Forgotten ATM card

[Gumbyhawk]

So earlier today, I drive up to the ATM and there is already some car with a woman in it at the machine. I hang back to give her time since I'm not really in any hurry. She pulls away and takes off. I get up to the ATM and see a message on the screen that says: "you seem to need more time. Do you wish to cancel your transaction?"


She left her fucking ATM card in there when she drove off!


She was already gone by the time I realized what happened, so there was no way I could track her down. I simply hit the "cancel" button and kicked her card out.


Now I had her card in my hand. What should I do? For a split second, I wedged her card into a little crevice in the machine so she could retrieve it. I actually figured she would be circling around the block and would be right back. After I completed my transaction, she still was nowhere in sight. So I decided I had better take her card.


Just then, someone pulls up into the lane but it isn't her. I figure that I'd better just get out of there. All of a sudden, I realize that I could just drop it into the bank's night deposit. That way the bank can contact this chick tomorrow and the card will be safe. So this is what I did.


Did I do the right thing? I even looked up her name in the phonebook thinking I could call her and tell her where her card is, but either she doesn't live in Marshalltown (unlikely since her last name was Gonzales) or she has an unlisted number (likely since her last name was Gonzales).


I feel like I did a good deed, but at the same time, I really could have used the money. I could have withdrawn $300 right then and been gone. Although I guess the ATM camera would have been on there.


I kinda feel like I missed out on a mega opportunity here....

[thunderhawk]

No ISU football player, this one...

sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5414980

It was a mega opportunity, though...to commit a crime and ruin your reputation.

Karma will repay your ethical conduct appropriately.

[Gumbyhawk]

LOL


You know, the funny thing is, the Clone story never even came into mind! I could have done it and maybe left a Clone media guide lying around!

[Stukat]

I think you handled it fine. dropping it in the drop box would not have occurred to me, i would have just cut it in half and thrown it away when i got home, the lady will call and order a replacement.

It wouldnt be worth the risk of withdrawing money.

[TBELL]

People call the police for that stuff a lot too...just another option. Though what you did seems acceptable to me.

[thejesus]

Most ATM's that I have used, if you get the "do you need more time" or "would you like another transaction" messages, it will require you to re-enter the PIN. So, you may not have been able to withdrawl even if you did somehow justify it to yourself.

Also, if you would have just sat there for a bit (without taking the card out), the ATM would have sucked it back in and kept it. The bank would have notified the cardholder's bank in the morning. I know, as I've done this a couple of times.

I'm all for crimes of opportunity, if you are fucking over the right entity (corporation, big bank, asshole doucher), but you did the right thing with repsect to this situation beings how it was just a normal citizen.

[twine]

Aug 2, 2010 11:10:38 GMT -6 thejesus said:

Most ATM's that I have used, if you get the "do you need more time" or "would you like another transaction" messages, it will require you to re-enter the PIN. So, you may not have been able to withdrawl even if you did somehow justify it to yourself.

Also, if you would have just sat there for a bit (without taking the card out), the ATM would have sucked it back in and kept it. The bank would have notified the cardholder's bank in the morning. I know, as I've done this a couple of times.

I'm all for crimes of opportunity, if you are fucking over the right entity (corporation, big bank, asshole doucher), but you did the right thing with repsect to this situation beings how it was just a normal citizen.

I think you are right about the PIN number thing. I'm pretty sure that with the types of ATMs that actually "take" your card you don't get it back after entering the PIN incorrectly after three times.

You did the right thing though. Once she remebers she didn't get it she will most likely call the bank or they will call her to let her know they have her card, assuming she is one of thier customers.

Good karma for you, mang. The fact that you considered withdrawing $300 still makes you a slight piece of shit though.

[thejesus]

lol

[Gumbyhawk]

Aug 2, 2010 11:24:07 GMT -6 twine said:

Aug 2, 2010 11:10:38 GMT -6 thejesus said:

Most ATM's that I have used, if you get the "do you need more time" or "would you like another transaction" messages, it will require you to re-enter the PIN. So, you may not have been able to withdrawl even if you did somehow justify it to yourself.

Also, if you would have just sat there for a bit (without taking the card out), the ATM would have sucked it back in and kept it. The bank would have notified the cardholder's bank in the morning. I know, as I've done this a couple of times.

I'm all for crimes of opportunity, if you are fucking over the right entity (corporation, big bank, asshole doucher), but you did the right thing with repsect to this situation beings how it was just a normal citizen.

I think you are right about the PIN number thing. I'm pretty sure that with the types of ATMs that actually "take" your card you don't get it back after entering the PIN incorrectly after three times.

You did the right thing though. Once she remebers she didn't get it she will most likely call the bank or they will call her to let her know they have her card, assuming she is one of thier customers.

Good karma for you, mang. The fact that you considered withdrawing $300 still makes you a slight piece of shit though.

Okay. I can live with all that. lol


I told my wife about it and she agrees that I did the right thing but also that it had to be tempting. I'm about 16 months removed from being unemployed with an infant in the home so we really could have used any extra money that fell into our laps.


That being said, I can sleep at night. That's the tell-tale sign there.