‘Surprisingly SBI’ ATMs
I was talking to my uncle some days back and he, being an SBI employee, was talking about some issues people face while using SBI ATMs.
Apparently, SBI has one type of ATM machine where, the user swipes the card and takes it back, then enters the PIN and starts his transaction.
Many would obviously agree the type of customers SBI caters is vastly different, from say, the kind of customers HSBC or Standard Chartered or ABN AMRO cater to. Not all are educated, tech savvy etc.
These ATMs, after the user completes a transaction, prompts for a
“Do you wish to perform another transaction?” option with a ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ option.
(Mind you, all this after the user has taken out his ATM Card)
Some naive users, not knowing what to do, or perhaps ignorant of the importance of this message just collect their cash and move away. Feeling secure in the knowledge that they have their cards with them.
The next user who confronts the screen left as it is, clicks ‘Yes’ and then swindles all the money in the balance of the previous user.
My uncle says he has heard enough reports of such instances for quite sometime now.
I am not an SBI account holder nor have i used SBI ATMs so i cannot say for sure. But i have no reason to distrust him. Anyone who has used SBI ATMs can verify this.
There’s a similiar kind of machine in ICICI but atleast that does not ask this question. The user has to swipe the card, enter the password again to perform another transaction. I double checked this sometime back. More work, yes but definitely that little bit of pain is better than losing one’s hard earned money.
By and large, the best option would be to retain the card till the user performs all his operation and release it only at the end.
I think it’s high time banks standardised the UI of ATMs. I dont understand the need to have several types of machines when its plain unsafe for users. What’s the big deal in doing things ‘different’ if it’s going to facilitate all kinds of malpractices like these? Is it not the equivalent of one car manufacturer having an acelerator pedal in the center and brake on the right?
I would like the users to verify this themselves and give their feedback.
PS:
On a different note, one of my friend says that when he tried his IDBI Card in SBI ATM once, the machine did not even ask for his PIN number. Whoa!, so much for security!
Surprisingly SBI!!
April 21st, 2006 at 5:09 pm
Its not IDBI though it happens with that also sometimes…..But Always with an ICICI card….
Surprisingly SBI~:-)
April 21st, 2006 at 5:29 pm
Yeah i dont know why there should always be flaw in Government instituionlaised enviroments. Though ICICI seem to be not much bothered abt customers as I heard one of the managers saying we are overflowing with customers and we dont want anymore
April 21st, 2006 at 6:38 pm
i use SBI ATM at times… if i my memory serves me right, i don’t remember having to answer this “do you want to do another..” question… but i shall check this next time i use it…
April 21st, 2006 at 6:51 pm
The ad “Surprisingly SBI” is so funny! I dont know who approved the idea. The example of car was really valid.
On one hand, due to VRS, the number of employees in a branch has come down drastically. Most of those who are left behind invariably wear bifocals and the way they search the keys on the keyboard pisses me off. 99% of the reamaining employees are sure to have BP…the way they treat the customers…pity! Well, I am too impatient to be SBI’s customer. But, my family has a time-honored association with the bank. So, time and again, I come to agree with their slogan -”Surprisingly SBI”.
On the other hand, such lapses with machines. I have been admonishing my mom to use her ATM card which lies in the unopened envelope for the past couple of yers. But, she is just too insecured to use it. Now, I am thinking if I should just stop insisting:))
April 21st, 2006 at 9:45 pm
karthik,
bayama dhaan irukku!!
barbienan,
‘customer is king but we dont kings we r after all a democracy’ seems to be that ICICI manager’s philosophy!:)
NK,
i too tried with other bank cards. it worked smooth. pls. try with SBI ATM and let me know:)
casement,
Amma use pannalaam, thapu illai. u can’t carry cash to all the places all the time.
But koncham ushaara irukanum and its high time these idiots standardized the user interface of ATMs.
July 26th, 2006 at 10:16 am
Hai,
When i Google searched for SBI ATM i surprisingly got ur site..
i am so shocked looking at ur comments. I also add to ur points that there is no proper maintenance to ATM always getting repaired.. or will be out of use..
Nowdays ATM is widely used by all kind of people including those who dont even know to read.. so it would be much better if all ATM functions similar so that it culd be ALL-USER-FRIENDLY.
This link creates awareness for the people.. it helps more if it includes not only ATMs but all things…
– AR