Rise of the Machines (ATM's)

[Tropicalevo]

Just a bit of a warning.

In the last few weeks there seems to be an increase in the dreaded 'ATM eating the cards'.

This week alone, three guests have reported card losses and asked for our help in getting them back.

Most seem to be ATM's for Krungsri Bank. All in different locations. (Bangrak, Maenam and Chaweng.)

In my infrequent trips to the bank I have seen tourists at the desk trying to have their cards returned, and about a month ago, two different ATM's, that I use regularly, refused my card and told me to 'go to my branch'.

Has anyone out there encountered this problem.

[freeworld]

Happened to me a few times a long time ago with Bangkok Bank.

 

Fortunate that it was during working hours and immediately went into the bank and they recovered the card for me.

 

After that never used an atm with a foreign card again, always went into the bank and withdrew cash otc.

[KhunLA]

Uncommon common sense .... don't use stand along machines, or branch ATMs, outside of banking hours.

 

Simple solutions to simple problems.

[impulse]

3 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Uncommon common sense .... don't use stand along machines, or branch ATMs, outside of banking hours.

 

Simple solutions to simple problems.

 

If we didn't know there's an issue...

 

This is a good cautionary tale for me because I get lazy, using the ATM at my nearest MRT.  Losing one card wouldn't be catastrophic (I have others), but it sure would be an inconvenience, especially since I generally spend only a few days a month in Thailand.  And getting a replacement is tough since I'm usually a "moving target" for mailing purposes.

 

From now on, I'll only be using my int'l debit cards at the ATM's in front of the bank, and during open hours.  Trop, thanks for the reminder.

 

[KhunLA]

3 minutes ago, impulse said:

If we didn't know there's an issue...

 

 Trop, thanks for the reminder.

All it takes is 1 eaten card to learn that lesson (been there, done that), a few decades ago.  Most should know that by now, and experienced it, at our ages.  

 

I've had to go in the branches here/TH and retrieve a few here in the past 20+ yrs.  Another reason you should carry your PP with you.

[impulse]

1 minute ago, KhunLA said:

All it takes is 1 eaten card to learn that lesson (been there, done that), a few decades ago.  Most should know that by now, and experienced it, at our ages.  

 

I've had to go in the branches here/TH and retrieve a few here in the past 20+ yrs.  Another reason you should carry your PP with you.

 

More good info.  Thx

 

When I worked in Thailand, getting a replacement K-Bank card was fast and easy (though I never had one eaten).  I never really thought about the implications of losing an int'l card, but getting anything delivered from "back home" has been hit and miss, especially since I've become a reluctant nomad this year.  Tough to nail down how to intersect with an int'l delivery.  And I never really considered it, until now.

 

[CygnusX1]

On 1/12/2024 at 9:41 AM, freeworld said:

Fortunate that it was during working hours and immediately went into the bank and they recovered the card for me.

Much better than in Australia. I used an ATM outside a bank there during banking hours - correct PIN first time, accepted, hit withdrawal, how much, input modest amount that was a fraction of the dollars in the account, machine ate the card. Went straight inside, told we can do nothing to recover card, have to post a new one. Lucky I wasn’t a tourist in Australia.

[KhunBENQ]

With the domestic accounts I don't use the cards any more.

Always card less withdrawal.

Haven't used foreign CC cards (physically) since years.

Should I have to do in the future, follow advice above and only during office hours at branches.

[khunPer]

On 1/12/2024 at 4:07 AM, KhunLA said:

Uncommon common sense .... don't use stand along machines, or branch ATMs, outside of banking hours.

 

Simple solutions to simple problems.

Doesn't help if it's SCB and not on a Friday. The ATM digested my SCB card in front of the SCB branch in Central. I went inside and a member of the staff had the key and was ready to get out and find my card. However, the branch manager saw it and stopped him, saying that they only open the ATM on Fridays – unfortunately it was Tuesday, so I had to come back after Friday with my passport to collect my card...

[xtrnuno41]

Demotivating actions? Maybe they want you (must) to pay with phone.

China all is done with phone, Thailand next? Paying with phone is collecting data.

Data for AI, for more commercials specified on your buying. Control YOU !

Indeed rise of the machines.

[Lacessit]

I would only ever use an ATM here outside a bank, in business hours. Which is once in a blue moon, as I usually take my passport and passbook inside to withdraw cash. Easy to skim a card at an ATM, tough to do it with a savings passbook. Color me paranoid.

 

The ATM machines certainly are not rising in Australia, banks are shutting them down hand over fist.

[Lacessit]

55 minutes ago, xtrnuno41 said:

Demotivating actions? Maybe they want you (must) to pay with phone.

China all is done with phone, Thailand next? Paying with phone is collecting data.

Data for AI, for more commercials specified on your buying. Control YOU !

Indeed rise of the machines.

I refuse to have any truck with payment by phone, way too vulnerable on security.

I guess it will take a massive theft in the billions for customers to kick back.

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, khunPer said:

Doesn't help if it's SCB and not on a Friday. The ATM digested my SCB card in front of the SCB branch in Central. I went inside and a member of the staff had the key and was ready to get out and find my card. However, the branch manager saw it and stopped him, saying that they only open the ATM on Fridays – unfortunately it was Tuesday, so I had to come back after Friday with my passport to collect my card...

I would be closing the account, and telling the branch manager why. Obviously SCB is not into customer service.

[Lacessit]

5 hours ago, CygnusX1 said:

Much better than in Australia. I used an ATM outside a bank there during banking hours - correct PIN first time, accepted, hit withdrawal, how much, input modest amount that was a fraction of the dollars in the account, machine ate the card. Went straight inside, told we can do nothing to recover card, have to post a new one. Lucky I wasn’t a tourist in Australia.

They should have been able to issue you with a new card on the spot. That's ridiculous.

[bbko]

On 1/12/2024 at 9:30 AM, Tropicalevo said:

This week alone, three guests have reported card losses and asked for our help in getting them back.

I take it you're a hotel worker/owner that has an ATM in the lobby?  If that machine is eating cards on a semi-regular basis, I'd say get that ATM cleaned/checked out, it's bad for your business. 

[CygnusX1]

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

They should have been able to issue you with a new card on the spot. That's ridiculous.

Or recovered the card from the machine, as it wasn’t retained as a result of 3 incorrect PINs. After a long absence from Thailand and consequent expiration of my Bangkok

Bank debit card, I was surprised that they issued me with a new card on the spot with no prior notification by me, previously thought the cards were made in a special factory somewhere.

[KhunLA]

3 hours ago, khunPer said:

Doesn't help if it's SCB and not on a Friday. The ATM digested my SCB card in front of the SCB branch in Central. I went inside and a member of the staff had the key and was ready to get out and find my card. However, the branch manager saw it and stopped him, saying that they only open the ATM on Fridays – unfortunately it was Tuesday, so I had to come back after Friday with my passport to collect my card...

You really can't plan your budget more than a few days, and leave it to the last minute.  If I don't 1-200k in the house, something is wrong.    

 

What the manager (and a-hole) told you is BS.  Should have just told him your flying out tomorrow & need it.  A lowly staff member was going to retrieve it, and the manager stopped him ... think about that one.   They have a key for a reason.

 

[Tropicalevo]

2 hours ago, bbko said:

I take it you're a hotel worker/owner that has an ATM in the lobby?  If that machine is eating cards on a semi-regular basis, I'd say get that ATM cleaned/checked out, it's bad for your business. 

Wrong. No hotel.

The ATM's were all in different locations on the island.

On 1/12/2024 at 9:30 AM, Tropicalevo said:

Most seem to be ATM's for Krungsri Bank. All in different locations. (Bangrak, Maenam and Chaweng.)

 

[The Old Bull]

I use the cardless withdrawal using the phone app. The only problem is it will only work in one of your own bank's ATM's ,still it beats fiddling with a card.

[Tropicalevo]

23 minutes ago, The Old Bull said:

still it beats fiddling with a card.

Not if you have fat fingers like me. Phone keyboards are the bane of my life.

I have one finger that has been surgically reattached and it takes on a life of its own when near a phone keyboard. 

[nana kid]

I had my ATM card eaten in a branch of BB         I had to go home to get my PP as this seems to be 

bank rules            Pictures and paperwork are important.           I Think it has to do with pulling your card after the transaction

If you accidently bump the card it goes back in the machine  I think

[khunPer]

On 1/13/2024 at 4:19 PM, KhunLA said:

What the manager (and a-hole) told you is BS.  Should have just told him your flying out tomorrow & need it.  A lowly staff member was going to retrieve it, and the manager stopped him ... think about that one.   They have a key for a reason.

Normally the banks are very kind; branch manager was probably either new on Samui – I had not seen her before – and following head office rules, or she just had a bad day...

I luckily wisely have several plastic cards from two different Thai banks, plus my foreign cards...