# Is it true that ATM machines..... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 27, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565 "2013-01-27T23:15:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565/21 "2013-01-28T14:24:19Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I always say “PIN number.” I never say “ATM machine.” I say “PIN code” or “PIN,” but I also want to slap anyone who insists that “ATM machine” or “PIN number” are somehow improper because the word is already in the acronym/initialism. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565/22 "2013-01-28T14:41:42Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > automatically inform police that an emergency is in progress when you punch in the reverse sequence of your PIN number? If it was true, don’t you think the bank would make it a point to tell you so when they issued you your debit card? Also, as noted upthread, there’s the issue of customers with palindromic PINs. If it were true, don’t you think the bank would warn people not to select a palindromic PIN? Given that palindromic PINs are permissible, it appears that ATMs refuse to inform the police any time such a PIN is used. Do you believe these customers are being denied a potentially valuable emergency service that is extended to customers who did not select a palindromic PIN? Or is it far more likely that the reverse-PIN-as-a-cry-for-help idea is a bogus urban legend? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565/23 "2013-01-28T14:45:04Z")
While we’re on the topic of redundancy, not only is “ATM machine” redundant, but so is “ATM”. What, were you expecting an automated teller _person_? It’s automatic; of course it’s a machine. Either accept that a little redundancy is OK, or start calling it just an AT. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565/24 "2013-01-28T14:51:52Z")
This idea probably comes from home security systems, which can be programmed for a panic mode when a certain PIN is entered. In my last condo, every resident had their own entry PIN, and we programmed the system to quietly dial the police if PIN+1 was entered. There was a bit of overhead involved wherein we had to make sure that none of the residents’ PINs matched another resident’s PIN+1. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565/25 "2013-01-28T15:01:31Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > While we’re on the topic of redundancy, not only is “ATM machine” redundant, but so is “ATM”. What, were you expecting an automated teller _person_? It’s automatic; of course it’s a machine. Either accept that a little redundancy is OK, or start calling it just an AT. Interesting, if slappable point. But it presumes knowledge of the word “automatic,” that the meaning precludes a teller, a description applied to a human. If you’re going about assuming knowledge, since you know that you are heading for/looking for/using that squat box which spits out money and handles related banking transactions, ie, what a teller does, it can simply be called an A. If you carry that thought further, you can start talking like a mobster discussing the disposition of a body: “You know, dat ting we did da ting to.” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565/26 "2013-01-28T15:14:25Z")
Well of course I’m going about assuming knowledge-- It’d be hard to communicate without doing so. But I don’t see how simplifying to just “A” works. If I say “I need to stop at the automatic teller on the way home”, it’s clear to anyone who knows English what I mean, but if I say “I need to stop at the automatic on the way home”, it’s not. The automatic what? Automatic car wash, automatic laundry facility, automatic anything at all. If the person already knows that I’m looking for the thing that dispenses money, then I don’t need to say anything at all. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565/27 "2013-01-28T15:20:45Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > [No, it’s not true.](http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=snopes%20atm%20reverse&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CC8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snopes.com%2Fbusiness%2Fbank%2Fpinalert.asp&ei=8rUFUZH2JsS1rQHsuoGQDg&usg=AFQjCNF0_Uq6HH2PqzhlxCo9gPfuaNKfPQ&bvm=bv.41524429,d.b2U) But there’s a larger grain of truth than I would have thought, in that the guy actually did patent a reverse-PIN scheme. (Also, cool name – “SafetyPIN”.) ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565/28 "2013-01-28T15:24:04Z")
A simple test to convince you this isn’t true would be to enter your reverse pin and see if a. the machine give you money and b. the police show up. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565/29 "2013-01-28T15:24:25Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Well of course I’m going about assuming knowledge-- It’d be hard to communicate without doing so. But I don’t see how simplifying to just “A” works. If I say “I need to stop at the automatic teller on the way home”, it’s clear to anyone who knows English what I mean, but if I say “I need to stop at the automatic on the way home”, it’s not. The automatic what? Automatic car wash, automatic laundry facility, automatic anything at all. If the person already knows that I’m looking for the thing that dispenses money, then I don’t need to say anything at all. Indeed. I’m puzzled by **Leo** ’s point that it can be simplified to “A” somehow. “Automated teller” or even “teller machine” work and get the point across. “Automated” doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565/30 "2013-01-28T16:47:08Z")
I should try this PIN Number idea next time I use the ATM Machine to buy chai tea and naan bread, perhaps on the upcoming Mardi Gras Day. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565/31 "2013-01-28T16:57:04Z")
[QUOTE=Shakes] Not true. But it would be nifty if banks issued you an _extra_ pin that did such a thing. [/QUOTE] Good luck on getting people to remember an extra PIN. As for the idea of entering anything at the ATM to trigger a police response, how long does it take for the cops to show up in your city when you dial 911? Unless the ATM is inside a police station, it will more than long enough for an attacker to get far away. According to a newspaper article that appears to be from 2010, (referred to [here](http://apbweb.com/featured-articles/1188-response-times-city-to-city.html)) response times for 911 calls tend to be over ten minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565/32 "2013-01-28T17:02:41Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > But what happens if you enter your Personal Identification Number Number _sideways_? You get a bottle in front of me. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565/33 "2013-01-28T17:26:52Z")
> [@Jake](#): > > You get a bottle in front of me. Well I know I’d rather have that than … the alternative. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565/34 "2013-01-28T17:36:41Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > But what happens if you enter your Personal Identification Number Number _sideways_? You get a mesage saying “The number you have entered is imaginary, please rotate yourself by 90degrees and try again” ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565/35 "2013-01-28T18:16:04Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Indeed. I’m puzzled by **Leo** ’s point that it can be simplified to “A” somehow. “Automated teller” or even “teller machine” work and get the point across. “Automated” doesn’t. Yeah, I’ve always assumed that A stood for acronym, so I don’t think that would work. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565/36 "2013-01-28T18:19:48Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > But what happens if you enter your Personal Identification Number Number _sideways_? Generally, you fall down before you get the last digit in. ---
**Author:** ![Jimi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Jimi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimi)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565/37 "2013-01-28T18:31:52Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > automatically inform police that an emergency is in progress when you punch in the reverse sequence of your PIN number? So what if your pin is say 1771 or 2332 or 5995? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565/38 "2013-01-28T18:39:06Z")
Jimi, banks won’t allow palandrome PINs for exactly that reason. And beffore anyone comes in here looking for a cite, or spouting anecdotal evidence, I would ask that they disprove my statement by providing their bank’s routing number, ATM card number and their alleged palendromic PIN as evidence I am wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Jimi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Jimi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimi)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565/39 "2013-01-28T19:06:19Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > Jimi, banks won’t allow palandrome PINs for exactly that reason. > > And beffore anyone comes in here looking for a cite, or spouting anecdotal evidence, I would ask that they disprove my statement by providing their bank’s routing number, ATM card number and their alleged palendromic PIN as evidence I am wrong. Personally,I reckon Shakes suggestion is best of all,giving people an alternative number that is recognized by your bank. ---
**Author:** ![buckgully](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb9ed0/32.png) [@buckgully](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buckgully)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565/40 "2013-01-28T19:24:56Z")
What does this all have to do with Asynchronous Transfer Mode? And, I must add, a good twenty years ago (holy crap) I had a card with a bank that no longer exists for an account that no longer exists that had one of the palindromic pins already posted to this thread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-atm-machines/648565.md?page=3)