'ATM' stealing money' News Headlines

ATM' stealing money

steven reagan (121.54.64.7) -

new to this forum and not sure if this subject has been brought up before.

I recently used a BDO atm machine in sm clark and tried to withdraw 10, 000p and the machine made the sounds of counting the money but did not dispense.

My reciept clearly states "unable to dispense" so i went to another machine and found it had indeed been deducted from my account. I recieved no money! The machine in question had already done same to an american the day before (i found this out later) and it did same to the person after me.

I went to bdo branch and complainefd and was referred to call centre to lodge complaint and told i should make complaint through my own australian bank ( bank procedure). Ok, ive complained, complained and complained and its six weeks later and still ive not got my money.

i was told at bdo branch by the manager that this is common in philippines, what the....!!!! sure enough on searching the net this happens quite a bit and in the majority of cases people give up complaining or never get there money back.

This is outright stealing as far as i am concerned and the banks should be charged with fraud. I told them of the faulty machine and how i was not the only one and what did they do? nothing!!! they left the machine turned on to do it countless others as well.

Be warned, these banks are stealing money and not returning it. bdo and bpi the main offenders.

Would really like to hear any advice anybody can give me.

Reply #1 Bubba from deep in your mind (Contact Member) -

I had that happen (not in the Philippines) ... the machine shorted me, but the full amount deducted from my bank account.

A few days letter a correction was made automatically in my bank account.

Maybe you need to start with the upper management at your Australian bank as well as the Australian bank regulators.

Reply #2 steven reagan (121.54.64.7) -

Thanks for that advice. Thats actually exactly what i did and amazingly after complaining to stgeorge bank in Australia and stating that australias eft code of practice states that the customer is not responsible in event of malfunction or error in its system OR ANY system used to complete a transaction for its customer and threatening legal action my money appeared back in my account this morning, six weeks later.

be warned though that BDO and BPI do this to people in philippines regularly and BDO's system in most areas of banking is a joke. A net search shows just how bad there practices here are and there is no customer support - they have outsourced that to a call centre.

I'll be using citibank atm's only from here on in.

Reply #3 Thomas T from PI, Earth (Contact Member) -

This has happened to me also.Its obvious what BDO is doing. Anyone that has experienced this should report them to consumeraffairs @bsp.gov.ph Good luck!!!

Reply #4 simple minds (122.53.47.93) -

same thing happen to us when we went to angeles pampanga. but it was an atm of unionbank. we were trying to withdraw 20 thou but no money came out. but 20 thou was already deducted from our account. it was a sunday so we cannot complain to the bank.and the telephone number they posted near the atm for complains was not working. the following day we went to the bank, talked to the manager. they check the machine and they said that our money got stuck in there machine. money was given back to us the same day. we ask them to replace there machine or have it repair. and they said that there machine can only handle small withdrawal. amount not higher than 5 thou. if that's the case we asked them, why is it that no sign was posted near or on that machine. the manager's lame excuse was somebody might have taken it off or it fell down. so now whenever we need to withdraw money from any atm machine we limit are withdrawal to 4, 000. just to be safe.

Reply #5 BDO victim (63.68.228.197) -

I got the same experience from BDO mandaue Cebu branch last December 8, 2008.

I withdrew 1, 400 from BDO Mandaue, Cebu branch….. ATM said “do you want a printed receipt?” then I pressed “YES”… then the ATM said “take your card.. then please take your receipt and cash…” ATM sounds…. (like dispensing, counting cash..) …but… no cash and receipt dispensed… there’s a pop-up message…. “Please call blah..blah..blah…”

Tried another attempt, with a 1K amount.. still no cash dispensed and the same pop-up message appear on screen…

I made a balance inquiry…. blag! they got my 1, 400 =( … I’ve confirmed it to BDO SM Cebu branch then they confimed that they got my 1, 400… They told me to call customer service… The customer service told me that I will wait to a maximum of 5 banking days because they have to invistigate… after one week, I still don’t get my 1, 400…. What happened? Early Christmas gift for them?

Reply #6 BDO victim (63.68.228.197) -

-thanks God.... at last! they have returned my money... =)

Reply #7 atm victim (121.1.18.242) -

to bdo victim, please tell me how you get your money back... got the same problem and i need some assurance that i will get my 15K back... need some hope... please advice.

Reply #8 Loyd in Korea (143.138.26.170) -

After reading all the blogs about all the people attempting to use the ATM machines at various banks in The Philippines I thought I should state this:

I have not had any luck using ATMs even when I am at the bank and the bank is open for buisness. No money comes out and the manager states we don't accept that card. The manager assured me no money was deducted from my account and hurried back to what ever he was doing. My card had the logos of Plus, Interlink, Master card, and Visa. The ATM displayed all these logos. Yet no money came out but I was charged when I checked my balance at another banks ATM. The amount I was attempting to withdraw was missing from my bank. Bottom line; take cash with you banks are crooked in the Philippines, especially if your card is from a non Philippine bank. I allways get my money restored but it is after I depart the Philippines and visit my bank back in Korea. The Philippines will never advance with treatment like this to it's banking customers. If you can't trust a banker and your priest you are in deep trouble.

Loyd In Korea

Reply #9 Loyd In Korea (143.138.26.170) -

All who lost money in the ATMs in the Philippines: To get your money back you simply goto your bank and file a protest. My bank has deposited money to my account on 3 different ocasions. Twice because my wife had her money stolen at the ATM and once when I did. Each time the same results as I stated earlier, no money and my card was returned. Each time when I filed the form of protest my money was deposited immediately back into my account by my bank. After the investigation was completed I received a formal letter from my bank stating there was a fraud or descrepancy with the Philippine bank in question and that bank returned the money to my bank. I only needed to return to Korea to file the protest and of course tell my bank what day and what time the transaction took place. Recept is not allways required and if you get a receipt use it to help your bank. Your bank can run a trail back to the banks ATM based on the statement they print on the activity of your card for the period in question

Reply #10 Charles (121.54.47.50) - 10/09/09 21:59

Yesterday (Friday), BPI did the same thing to me. My ATM card is DBP. BPI did not dispense any cash, but deducted the amount i withdraw, which is 3, 000. A message on the screen flashed "transaction canceled". My ATM card suddenly ejected followed by a receipt. Went to other bank to check my balance and to my surprise the amount was deducted. I panicked and went back to BPI ATM to report. But the security guards denied my entry because it was almost 5pm, and bank is closed. But I can see the employees still working inside. They can also see me arguing with the guards outside. I decided to follow their company's policy and I will return on Monday to complain.

I was desperate because I was out of cash. So i decided to punch the guard in the face, grabbed his shotgun and shot the other guards who was standing nearby. The employees panicked and sounded the alarm. Then I broke the glass door, got inside and went straight to the bank manager's office and pointed the gun in his face. I demanded my 3, 000 cash back and threatened to shoot his balls. He reached for his wallet and gave me the 3, 000 that the bank owed me. Before I left the building I smiled at the bank's CCTV camera and said "nasa WoW mali kayo"...

hehehe.. of course that was only a fictional story. (sigh) i hope i will get my money back by monday...

Reply #11 Charles (121.54.47.50) - 10/15/09 01:41

I got my money back after 6 days. phewww!.. Next time i will transact with my own bank. If this happens to you, just remember it's very important to keep the receipt.

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