Comment Re:Insert Your Card Machines Only? (Score 2, Informative) 880
"As for swipe ATMs, my major worry (as a bank operator) would be that I would expect that they would be more prone to mechanical failure (from ease of dust building up, people spilling coffee, etc) than an insert ATM."
Actually, it is the opposite. There is a much higher failure rate on motorized readers that take the card into the machine. Moving parts vs no movie parts, and all of that. With a motorized reader, you can get jams, misalignments between the internal reader and the face of the machine, etc. We see much higher failure rates on these.
As I said below in another reply, dip/swipe readers only generally allow one transaction per insertion, and unless you walk away from the machine before doing a transaction and somebody immediately walks up behind you, it is not a likely problem. Also, cash is generally sucked back into the machine after a given interval on most dispensers (around 30 seconds). There are a few machine types that have what we call "spray" dispensers that completely let go of the cash and cannot suck the money back in. Most of these are old models, though.
If a machine sucks your cash in because you didn't get it in time, in the US, you just go to your bank and file a Reg E dispute. This kicks off research of the transaction, and the bank can tell if you didn't get your money and will credit you back.
Actually, it is the opposite. There is a much higher failure rate on motorized readers that take the card into the machine. Moving parts vs no movie parts, and all of that. With a motorized reader, you can get jams, misalignments between the internal reader and the face of the machine, etc. We see much higher failure rates on these.
As I said below in another reply, dip/swipe readers only generally allow one transaction per insertion, and unless you walk away from the machine before doing a transaction and somebody immediately walks up behind you, it is not a likely problem. Also, cash is generally sucked back into the machine after a given interval on most dispensers (around 30 seconds). There are a few machine types that have what we call "spray" dispensers that completely let go of the cash and cannot suck the money back in. Most of these are old models, though.
If a machine sucks your cash in because you didn't get it in time, in the US, you just go to your bank and file a Reg E dispute. This kicks off research of the transaction, and the bank can tell if you didn't get your money and will credit you back.
