# Don't EVER forget your card in the ATM (especially if it's to a bank of which you aren't a member) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 24, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704 "2012-03-24T19:31:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2012, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704/21 "2012-03-24T22:17:53Z")
> [@constanze](#): > > 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. Then you don’t have much of an imagination. Let’s try this: The two banks have an agreement that they’ll shred cards from the opposite bank if the card is eaten by their ATM. Would it then be legal? The small print in the agreement that you signed said that cards lost in other bank’s machines will be destroyed. Would it then be legal? ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2012, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704/22 "2012-03-24T22:29:30Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > 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… The alternative to swallowing the card in this case would have been Jamie’s card left in plain view for someone else to deal. While I agree the interbank agreement is a little silly I think that the machine swallowing cards which sit there inactive for a relatively long period is a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2012, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704/23 "2012-03-24T22:52:03Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > The alternative to swallowing the card in this case would have been Jamie’s card left in plain view for someone else to deal. > > While I agree the interbank agreement is a little silly I think that the machine swallowing cards which sit there inactive for a relatively long period is a good thing. I’m pretty sure **Leaper** is referring to the alternative machines which have the user insert and then “remove card quickly”. Since they scan the strip as the card is being pulled through the reader, the user has his/her card back before completing the transaction, hence has no chance of forgetting the card is in the machine and walking away from it. ---
**Author:** ![Fred\_Garvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c67d28/32.png) [@Fred\_Garvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fred_Garvin)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2012, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704/24 "2012-03-24T23:51:50Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > 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… “Swallow your card” readers are known as “motorized readers” and they’re not going away anytime soon. The “remove card quickly” readers (dip readers) are set up to do one transaction at a time, for security reasons. If you need to do multiple transactions, you would need to do multiple card insertions, which leads to customer complaints. Motorized readers can do multiple transaction and are usually set up at a branch where bank personal have access to the terminal as opposed to dip readers which are at remote locations with no bank access. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704/25 "2012-03-25T00:17:59Z")
In the UK, cards come out before cash or I would have lost my bank card numerous more times. Though replacing it is free (up to ten replacements in a year) and it arrived within a week. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704/26 "2012-03-25T00:54:47Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > The alternative to swallowing the card in this case would have been Jamie’s card left in plain view for someone else to deal. It really wasn’t that bad. I simply pulled around to the parking lot after I finished my transaction, walked in, and handed the card to the receptionist, “The person ahead of me at the ATM left this in it.” It was only a mild pain in the ass. I did not check what bank the card came from or what name was on it, or even if the PIN was written on the card. I just wanted it out of my hands. I have no sympathy for the OP, and I don’t even feel guilty that I have no sympathy. If he can’t keep track of his own cash instruments, that’s his problem. If **Ambivalid** had remembered his card, and left his $100 sitting in the machine, it’d be the same difference. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704/27 "2012-03-25T01:01:40Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > 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. I think the card is the property of the bank and you get to use the card to access your account. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704/28 "2012-03-25T01:33:55Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I have no sympathy for the OP, and I don’t even feel guilty that I have no sympathy. If he can’t keep track of his own cash instruments, that’s his problem. If **Ambivalid** had remembered his card, and left his $100 sitting in the machine, it’d be the same difference. (Snip) Are you serious? I mean yeah, the OP fucked up, but we all fuck up from time to time. Even you. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704/29 "2012-03-25T01:39:54Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > 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. I didn’t say anything about the necessity of my debit card, it was just a rather large inconvenience handed down to me when it seems like just a _tiny_ bit of effort on the part of the institution which captured my card would have solved the problem. Yes, of course they didn’t _have_ to do anything; and they definitely followed through on that right. But they easily could have made my day a whole lot better without any sort of negative impact on their business whatsoever. It’s called ‘good service’. I sure as hell will never become a member at this credit union now and I very well could have prior to this debacle. My current institution is a fair distance from my home and I am rather dissatisfied overall with my experiences there and _am_ interested in finding a new banking institution. And _of course_ I was knocking myself for forgetting my card in the machine; that is a given and I didn’t think it even needed to be brought up. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704/30 "2012-03-25T01:42:01Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > (Snip) > Are you serious? I mean yeah, the OP fucked up, but we all fuck up from time to time. Even you. Not surprised at all. **Frank** just doesn’t like me, period. He will find fault with _anything_ I post. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704/31 "2012-03-25T01:46:17Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > (Snip) > Are you serious? I mean yeah, the OP fucked up, but we all fuck up from time to time. Even you. Yeah, I do fuck up from time to time. I don’t usually have sympathy for myself either. I do expect that I learn a lesson from it. Look, **Ambivalid** has really got off pretty easy. He didn’t lose any cash–in fact, he has some cash to get him through the few days it takes to get a new card from his bank. His bank account is not compromised. All he’s out is an ATM card. Big deal. I’ll bet you money he never, ever, ever leaves his card in an ATM again. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704/32 "2012-03-25T01:47:28Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Not surprised at all. **Frank** just doesn’t like me, period. He will find fault with _anything_ I post. Cite? Asshole. Oops. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704/33 "2012-03-25T02:03:57Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I didn’t say anything about the necessity of my debit card, it was just a rather large inconvenience handed down to me when it seems like just a _tiny_ bit of effort on the part of the institution which captured my card would have solved the problem. Yes, of course they didn’t _have_ to do anything; and they definitely followed through on that right. But they easily could have made my day a whole lot better without any sort of negative impact on their business whatsoever. It’s called ‘good service’. It’s called corporate policy and the employee who didn’t follow it would have gotten dinged in an audit. Why are they expected to give good service to a non-customer anyway? > [@](#): > > I sure as hell will never become a member at this credit union now and I very well could have prior to this debacle. My current institution is a fair distance from my home and I am rather dissatisfied overall with my experiences there and _am_ interested in finding a new banking institution. Bullshit. You said yourself that this is standard practice in the banking industry. Your current bank does it too. So do all of the rest of the banks. If you won’t patronize a bank with the policy, you won’t be able to use any banks. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704/34 "2012-03-25T02:13:04Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Bullshit. You said yourself that this is standard practice in the banking industry. Your current bank does it too. So do all of the rest of the banks. If you won’t patronize a bank with the policy, you won’t be able to use any banks. I refuse to believe, regardless of it being standard banking policy or not, that most other institutions, given the exact same circumstances, would refuse to lift the smallest of fingers to help out someone who was frequenting their ATM and thus earning the institution money (through the non-member user fees). ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704/35 "2012-03-25T02:14:24Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Cite? > > Asshole. > > Oops. Look man, I am trying to be respectful and _not_ bring up the past. but see what I mean? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704/36 "2012-03-25T02:20:26Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Not surprised at all. **Frank** just doesn’t like me, period. He will find fault with _anything_ I post. > [@Ambivalid](#): > > Look man, I am trying to be respectful and _not_ bring up the past. Guess which post was first. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704/37 "2012-03-25T02:22:15Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I refuse to believe, regardless of it being standard banking policy or not, that most other institutions, given the exact same circumstances, would refuse to lift the smallest of fingers to help out someone who was frequenting their ATM and thus earning the institution money (through the non-member user fees). I disagree. If a bank were a Mom and Pop business, sure. They’re huge corporations and the employees simply don’t have that power without taking personal consequences. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704/38 "2012-03-25T02:34:25Z")
I did the same thing last year in Thailand with my UK debit card - took the cash out at the ATM of a large national bank, and walked off without the card. I always travel with a few spare cards but I was still concerned, as it’s one fewer line of defense against being stranded and cashless, and using another card would have required a bit of online juggling. With a heavy heart I went into the bank next day with my passport. They sat me down, gave me a glass of ice-cold water, pulled out a huge ledger and wrote all my details in it - it clearly happens all the time - then handed me back my card, which was in the back of the ledger, with a big smile. I love Thailand. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704/39 "2012-03-25T03:02:35Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Guess which post was first. I’m talking specifics. You asked for a “cite”. I respectfully declined to do so. Let’s let this rest. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704/40 "2012-03-25T03:14:39Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I’m talking specifics. You asked for a “cite”. I respectfully declined to do so. Let’s let this rest. Look, asshole, you’re the one that claimed I would find fault with anything you posted, thus implying that the only reason I find your OP here to be facile and imbecilic is that I find fault with anything you post. That is not so. I’ve found fault with _some_ things you’ve posted, and I’ve been very specific about why I have found fault with them, just as I did in this thread. If you wanted to let it rest, I suggest that you could have done that by not starting it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ever-forget-your-card-in-the-atm-especially-if-its-to-a-bank-of-which-you-arent-a-member/616704.md?page=3)