Keeping Your ATMs in Tiptop Condition
No one likes to see the dreaded “Out of Order” sign on an ATM. When customers need cash they want, and expect, the ATM to work as needed. ATM owners would be wise to conduct regular servicing and maintenance on their ATMs so as to avoid frustrated customers who cannot access their cash. Nevertheless, ATMs are machines and machines sometimes break. There are 5 common ATM issues that owners should keep an eye out for because they will likely need to be repaired by an ATM service professional.
1. Faulty Dispenser
A rare, but exceedingly frustrating issue that can occur is an ATM that has a faulty dispenser. This means that a customer has inserted their bank or credit card into the ATM and entered their passcode or pin. They’ve selected to withdraw cash and the cash amount, but the machine fails to dispense the cash or the right amount of cash. And yet, the customer’s account has been debited the full amount. This kind of issue needs to be remedied right away as it creates hassles for both the customer, the ATM owner, and the issuing bank.
When an ATM fails to dispense the requested cash, customers will likely file a claim against the owner for the amount debited from their account. ATM owners will need to do everything they can to find out what happened. In addition to calling out a service repair professional, ATM owners will likely need to watch any surveillance video to see what happened during that transaction, count the machine’s cash totals, and look for any hidden devices that may have directed the cash elsewhere. Since faulty dispensers can create quite the headache for everyone involved, and are a security risk, regular maintenance for ATMs is recommended to prevent this from happening in the first place.
2. Worn Out Card Reader
Every bank card or credit card has a dark stripe on the back. That line is a magnetic strip which contains specific details about the card and its owner. When the bank or credit card is swiped at an ATM, the reader verifies the information on the card before it authorizes the transaction. Over time, especially if the machine is highly used, ATM card readers can wear out. This means that the information on the back of the card cannot be read to verify the card user’s banking information. An ATM service repair professional can examine the reader to see if it needs to be cleaned, repaired, or fully replaced in order to work properly again.
3. Broken Keypad
Many ATMs still have a physical keypad on their machine where customers enter their passcode or pin in order to complete their transaction. Every once in a while these keypads can break, effectively causing the ATM to become unusable. A button on the keypad might become stuck or generally won’t respond when pressed. Much of the time this is an issue that will need to be repaired by a service repair professional who can disassemble the ATM to figure out why the keypad is not working.
4. Receipt Malfunctions
In order to have a record of their ATM transaction, customers need to have a paper receipt. This will help customers identify the time and location of their transaction in the event that there is an issue with the ATM, such as a faulty dispenser. However, periodically an ATM will have an issue with dispensing a paper receipt. Some things that an ATM repair professional will look for are whether or not the machine has run out of paper. Is there a jam in the machine preventing the ATM from dispensing the receipt? Is the printer out of ink? Since the receipt contains vital information about the ATM transaction, it’s imperative that any issues with printing receipts is handled right away.
5. Software Glitches
ATM technology has advanced exponentially in recent years. Many, if not most, ATMs now have touch screen and other technology that relies on computer software to function. And like other machines that run on computer software, ATMs can have software glitches. ATM software needs to be updated on a regular basis. However, even with regular maintenance malfunctions can occur. A service repair professional will be able to scan the ATM for viruses, install new and updated software, and fix any glitches that may be occurring.
Ensuring a Functioning Fleet
While malfunctioning ATMs can be frustrating, not fixing them right away can ultimately cost owners even more money in lost surcharge fees. By having an ATM repair professional at the ready, owners can take care of any issues that arise in a timely manner and get back to business as usual.
