On vacation a couple of weeks ago I went to the ATM to get some cash…and forgot my PIN. I entered what I thought was the correct number, but it was wrong. So I tried another variation and, again, no luck. Then my sister warned me that if I tried again and got it wrong, the machine would eat my card.
Gulp.
So I called my bank for advice. (As I was dialing I remembered the correct PIN, of course!) My bank’s representative instructed me to take the debit card to a store and make a purchase using my PIN. "If it’s wrong they will just deny the purchase," she explained. "But if it’s right, you will know it is safe to use at an ATM."
She was right. It took me a little while to find a store where I could test her advice, but when I did it worked.
It was still bothering me that I had forgotten a number I use all the time, but I felt better when my "little" brother fessed up later that he had done the same thing, but struck out with three wrong guesses. The ATM ate his debit card.
Gerri Detweiler
– Personal finance author and Credit Advisor for Credit.com. Gerri
contributes budgeting, debt recovery and savings information online.
She is also the co-author of Stop Debt Collectors: How to Protect Your Rights and Resolve Your Debts
Gerri Detweiler Credit.com's Personal Finance Expert, Gerri focuses on financial legislation, budgeting, debt recovery and consumer savings information. She is also the co-author of Debt Collection Answers: How to Use Debt Collection Laws to Protect Your Rights, and Reduce Stress: Real-Life Solutions for Solving Your Credit Crisis as well as host of TalkCreditRadio.comTalk Credit Radio. Reach Gerri at creditexperts@credit.com.
{ 2 comments… add a comment }
Always make sure that you have the latest debit card or credit card on you as well. A few years ago I received a replacement in the mail for an expiring card. I activated the card over the phone, but then neglected to swap it with the old card in my wallet (which according to the date on it still had a week or so left before expiration. I guess an overlap to give the mailed replacement time to get to you) The ATM computer knew I activated a newer card and ate the old one! Now I had no card and no transaction completed!
Hi,
Why not just pass the cost on to the customer? Let them pay with an ATM card w/pin pad, but add the extra expense in when they use it.
ATM Services