Cash Machines..... is it just me?

[RogerHealey]

Toss up whether this should be on the grumpy gits thread but for the more and more incidents of:

1) ATMs out of order.
2) ATMs out of cash.

Increasingly over the last 3 or 4 months have on half a dozen occasions been to supermarkets where 3 machines available and have been unable to get any cash. Has happened at different stores and also started noticing on the high street. Latest time was today with  3 machines in 2 locations affected. Finally got sorted at another site but have had to get used to planning 24 hours ahead when I want some dosh. Not just at the weekends either.

So what's going on? Sloppiness or are the twats engineering the extinction of cash as it can no longer be relied upon?

[RandomGuy99]

Toss up whether this should be on the grumpy gits thread but for the more and more incidents of:

1) ATMs out of order.
2) ATMs out of cash.

Increasingly over the last 3 or 4 months have on half a dozen occasions been to supermarkets where 3 machines available and have been unable to get any cash. Has happened at different stores and also started noticing on the high street. Latest time was today with  3 machines in 2 locations affected. Finally got sorted at another site but have had to get used to planning 24 hours ahead when I want some dosh. Not just at the weekends either.

So what's going on? Sloppiness or are the twats engineering the extinction of cash as it can no longer be relied upon?

Too many SPs operating in the area causing a high volume of high value withdrawals. Shit happens..... sometimes

[pantywetter]

Too many SPs operating in the area causing a high volume of high value withdrawals. Shit happens..... sometimes

This might actually be a thing.  The cash machine outside of Earl’s Court station and the one nearest to Chelsea Cloisters probably takes a battering.

[daviemac]

Toss up whether this should be on the grumpy gits thread but for the more and more incidents of:

1) ATMs out of order.
2) ATMs out of cash.

Increasingly over the last 3 or 4 months have on half a dozen occasions been to supermarkets where 3 machines available and have been unable to get any cash. Has happened at different stores and also started noticing on the high street. Latest time was today with  3 machines in 2 locations affected. Finally got sorted at another site but have had to get used to planning 24 hours ahead when I want some dosh. Not just at the weekends either.

So what's going on? Sloppiness or are the twats engineering the extinction of cash as it can no longer be relied upon?

I'm not sure what can be discussed regarding cash machines where you live being out of cash when you go?

If you want to talk about the end of cash there's loads of threads on the subject including this 9 page one. -  https://www.ukpunting.com/index.php?topic=379457.0

[RogerHealey]

I'm not sure what can be discussed regarding cash machines where you live being out of cash when you go?

If you want to talk about the end of cash there's loads of threads on the subject including this 9 page one. -  https://www.ukpunting.com/index.php?topic=379457.0

I searched first as I know the future of cash had been discussed but this isn't about that wider subject for the future it's about the upkeep and money supply of the machines. Could be I've just been having a run of bad luck in Manchester but am curious if there are other multiple instances. Of course it could also be fate having a giggle at my expense.

[puntingking]

Toss up whether this should be on the grumpy gits thread but for the more and more incidents of:

1) ATMs out of order.
2) ATMs out of cash.

Increasingly over the last 3 or 4 months have on half a dozen occasions been to supermarkets where 3 machines available and have been unable to get any cash. Has happened at different stores and also started noticing on the high street. Latest time was today with  3 machines in 2 locations affected. Finally got sorted at another site but have had to get used to planning 24 hours ahead when I want some dosh. Not just at the weekends either.

So what's going on? Sloppiness or are the twats engineering the extinction of cash as it can no longer be relied upon?

i have seen reports that cash use have increased in recent months. It could just be the people that reload the atm machines cannot keep up with the demand of usage. 

anyhow it doesn't really matter if atm machines are not working for whatever reason because you can always go to the post office where they would be happy to assist you.

or another option is to go into your bank (admittedly there are not many about these days)

[puntingking]

the thread you have started is really similar to my thread. Maybe a moderator would be happy to emerge the two 

[daviemac]

I searched first as I know the future of cash had been discussed but this isn't about that wider subject for the future it's about the upkeep and money supply of the machines. Could be I've just been having a run of bad luck in Manchester but am curious if there are other multiple instances. Of course it could also be fate having a giggle at my expense.

 

So what's going on? Sloppiness or are the twats engineering the extinction of cash as it can no longer be relied upon?

[hairdownthere]

i have seen reports that cash use have increased in recent months. It could just be the people that reload the atm machines cannot keep up with the demand of usage. 

anyhow it doesn't really matter if atm machines are not working for whatever reason because you can always go to the post office where they would be happy to assist you.

or another option is to go into your bank (admittedly there are not many about these days)

I know a guy who works for the company that refills these in central Scotland, he was telling me a while back that they have to use 4 man crews in the vans rather than 2 as used to be the case, due to security, which means they don't have enough staff to keep up with demand.

I'm not sure if thats the case throughout the uk.

[advent2016]

I haven't used cash machines for ages. I tend to get out a months cash at start from a bank counter and use that. I find now I use a lot more fivers

[Colston36]

I know a guy who works for the company that refills these in central Scotland, he was telling me a while back that they have to use 4 man crews in the vans rather than 2 as used to be the case, due to security, which means they don't have enough staff to keep up with demand.

I'm not sure if thats the case throughout the uk.

Banks have far fewer branches, thus fewer machines, just as their services have become automated; it's all about scrimping. I suspect any bank that actually tried improving their offering would do well. But having worked with most of the major banks over the last 50 odd years I found them united in one thing. Cheap-jack stupidity.

[StingRay]

Banks have far fewer branches, thus fewer machines, just as their services have become automated; it's all about scrimping. I suspect any bank that actually tried improving their offering would do well. But having worked with most of the major banks over the last 50 odd years I found them united in one thing. Cheap-jack stupidity.

True, many supermarkets have atms though

[Associate Bob]

I very rarely use a cash machine and when I do it's usually just to withdraw punting funds so can't say I've had any issues with bust ATMs or ones out of cash.

On the subject of cash machines (and slightly punting related) I did just want to ask if anyone else had withdrawn money from a machine, for the machine to then seemingly issue the requested amount but not all the cash being there and then receive a cash deposit a few weeks later in their account for the requested amount?

A couple of months ago I decided to see a Thai I'd seen before and went to withdraw the funds prior to the meeting, £130 (£120 for the meet and £10 for the extra). Used the machine with no issue and a thin wad of notes were dispensed among them was a fiver, didn't think anything of it just assumed the machine had given me a mix of tens, twenties and two fivers to sum up to £130. This amount immediately went in the wallet and not touched until the meeting. Later on when I'm in the room with the WG and request the extra I hand over the cash (only cash I had was what I withdrew) only for her to question the amount, turns out I'm actually a fiver short so punt ends up going ahead with her handing me the redundant fiver and forgoing the extra. Fast-forward a few weeks and I notice a cash credit on my online statement for £130... Obviously I'm not going to complain about (seemingly) free money but it did make me wonder if this was related to the cash withdrawal as I've no idea how/where this money would've come from.

[Andywb]

True, many supermarkets have atms though

I tend to keep my wallet topped up with 2 punts worth of notes precisely because the ATM at my local supermarket is often out of cash. I get it while I can so I am ready to go without the hassle of last minute dash for cash.

[RandomGuy99]

When I've found ATMs that won't give cash, then it seems to be all the Link network machines and I assume they're all maintained by the same company.

[PilotMan]

Banks have far fewer branches, thus fewer machines, just as their services have become automated; it's all about scrimping. I suspect any bank that actually tried improving their offering would do well. But having worked with most of the major banks over the last 50 odd years I found them united in one thing. Cheap-jack stupidity.

That's one view, however I would offer that in reality the case is totally the opposite.

Banks have been doing pretty well and must be pretty smart to make the amount of profit that they have made over the past 50 years.

[StingRay]

Sods law sometimes comes into play as well, in which it states that if you plan on getting cash out at an ATM pre-punt then local ATMs will be out of order! If you make a habit of relying on them, it's worth having a plan B & C ATM near the punt location and allow sufficient time.

[myothernameis]

True, many supermarkets have atms though

My work place, when the customer came through the till, could ask for cashback, up to £50, but around 2020 due to Covid, we stopped this

Self scan till could still issue cash back, but this year this also stopped, and the banks introduce a service fee for cash back.  So my work place decided to stop cash back, now we point the customer, to one of the two atm outside

By 20:00, at least one of the atm, has now ran out of notes

[puntingking]

I will make the point again, anyone can use a post office during opening hours.

[Adoniron]

I will make the point again, anyone can use a post office during opening hours.

Opening hours being Monday to Friday daytimes and Saturday mornings.

[MLawro93]

Take your cash out well before any punting takes place. Always keep some cash stashed away at home (just a couple hundred).

Gotta plan ahead these days with everywhere going cashless these days!

[StingRay]

Take your cash out well before any punting takes place. Always keep some cash stashed away at home (just a couple hundred).

Gotta plan ahead these days with everywhere going cashless these days!

I always keep £££ in a shoebox under the bed!

Of course, there's a house key under the door mat but I keep windows open anyway when I'm out, my address is 48a So.................<internet connection lost>

[PilotMan]

I will make the point again, anyone can use a post office during opening hours.

And quite often there's a long queue, unlike a cash point.

[StingRay]

And quite often there's a long queue, unlike a cash point.

and don't even think about it as Christmas approacheth! 

[PilotMan]

Take your cash out well before any punting takes place. Always keep some cash stashed away at home (just a couple hundred).

Gotta plan ahead these days with everywhere going cashless these days!

If I'm punting in a location that I'm not familiar with, I try to use Google maps street view to find cash points and non resident parking bays ahead of me going.

Planning in advance is not always possible, and even if it is, the cash point may be out of order / money. So earlier in the day ahead of a punt, I will try stop at a convenient cash point in readiness.

Parking anywhere now is also a challenge.