except that the ATM showed my previous withdrawal of funds before I left and forgot my card-showing that I had funds (even if it didn’t, I had my receipt). And the ATM has a record of all transactions (including attempted transactions), so it shows any and all attempts after my initial withdrawal of funds. Seeing as how there were zero transactions after my initial withdrawal (because I left, forgetting my card in the machine), the bank should have record of both the validity of my account and the inaction at the ATM.

16

This is standard practice in the UK if the card is left in another bank’s ATM. They’ll simply advise you to contact your bank. It sucks but I guess their point is that they have no way of checking why your card was swallowed. (Like they’re gonna take your word for it!) As others have commented, the card is not your property anyway so the cops will politely tell you to take a hike if you go to them.

17

If they wanted to go to all of that trouble they might have been able to see that. I have no idea. In the end, none of that it relevant. Why should they bother? It’s standard practice in the banking industry. You wanted the convenience of using a bank that it not your own (and you do pay for the courtesy of course) and that is the price for that convenience.

Actually, the same thing happened to me once many years ago. I was annoyed at the policy but I was more pissed at myself for being so careless. As young as I was at the time, I still didn’t rant about the unfairness of it all.

18

If they don’t want to give it to you despite proof of ID, then they should forward it ASAP to your bank, which can check the status and hand it to you.

If the foreign bank is keeping it without forwarding it either to the issuing bank or to you (the owner) I can’t see how it’s legal. Over here, each bank card has a small print on the back that it is property of the issuing bank and if found needs to be given back to them. If it’s not printed on the back, it’s still part of General Business Agreement each customer signs.

19

Sorry about the troubles, it sucks. It sort of makes sense from a liability standpoint however. If it’s another bank’s customer why should they take any risk at all, no matter how small, there is no incentive to do that. But if it’s their member there is incentive to do nice things. So I think that’s where you got caught.

It also gets me how dependent some people are over their ATM card, when you hear a story like this it really drives home the point. It is far to easy to say just chill out man, use a credit card till you get your replacement or go to your branch and take out some cash to tide you over. But really that is a one size fits all non-solution and it’s not always easy to see beyond that.

20

Boy, I’ll be glad when all the “swallow the card” machines are gone. I know they’re preferable in some cases (involving theft), but then, these days, if your ATM card is stolen, the thief either already got your PIN, or (if he’s dumb enough to try trial and error), you can program the ATM to take a picture of someone with an inordinate number of false tries anyway…