ATMs... you must withdraw in multiples of €xx

h3000

Why oh why do ATM machines only notify you that you must withdraw in multiples €xx after you requested the amount you would like to withdraw. For instance if I wanted to withdraw €50 it may come back saying you can only withdraw in multiples of €20.


This is especially frustrating when its the "portable" ATMs you might find in a shop. It means you have to take out your card and restart the whole transaction.

It cannot be that difficult to notify the user on the notes available before they request a withdrawal.

pwurple

There's one near me where all the options on screen are in multiples of 20 (40, 60, 80, 120) (It inexplicably omits 100!) and when you pick any of them it ejects the card and says 50's only. 

So you have to go into a custom amount to do it.  

Tow

Original rant on ATM designers and programmers deleted.

New Rant: The BOI ATM in my local shop still thinks it is Christmas.... 

Bank of Ireland: Billy

h3000 wrote: »

Why oh why do ATM machines only notify you that you must withdraw in multiples €xx after you requested the amount you would like to withdraw. For instance if I wanted to withdraw €50 it may come back saying you can only withdraw in multiples of €20.


This is especially frustrating when its the "portable" ATMs you might find in a shop. It means you have to take out your card and restart the whole transaction.

It cannot be that difficult to notify the user on the notes available before they request a withdrawal.

pwurple wrote: »

There's one near me where all the options on screen are in multiples of 20 (40, 60, 80, 120) (It inexplicably omits 100!) and when you pick any of them it ejects the card and says 50's only. 

So you have to go into a custom amount to do it.  

[font=Verdana","sans-serif]Hi Folks,[/font]
[font=Verdana","sans-serif] [/font]
[font=Verdana","sans-serif]Thanks for contacting us.[/font]
[font=Verdana","sans-serif] [/font]
[font=Verdana","sans-serif]The majority of our ATM devices dispense €20 and €50 notes only. The combination of notes stocked is based on established usage trends. In a small number of selected locations, for example close to 3rd level institutions or retail campus services, €10 notes are also available. Depending on stock levels within the device, our ATM's are programmed to dispense notes in the most appropriate combination to suit the individual transaction. Note dispensing of the smaller denominations is not based on a first come, first served basis. Where there is a higher demand for smaller cash withdrawal amounts then the ATM may dispense its stock of €10 or €20 notes much more quickly. Reduced or depleted note stocks are “topped up” on the next service call to the device.[/font]
[font=Verdana","sans-serif] [/font]
[font=Verdana","sans-serif]We have passed the suggestion about displaying available notes before a transaction is made, to the ATM Teams.[/font]
[font=Verdana","sans-serif] [/font]
[font=Verdana","sans-serif]Thanks[/font]
[font=Verdana","sans-serif] [/font]
[font=Verdana","sans-serif]Billy [/font]

Irish Steve

If the ATM programmers are actually going to look at the structure, rather than just playing with the graphics, the other change that might be less annoying to users is to check that there is receipt paper available BEFORE asking the customer if they want a receipt, there's nothing more annoying than making the selection to say "yes" to a receipt, to then be told that it can't be provided. If the paper's run out, then say so, and don't bother with asking for a choice that then can't be fulfilled. In the same vein, I can't believe that there's nowhere on the user data on the card to save the language preference selection, rather than ask with every transaction. 

The brutal reality of way too much programming is that it's NOT designed for the end user, it evolves initially without a structure, based on the requirements of the designers, and way too often, if it then works, there's no extra spend approved to make the end product user friendly, end user convenience is a long way down the list of desirable features, and way too often falls foul of the inevitable delays in the project that mean there's massive pressure to get the (now late and probably over budget) product out of the door,  a bit like the DVD recorders that have setup as the first menu option, even though it's only used perhaps once a year, and the time shift record option as the last on the list, so a number of effectively unneeded key presses to get to the most used and important option for most users.

Lots of other devices where the UI is not user friendly, and that for sure applies to ATM's, and has ever since the days (a long time ago now) when you got £10, and had to wait for your card to be returned in the post, and the card was only good for 20 uses in total before it had to be replaced. 

I've been a BOI customer for nearly 30 years, and involved with on line banking systems for nearly 50, and the speed of change and improvement from BOI has been glacial, given how computer systems have been improved, and processing power has increased, the fact that so much of the BOI systems are still stuck in the late 80's is a damning indictment of all that's been wrong with banking over the last 20 years.

Bank of Ireland: Alison

Hi Irish Steve

Thanks for getting in touch with your concerns relating to the ATM receipt and language preference. 

We'll certainly forward your suggestions to our ATM Team, appreciate the time taken to make us aware here.

Thanks
Alison