PSA: BofA touchscreen ATMs

[rising-moon.livejournal.com]

This morning I went in to an ATM vestibule and heard the alert beep from the neighboring machine; someone had walked away leaving the "do you want to perform another transaction?" buttons flashing.

The message appears AFTER the machine returns your card, after a deposit or some other non-withdrawal transaction.

It's the sixth time I've been next in line or just walked up to an abandoned machine flashing that message, giving me and everyone else the chance to steal $300, change the customer's PIN, and rinse, repeat every day until the customer figured out what was going on.

I've already called BofA customer service to ask them to change the interface.

EDIT: I stand corrected; evidently the customer is asked to swipe the card, re-enter their PIN, before performing another transaction. Thank you!

Comments

[jennyelfenmass.livejournal.com]

Don't they normally ask for your PIN again before they let you do something? Or is the BofA interface different in that way?

[rising-moon.livejournal.com]

That's a good question -- I never tested the Yes button.

[ifotismeni]

you have to re-enter your pin if you hit yes. (and re-swipe your card i'm pretty sure)

[rising-moon.livejournal.com]

Ah -- thank you! Seeing the option was nerve-racking.

[insert Rosanna Rosannadanna saying, "never mind!" :)]

[ifotismeni]

no problem. i remember having a similar reaction the first time i encountered that.

[ron_newman]

Is BofA somehow different from my bank? The Wainwright ATM holds onto my card until it "logs me off" -- I can't think of any way to have the card in my hand with the machine still asking me to do something.

[rising-moon.livejournal.com]

Is BofA somehow different from my bank?

Do you want a list? Just kidding.

The "lingering message" hasn't appeared after any of my transactions, so I don't know the conditions under which it does.

[ifotismeni]

a lot of the newer diebold machines have you simply swipe your card instead of the machine holding onto it for you. after every transaction you have to re-swipe and re-enter your pin. i believe the idea is that makes it more secure -- prevents people walking away with their card still in the machine, thinking they're done (i've done this before), and if you get mugged while using an ATM the mugger can't just push you aside and withdraw cash while you have open transactions.

[ron_newman]

I have a couple times walked by outdoor ATMs that were beeping with a card sticking out of them. I took the card and brought it into an open branch the next day (fortunately it was Citizens so a branch was easy to find).

[ifotismeni]

yeah i HATE that. i felt so dumb when i realized that's what i'd done. i believe after 20 seconds or so of the card sticking out the machine takes it back and "eats" it.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

That is correct, it eats it.

(worked in security department of a bank for 8 years)

It definitely asks for your info again.

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

The system is not THAT stupid...

Re: It definitely asks for your info again.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Can you blame the OP for thinking otherwise? When the only nice thing you can say about a bank is that at least it's not US Bank...

Re: It definitely asks for your info again.

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Oh, no, I'm not blaming the OP at all... I must confess I had that thought too a while back, before I tried it and realized it asked for the PIN again.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mattt/]

As others have pointed out, a PIN number would be required. You may need to also reinsert your card -- I am not sure because I have not tried it.

That said, I would consider this something worth contacting BoA over.

I think it is most logical for the transaction to have the appearance of being completed (as well as being completed in actuality) so as not to confuse well meaning citizens.

I do like the new touch screen machines because a deposit envelope is no longer required. You just insert the check. If the machine can read the check clearly, you don't have to enter the amount.

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

Ugh. I routinely deposit 6-8 checks at once. That would be exhausting.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mattt/]

From my brief experience, it goes very quickly. You just insert it and it takes it like a dollar bill, and all you have to do is confirm by touching the screen that the amount it read is correct. By the time you fill out a deposit envelope and enter the amount manually and wait for it to slowly suck it in, I don't think you'd be off by too much time.

[exsplusohs.livejournal.com]

I would say very quickly is an understatement! Those ATMs grab those checks like they're stealing them. The first time I used one, I was caught off-guard!

Is this my good side?

[rosiewoodboat.livejournal.com]

...giving me and everyone else the chance to steal $300, change the customer's PIN, and rinse, repeat every day until the customer figured out what was going on.

...as well as an opportunity to have your picture taken by the camera in the ATM. Say cheese!