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What to do when an ATM fails

Posted at 9:02 AM, Jan 26, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-26 12:02:48-05
Ever wonder what happens if an ATM is out of money? It's supposed to say "closed" or "out of order." But not always.
 
It's everyone's fear when making an ATM withdrawal: you put your card in and enter your number, but no cash comes out. It happened to Noreen Branenburg.
 
"Nothing came out," says Noreen.
 
She was using an out-of-network ATM when she says the machine malfunctioned.
 
"Got my card back, and no money," says Noreen.
 
But it deducted $480 from her account.
 
"It said I had $10 in the account, where I had almost $500," says Noreen.
 
Fortunately, ATM failures are rare. But if it happens to you, there are some things you can do to protect yourself. BankRate.com says it's best to always use your own banks ATM if possible. Also, try to limit cash withdrawals to $200 just in case there is some problem.
 
But if you end up like Noreen, Contact 13 recommends you take a cell phone photo of the ATM, and of any receipt you get. Do not try to use the ATM again. It may malfunction a second time. Then call your bank immediately, and file a claim.
 
As for Noreen, her bank says they're working to speed up their investigation and hopefully have this resolved in days, rather than weeks.
 
"That's a long time to live without money," says Noreen.
 
A bank spokesman says it turns out there was a technical error.