The ATM, the Bank, and Me- A Christmas Miracle

This happened to me, and why humans are still important

This is a picture of me trying to figure out how an ATM works. This really happened to me last week, and my world was destroyed. I want to share what happened in case any of you ever get caught in a maze of low-tech gadgetry like I did.

It all started out innocently enough. I know, famous last words. I was just doing my weekly shopping at my local Safeway on a sleepy Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.

The store was half empty, and everybody, including me, seemed drowsy. Maybe from a full Thanksgiving dinner the day before? Too much tryptophan, perhaps?

I rarely use ATMs these days. I used to, I used them all the time, especially when they first came out. They were wonderful, magical cash dispensers, rewarding you whenever you inserted your ATM debit card.

Such a time-saving device! Instant gratification! Flash, Paradise!

But over the years, something happened. The machines started to malfunction, and twice an ATM ate my debit card! If this has ever happened to you, you have my sympathies. It’s not a pleasant feeling.

Once the ATM eats your card, it doesn’t give it back. The card is shredded when the ATM attendants come by to pick up the cash or refill the machine. Your card as you knew it is irrevocably lost.

You end up going to a regular bank anyway where you have to stand in line and talk to a bank officer and tell them what happened.

They issue you a temporary card, which has a lower withdrawal limit and none of the added features like overdraft options or rewards. No fancy logo, either.

You have to wait weeks for them to snail mail you a new card. You wouldn’t think it would be that hard, but it is. It is exceedingly frustrating. Especially since it wasn’t your fault!

But that wasn’t my problem. The ATM did not eat my card this time.

What happened was, I was ready to leave the store, but I decided to deposit a check on my way out. Piece of cake right?

Well, that part was. I deposited my check and was quick and attentive and snatched my card and receipt out of the ATM immediately. Mission accomplished, right?

But then, I decided since I was there, why not withdraw some cash money for some holiday shopping too? I hadn’t done that in years, but what could possibly go wrong?

So I casually inserted my card again, punched in my code, and withdrew some cash, a sizeable amount for me.

Cognizant of my past bad luck, I once again snatched my precious card out of the gaping maws of the machine immediately, as well as my receipt for the second transaction as well.

I studiously examined both receipts for accuracy, paying close attention to my shifting balance, and secured my card in my wallet.

And I walked out of the store.

While I drove home, something was nagging at me, but I couldn’t figure out what it was. I went home, ate dinner, and wrote a story for Medium.

I watched TV for hours and for some reason before bedtime, I decided to count the money I had picked up earlier at the ATM from my wallet.

But the money was not in my wallet! OMG! That was the nagging feeling I had kept ignoring all day!

What an idiot! I kicked myself all night long about losing all the cash I had withdrawn, the cash that I had a receipt for.

I was sure I had made somebody’s day by being so careless because I realized I had never picked up the cash from the ATM!

After tossing and turning all night, I contacted my local Safeways customer service when I got up, and sheepishly told them I must have lost the money in the store. Somewhere in between the ATM and the elevator to the parking lot.

I was connected to the store manager who reviewed the entire ATM security tape. He told me this amazing fact: Although a couple of people walked by, they never even looked at the ATM.

He told me that he could see me, fussing with my receipts and debit card, my money in the extended, open dispenser tray with the lights blinking as the people passed by. Then he watched the tray suddenly disappear back into the machine, with my money still in it!

This was a jolt but now everything made sense. I had never even touched the money! It had never left the ATM!

I immediately called my bank, and with the help of my time-dated receipts and the store manager’s testimony about his review of the security cam, I told them the whole sorry, sordid story.

They said they would make an investigation and within a few days, they had credited back the entire amount to my account.

It was the human connection that worked, the people in the Safeway, the people in the bank that made it all right again. Bless them all.

Machines are great, but it’s people that go the extra mile for you.

Whew! All is now as it should be. Everything is as it was before.

It was a Christmas miracle! Be careful out there. We are all connected…