ATM Blunder Brings Back Memories...

It's amazing how many times this happens https://www.finextra.com/fullstory.asp?id=19530.  Presumably, the wrong notes have been loaded in the wrong hoppers...?

If so, this is easily rectified...at least it was when I worked in a branch.

Back in the old days (someone bring me my bathchair and a nice comfy blanket...), we used to have an ATM card linked to an account with a small amount of money in it.  When the machine was reloaded with cash, the last act of the staff member was to go outside and make a couple of wirthdrawals, in amounts that were certain to draw out the right combination of notes - for instance, did a request for £5 give me a £5 note, or a £10?  If it did, the machine was properly loaded.  If not, we had to go back into the machine and correct the error.  The money withdrawn was then paid back in to the account, ready for the next time we did the reload.

Does this not happen anymore?  If not, maybe they should resurrect the process.  If so, someone needs kicking for not doing it properly.

It's like the report in the paper the other day about the NHS checklist - do we have the right patient - check.  What operation are we doing - check.  List all the equipment at the start - check.  List it at the end - oops, something is missing....

Sometimes, the old, manual ways are the best...

Incidentally, when emptying the night safe, one great wheeze we used to do was, in a deep voice, shout out 'thank you' if someone put another box in the safe whilst we were still feeling around in it...  I think quite a few people jumped.