# Stupid ATM design - I just forgot to take my rent money from the ATM **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 20, 2009, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-atm-design-i-just-forgot-to-take-my-rent-money-from-the-atm/490143 "2009-03-20T11:19:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-atm-design-i-just-forgot-to-take-my-rent-money-from-the-atm/490143/1 "2009-03-20T11:19:41Z")
I don’t have the energy to muster the outrage for this - so I just put this here. I just forgotten to take my rent money which I have drawn from the ATM Down in Singapore the bank I am using have two ATMs - One is the standard type with which you can conduct numerous (legal) activities with your money. When you draw money, the cash pops out first - after when you take the cash, then your ATM card pops out. If you forgot (somehow) to take the cash, the ATM will beep at you. The other type is the “FastCash” type - which you can only draw money. For some crazy reasons, they decide to pop card out first, display “transaction success” **then** the cash. I rarely used the FastCash type; so when my card pops out along with the success message, I leave. No beeping of any sort alerted me. I only had 4 hours of sleep and it has been a long day. I left $350 behind. The last it happens, it was just $20. I called up the bank and the investigation was negative. I let it go. But it’s $350 this time. I have enough savings for 2 more months of rent before I leave conscripted national service to start work. My allowance is just $490. I now only have one month rent worth of money left in my savings. I really hope that the ATM sucks back the money or some honest person turns it in. Because it is $350 this time. That is like 90% of my monthly allowance. The guy at the phone said it takes a ‘few minutes’ for the money to suck back. My friend assures me that no one would take the money because there’s a security camera. However, last time when I leave $20 at the machine, they never found anything. And it’s a few minutes. Anyone could come up to the machine, keeps their head down, grab the money and go. And it’s $350 this time. I hate myself, the world and everything that dwells in it. Especially that stupid ATM design. That reminds me - I’m already out of money for lunch. ---
**Author:** ![EpicNonsense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c37758/32.png) [@EpicNonsense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EpicNonsense)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-atm-design-i-just-forgot-to-take-my-rent-money-from-the-atm/490143/2 "2009-03-20T12:50:59Z")
That sucks… It’s a situation where you can only hope a good person has found the money and will return it to the bank manager or something… Sadly, the chances of that are probably 1/10, seeing you’re not in the U.S. Good luck, hopefully someone good might return it… Have you gone down to a bank near that ATM and asked to speak with a manager?.. It really is your only option. Trying to handle this over the phone won’t go over as well. ---
**Author:** ![mecaenas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/91b2a8/32.png) [@mecaenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mecaenas)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-atm-design-i-just-forgot-to-take-my-rent-money-from-the-atm/490143/3 "2009-03-20T12:56:22Z")
> [@EpicNonsense](#): > > That sucks… It’s a situation where you can only hope a good person has found the money and will return it to the bank manager or something.. Sadly, **the chances of that are probably 1/10, seeing you’re not in the U.S.** > > Good luck, hopefully someone good might return it.. > > Have you gone down to a bank near that ATM and asked to speak with a manager?.. It really is your only option. Trying to handle this over the phone won’t go over as well. Nice xenophobic slur there. I’d commiserate with the OP, that’s awful. I know it’s frustrating but I can see why the ATM is designed to give cash last because it would be worse to forget your card than it would be to forget your cash, no? ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-atm-design-i-just-forgot-to-take-my-rent-money-from-the-atm/490143/4 "2009-03-20T13:26:43Z")
Friends are telling me “DUDE, the cash **always** come out last!” I feel really incompetent now. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-atm-design-i-just-forgot-to-take-my-rent-money-from-the-atm/490143/5 "2009-03-20T13:40:56Z")
I’ve done this before. The ATM actually pulled my money back in, and when I went a few hours later to speak to the bank manager, they had it in an envelope marked with my name and account number. (In a box filled with envelopes of forgotten money and cards, which made me feel a bit less stupid.) That said, I’d rather my card be left behind in a machine than my money; if someone comes along and sees money sticking out of the ATM, they can grab it and use it. If it’s the card, they’d still need the PIN to access my money, and I could just go to the bank and get a replacement card while deactivating the old one. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-atm-design-i-just-forgot-to-take-my-rent-money-from-the-atm/490143/6 "2009-03-20T13:44:00Z")
Here in the UK every machine I use has the card come out first. (I suppose this is because you are waiting for your cash and might wander off before you remember the card.) ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-atm-design-i-just-forgot-to-take-my-rent-money-from-the-atm/490143/7 "2009-03-20T13:49:31Z")
The ATMs I use most often dispense the cash first - because they ask you “Do you want to make another transaction” and “Do you want a receipt printed” in between that and actually spitting out the card. ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-atm-design-i-just-forgot-to-take-my-rent-money-from-the-atm/490143/8 "2009-03-20T13:55:58Z")
> [@Student\_Driver](#): > > That said, I’d rather my card be left behind in a machine than my money; if someone comes along and sees money sticking out of the ATM, they can grab it and use it. If it’s the card, they’d still need the PIN to access my money, and I could just go to the bank and get a replacement card while deactivating the old one. A lot of ATM cards are also debit cards too though, so while they may not be able to take money out directly they can go on a shopping spree. Since there’s often a daily limit on ATM withdrawals and no limit on using the card to shop, you (or your bank, once it eats the charges on a stolen card) could come out a lot worse if somebody got your card. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-atm-design-i-just-forgot-to-take-my-rent-money-from-the-atm/490143/9 "2009-03-20T14:01:27Z")
I would rather have the cash first and card last. Cash can be spent by whoever finds it. The card needs a PIN to be used. Cards can be replaced, cash can not. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-atm-design-i-just-forgot-to-take-my-rent-money-from-the-atm/490143/10 "2009-03-20T14:23:01Z")
> [@Amp](#): > > I would rather have the cash first and card last. Cash can be spent by whoever finds it. The card needs a PIN to be used. Cards can be replaced, cash can not. All it takes is you forgetting the card, plus the person behind seeing your pin, and you might find yourself rather worse off. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-atm-design-i-just-forgot-to-take-my-rent-money-from-the-atm/490143/11 "2009-03-20T14:28:47Z")
> [@omgzebras](#): > > A lot of ATM cards are also debit cards too though, so while they may not be able to take money out directly they can go on a shopping spree. Since there’s often a daily limit on ATM withdrawals and no limit on using the card to shop, you (or your bank, once it eats the charges on a stolen card) could come out a lot worse if somebody got your card. My account’s contract only makes me liable for the first $50 if my debit card is stolen, like a credit card, so if I had a choice between leaving a month’s rent in the cash slot, or my debit card in the card slot… I’d choose the latter. That said, I request both an ATM card and a debit card from my bank, and use only the former in ATM machines. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-atm-design-i-just-forgot-to-take-my-rent-money-from-the-atm/490143/12 "2009-03-20T14:32:04Z")
I used to have the opposite problem. I now avoid any ATM that sucks the card in, As I always grab my money and leave the card, because for me subconsciously recieve money=end of transaction. I only use swipey ATMs now. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-atm-design-i-just-forgot-to-take-my-rent-money-from-the-atm/490143/13 "2009-03-20T14:37:29Z")
> [@mecaenas](#): > > Nice xenophobic slur there. > > I’d commiserate with the OP, that’s awful. I know it’s frustrating but I can see why the ATM is designed to give cash last because it would be worse to forget your card than it would be to forget your cash, no? I assumed the intention was “since you’re not in the US, some nice person might actually not have stolen your money”, not the opposite. ---
**Author:** ![EpicNonsense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c37758/32.png) [@EpicNonsense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EpicNonsense)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-atm-design-i-just-forgot-to-take-my-rent-money-from-the-atm/490143/14 "2009-03-20T14:53:01Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > I assumed the intention was “since you’re **not** in the US, some nice person might actually **not** have stolen your money”, not the opposite. This. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-atm-design-i-just-forgot-to-take-my-rent-money-from-the-atm/490143/15 "2009-03-20T18:07:01Z")
The problem is not whether the card or the cash is ejected first. The problem is not technical or mechanical. The problem is human. You have my sympathies for your plight, but the sad reality is you should slow down. An extra 30 seconds at the terminal would have saved you a whole load of grief later on. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-atm-design-i-just-forgot-to-take-my-rent-money-from-the-atm/490143/16 "2009-03-20T19:19:44Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > The problem is not whether the card or the cash is ejected first. The problem is not technical or mechanical. The problem is human. You have my sympathies for your plight, but the sad reality is you should slow down. An extra 30 seconds at the terminal would have saved you a whole load of grief later on. Anyone can be distracted. It’s not necessarily a matter of taking more time. Was there any point in saying this to someone who just lost most of the money that they have to live on for the month? I’m sure s/he’s doing enough self-kicking as it is. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-atm-design-i-just-forgot-to-take-my-rent-money-from-the-atm/490143/17 "2009-03-20T20:41:21Z")
> [@tumbleddown](#): > > Anyone can be distracted. It’s not necessarily a matter of taking more time. Was there any point in saying this to someone who just lost most of the money that they have to live on for the month? I’m sure s/he’s doing enough self-kicking as it is. As I said, I can sympathize with the OP’s plight. I’ve lost (misplaced?) cash as well. But the time that it happened was because I wasn’t paying myself the attention I should have in the first place. However, the thread seemed more concerned about the differences in various ATM machines dispensing cash and card vs card and cash, than what I saw as the actual problem. The OP admits to being tired. The OP admits to not paying attention. What I cannot understand is how can you walk away from an ATM without cash and card in hand, and not realize that until later? ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-atm-design-i-just-forgot-to-take-my-rent-money-from-the-atm/490143/18 "2009-03-20T20:58:02Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > What I cannot understand is how can you walk away from an ATM without cash and card in hand, and not realize that until later? Go read the [Funny Little Brainfarts](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=510631) thread. Or worse–the recent one about parents leaving babies in parked cars. The lucky ones are merely embarassed by that momentary glitch in one’s routine. The unlucky ones are poorer-- or even childless. Not to say that you are wrong–just to point out that doing stupid stuff is a hallmark of being human. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-atm-design-i-just-forgot-to-take-my-rent-money-from-the-atm/490143/19 "2009-03-20T21:12:09Z")
> [@Eureka](#): > > Not to say that you are wrong–just to point out that doing stupid stuff is a hallmark of being human. Yup, and I’m as stupid as the next human with brainfarts. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-atm-design-i-just-forgot-to-take-my-rent-money-from-the-atm/490143/20 "2009-03-20T22:36:42Z")
If it can beep when you leave the card in, it should also beep if you leave the money in. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-atm-design-i-just-forgot-to-take-my-rent-money-from-the-atm/490143.md?page=2)