16 February 2008

Show me the money

Last Sunday I went to the cash point to withdraw 120 euro out. I could hear the machine whirring away, trying to throw some money out, but nothing actually came out except for the receipt to say I’d withdrawn 120 notes.

Wishfully thinking maybe it wouldn’t be debited as the bank had not actually given me any money, but the next day I checked and the 120 had come off. AARRGGGHHH!!!

So off to the bank I went. I should add that the bank I withdrew from is not my bank. It took me 5 mins to actually get in the bank with all the stepping in and out of the doors which close you in the middle just in case you’ve got "bank robber" wrote on your forehead. I hoped it was going to be all straight forward: They’d see that their bancomat was up 120 and maybe even others had been in to complain and they'd hand the money over. Not so simple. The banker tapped away into his computer for 5 mins whilst talking to someone else (about something else) on the phone then told through the thickest glass window I've ever seen that the bancomat isn’t managed by the bank and that banomat man makes an appearance on Thursdays. So I had to write bancomat man a letter and they would phone on Thursday with the outcome. He didn’t ring so I called on Friday and miracle of miracles they admitted their mistake, apologised and said they will credit my account (in ten days)!

Lessons learnt:
1. Don’t use the banomat on a Sunday because there’s almost always some kind of problem – ie empty etc.
2. Use a bancomat near to home so that when you have to go backwards and forwards to sort the problem it doesn’t take up your time.
3. Have faith in Italian customer service (to be confirmed when the money actually goes into my account).

9 comments:

Gil said...

I sure hope that your account is credited. Looks like they got some free use of your hard earned money.

Michelle | Bleeding Espresso said...

It's so lovely when things aren't too much of a hassle, isn't it?

Still, I await your confirmation ;))

Anonymous said...

the same happened to me in London.....
Milly

Nadine said...

That is so annoying. It's frustrating to have to go through all of that.

I hope it all works out.

Anonymous said...

Delinissima, crossfinger and good luck!!!
10 days to give your money back... just ridiculous!!

Cherrye said...

That is crazy! I've never had that happen to me (knock on wood).

I did have a Parisian bancomat "eat" my card once. I then got in minor trouble, when I pulled out a pair of tweezers to get my card back! The French police thought I was trying to break into the machine!lol

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

Yikes. Let us know if the money does make it back to your account. I try to only use the Bancomat when the bank is open but what if you need cash on a Sunday?

Leanne was in Italy now in Australia said...

They said that they were wrong! Well that must be a first to get some banker so say they are wrong. Hope you have the money back!

joe@italyville.com said...

good luck. any word? We had an extra $20 come out a few months ago:) I'm sure it come back to haunt us 10 fold.