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[westcbear]

Is it just me or has anyone else thought "What would happen if the power went out right now?" just after you've put your debit card in the ATM? "What if the power was off for an extended amount of time?"

Comments

[greatbearmd]

Most ATMs these days have a built-in uninterruptible power supply. This is to prevent this sort of thing from happening and to allow a proper shutdown of the machine if the power does go out for an extended period.

[westcbear]

Ah, so obviously you have thought of it. :o)

[wescobear]

If it is the style of ATM that actually pulls your card in, chances are that it will keep it when the power fails. Most of those ATMs retain stolen cards or cards where the wrong code number is entered too many times. If the ATM finds a card in the reader path during the power up and test sequence, it is supposed to drop the card into the internal lockbox.

If this actually happened to you, I'd call the bank and tell them about the incident to be absolutely certain your card is safe.

[westcbear]

Oh that's cool! :o) I wasn't being too serious with the post. I figured there is some sort of checks and balances in place for that exact scenario. Of course I only consider that after I had a bit of time to think about it. In the heat of the moment though, when the card was sucked in and that thought suddenly struck... :o)

[paterson_si]

You'd be in trouble. :)

[westcbear]

And boy that would suck!

[paterson_si]

I miss you on LJ, Andreas.

[westcbear]

Yeah, I've been sort of absent from LJ, haven't I?

[westcbear]

Heh heh. :o) Yeah, I'd rather be well off and be under the thumb of the big brother bank than be free and broke.

[clintswan]

your mind is a wondrous place

[westcbear]

It's like Six Flags in here. :o)