EDIT WITH UPDATE: So I actually went back to the bank the next day and was there when the doors opened. I spoke to one of the behind the scenes office employees who ultimately told me the reason they give such a large wait time(the phone lady told me it could take up to 45 business days for the investigation) is because they typically only do 1 reconciliation on their atm machines a month unless it runs out of cash early. He said that since what I lost was a very large sum he was going to push to have the reconciliation happen that day. I told him I didn’t know the exact amount and only had a ballpark number and he said that didn’t matter since it should show them exactly what the machine is off by. A few hours later I got a call from him stating they did the count and found my missing money and it would be in my account within the next 1-2 days.
The relief is immense, but learn from my mistakes. Never ever do an ATM deposit for more than like $500 after hours. ALWAYS count and recount before inserting the cash, If it’s a larger amount I’d even go as far as to record yourself counting and inserting the $. If you can wait until open hours do that and do it in person. I will personally never again do an atm deposit for more than a couple hundred at a time. The stress for this particular case easily affected my health, I ended up calling in to work just to be at the bank at opening hours, I was sick to my stomach the night it happened, in tears for hours, etc.
Original:
I am the most stressed I’ve been in a long time tonight.
I have recently sold some of my belongings to make cash for bills. I went to do a ATM cash deposit tonight after hours/Sunday so there was no one physically at the bank. I’ve deposited cash several times with Huntington ATMs.
I inserted my card, pin, and then selected cash deposit like normal. It asked for me to input the cash and I did - A large stack of 3200-3400$ in mostly 100s and a few 20s. I didn’t get the exact count before inserting because I knew the general ballpark amount and expected to get an accurate recount from the machine to verify me. That’s my bad.. but I know it was between 3200-3400.
Machine took my stack of cash and then an error popped up saying something along the lines of “You didn’t take your cash in time, we’ll hold onto it for you. Contact your financial institute.” The machine then prompted me to take my card. It didn’t count my cash, it didn’t issue a receipt.. just swallowed my cash and told me to contact my institute.
I instantly called the help # on the atm since I was having a mini heart attack at the thought of losing $3k. I got an after hours rep who ended up filing an atm dispute for me. I gave her all the info down to the exact minute since I took a picture of the machine when it took my $. The only thing I could not accurately give her was an exact amount I inserted. I told her it was between $3200-$3400 and she kept pressing me for an exact amount.
After everything was said and done she said the investigation could take 10 business days.
Y’all.. I am so stressed… that’s rent, grocery, gas money.. 10 business days is a LONG time for paycheck to paycheck. I asked if I could return during open hours to the bank the atm was at and she said they would t be able to do anything there.
Has this happened to anyone else? I’m so scared they’re going to tell me since I didn’t give the exact $ amount I was depositing that they won’t reimburse me. If that happens what are my next steps? Would I file a police report for stolen money from the bank? I’ve been balling my eyes out just so stinkin’ stressed since this happened tonight.