Most of us use ATMs to withdraw cash, but some people – such as gig workers or restaurant workers who rely on tips – often use ATMs to deposit cash.
But have you ever wondered if there is any danger from it? One Avondale man said he had just discovered how risky it could be.
Eric Morton said that he has a large amount of money due to a faulty ATM.
“I walked into the ATM kiosk and put my card in,” he said, pointing to PNC’s free-standing ATM kiosk on Lynn Street in Cincinnati’s West End.
He said he deposited $1,300 in cash in the ATM’s cash slot, mostly in $20 bills.
“I heard it counting money, counting money,” he said. “But as it was processing, an error comes up on the screen.”
Confused, he re-inserted his card and checked his account.
“I then follow up, and check my account, thinking maybe the money is there,” he said. “But it wasn’t there.”
No deposit was shown in his account.
no answer from bank security department
Morton owns a courier company and said he often collects cash, but said that when he called the bank’s security department, he claimed the agent questioned whether he was telling the truth.
“So I guess I’m defending myself more than you’re trying to help me,” he said. “I’m trying to figure out where my $1,300 went, and no one can tell me anything.”
Morton said he was not asking the bank to take him on his word; He is asking the bank to see the footage of the cameras on the machine and the two bubble cameras around the ATM.
“That’s all I’m asking for,” he said. “Check the camera footage.”
So don’t let this happen to you. When depositing cash, Bankrate.com says:
- Use an ATM at a bank that is frequently checked, not a freestanding one that doesn’t have a bank.
- Don’t deposit cash at an out-of-network ATM where they won’t know your account if something goes wrong.
- Consider using a live teller if it’s a very large amount of cash.
We referred Morton’s case to the PNC, which promised to conduct a full investigation in the coming days (see full statement below).
Meanwhile, Morton said he would never collect cash after hours again.
As always, don’t waste your money.
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Full PNC Bank Details
We have referred Mr. Morton’s claim to our Client Relations Group, which will look into it and contact him directly to discuss it further.
If a customer suspects that an ATM is defective, we encourage them to contact their local branch or our Customer Care Center at the earliest to file a claim. The bank will conduct a thorough investigation and offer a solution within 10 business days.
ATMs are designed to provide convenience to the customers whenever they are able to bank. The ATM can accept up to 50 bills for deposit at a time. Before finalizing the transaction, customers are given the option to confirm or reject the transaction amount. Customers can always come to their nearest branch if they prefer to deposit with the banker.
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