Bank customers queue round the - - block as cash machine pays out DOUBLE their money

Bank customers queue round the block as cash machine pays out DOUBLE their money

By NICK McDERMOTT - Last updated at 15:04pm on 20th March 2008

http://www.dailymail.co.uk

Once the word was out, there was no stopping them. Within minutes of one lucky customer finding out that the cash machine at his local supermarket was giving out double the requested withdrawal, the news spread like wildfire.

Customers popping down to their Sainsbury's Local store for a few basics got in on the act - and they were soon joined by hundreds of others as they alerted family and friends to the ultimate supermarket bargain.

At one stage, the queue for the cash machine was a 100-strong - with many making multiple withdrawals in the hope they will not be traced and asked to repay the cash.

Word of the fault spread quickly and more and more people began to queue outside the Sainsburys Local cashpoint.

"It was really funny seeing all those people trying to get one over on the banks," said a witness.

"They were walking away with huge wads of cash (considerable amount of money) and big smiles on their faces.

"They were ringing their mates and telling them to get down quickly. I hope they don't have to pay it back."

The crowd began gathering at the store in Hull at around 5pm on Tuesday and finally dispersed at 8pm when the faulty ATM ran out of notes.

Two for one: Customers queue outside the cash machine in Hull last night which paid out twice the amount requested before running out of cash.

One man, who did not wish to be named, said: "I was driving past when I saw a huge queue at the cash machine.

"I parked up and learned that it was paying out double. I joined the queue and when I finally got to the front, I drew out £200, but it gave me £400.

"The statement said I only drew out £200. I don't know whether I will have to pay it back."

Not everyone was so lucky. Taxi driver David Mellors, 37, pulled up too late and by the time he reached the front of the queue, the machine had run out of notes.

The father-of-seven said: "I was disappointed. It was the ultimate buy one, get one free sale and I missed out."

A spokesman for Sainsbury's said the cash machine was run by a private company. She declined to give the company's name and said it was unable to comment.

Asked how much money Sainsbury's believes was lost from the machine, she replied: "We do not know and we would not give out that kind of information."

She added: "It ran out of money at 8pm. The police came to see the machine and the matter is under investigation."

Most debit cards (借记卡) have a daily cash withdrawal limit of £300 - meaning that those lucky enough to use the haywire (取去干草后的杂乱缠绕的铁丝) machine were able to take out a maximum of £600.

Whether they will get to keep it is another matter. The cash machine operator will have a record of all withdrawals made on the day.

It is then up to the discretion (judgment) of the customers' banks whether or not they seek to trace each one and attempt to reclaim any overpayment (多付款).

On similar previous occasions, some banks have chosen to write off the money rather than pursue a large number of claims.

And there may be many more potential claims to be chased after unconfirmed reports suggested that other machines were also hit by the same fault.

The Sainsbury's spokesman said: "We think a number of cash machines outside supermarkets in Hull experienced similar problems."

Comments (103)

people have commented on this story.

The likely logical outcome will be everyone who withdrew cash from the machine that day will be identified by their bank and will receive a letter requesting re-payment. To not do so will then render one guilty of theft.
- Michael, London, UK

Sounds like the TRUE meaning of Britishness. Greedy scumbags (社会渣滓) knowing the money isn't theirs, yet trying to get away with it.
- Ian, Prudhoe

They will catch up with you.
- Jo, Worcestershire

Re: Ian from Prudhoe's comment. Greedy scumbags? Hardly! Good on them I say! We pay way too much tax, banks charge way too much in fees and interest, so this is just a tiny little bonus for a few people. I don't begrudge (羡慕) them it. Wake up to life a bit, Ian.
- James, Warwickshire, England

They are thieves.
- Albert Lampwick, UK

Do they not realise that every transaction and withdrawal they make will be recorded and the banks will know if they stole money from this machine on this night?
- Jo, Kent

It's theft!
- Pip, United Kingdom

How do these people sleep at night? Whatever happened to British DIGNITY? I hope they are all identified and charged with theft.
- Epimethean, Surrey

I can remember as a child picking up a £5 in the street. This would be about 1940 and I promptly took it down to the police station. Those were the days when there was such a thing called "honesty". Not much of it about anymore!
- Jeb, France

I hope they all get charged for theft.
- John C., London

It’s still theft and the banks won’t lose out. Looking at the pictures of the queue I’m surprised that they have bank accounts.
- Fed Up, N.E.Essex

It's called theft.
- Anne Oswald, Moseley, Birmingham

Another great story from Hull.
- Lee, Beverley, UK

Dishonesty, thieving, robbery.
- Faqi, London, UK

These people are nothing but thieves.
- Kate, Herts

We as a family are very badly off financially as three out of four of us are too disabled to work, and the other on a low wage, but if this happened I would go into the bank and report the problem immediately. It's not my money - end of dilemma. What's the matter with people?
- Grace, Herne Bay, U.K.

I know I would be considered 'nutty' (偏执，狂热) but I would have gone inside to report the faulty machine.
- Katie, Stoke

A few years ago, I remember banking a cheque for £2.49, and because the cheque was written very carelessly, the Cashier entered it as "£249" in my Pass Book.
Three weeks later, I received a letter ordering me to repay the amount, as it had been discovered that an error had been made.
So, for all these people, you have been warned. You will have to pay it all back!
- Sandie Seward, Basildon U.K.

QUESTIONS:

1. Whose fault is it? Who is responsible for the faulty machine?

2. Is it criminal to obtain more money than it should be in this situation?

3. Should the people repay the money to the bank?

4. What will you do in this situation? Report to the bank? Call the police? Or withdraw money like all the others?

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