The world has long been unthinkable without plugging into an outlet. When de-energized, it experiences a breakdown. What if the ATM goes out of power? What will happen to the money and the card?
In fact, an ATM is a very ordinary computer, but with slightly unusual devices connected to it. This computer is so common that it is almost always equipped with some kind of very familiar to the layman an operating system like Windows XP. And like any other computer, it is very simple to protect an ATM from a power outage - you need to install an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), that's all. There is enough space in the ATM for this. And with proper installation and configuration of the operating system, you can force the ATM to turn off in advance when the UPS battery is exhausted. In general, there are different opinions on the need to install a UPS. The fact is that the presence of a UPS means additional investments (purchase of a UPS, batteries for them), operating costs (replacement of batteries, repairs, etc.). And the risk of a power outage is highly dependent on the location of the ATM, and in some cases is assessed as low. But repairing a UPS is usually cheaper than repairing an ATM machine.
In general, the average ATM consumes from 600 to 1000 watts. In the mode when it just interacts with the user, it consumes like a regular desktop computer (200-400 W with a monitor). But when the work of dispensers (dispensers) or cash receiving devices, or printers (there are up to three of them in an ATM), the consumption jumps to maximum values. Electromechanics is a voracious thing. A correctly selected and configured UPS is sufficient for the ATM to correctly complete the next electromechanical operation. The battery should be enough for a few minutes in maximum consumption mode. Without electromechanics, it can work much longer, of course. How much exactly depends on the UPS and the battery bank.
But still, theoretically, situations are possible when the ATM turned off during the process of accepting or dispensing money (for example, the UPS is faulty or not). What happens in this case?
There is nothing supernatural in this situation, and manufacturers provide for it to one degree or another. But, of course, they are treated differently.
First of all, you need to understand that the amount of money in an ATM is under strict control. The ATM has internal bill counters. And the bank's processing maintains its own counters. And during operation, these values are regularly checked. In the same way, all ATM units, special sensors in it are regularly monitored (including temperature sensors, shock sensors, door opening sensors, etc., etc.). In other words, any failure of the ATM will not go unnoticed.
In addition, the ATM also has an electronic transaction log that can be viewed both locally and remotely, as well as a "hard copy" of the transaction log. To do this, it has a special magazine printer (now it is almost always a thermal printer, before there were also dot matrix devices), which prints on a large roll of paper. The paper is not cut, but reeled into a reel. And this magazine is regularly withdrawn. An ordinary ATM user cannot see this printer, the printer is hidden inside the ATM, behind doors with a lock. It is available only to service personnel - collectors and technicians.
Crash without cash transactions
You went to the ATM, inserted the card and started pressing the buttons. The ATM helpfully changes the pictures on the screen for you. And then - bam! - the electricity ran out and the movie went out. What will happen to the transaction and the card?There are two options for the card. Depending on the specific ATM model and its settings, the card will either remain in a special drive or stick out of the card collector when voltage is applied. Here, of course, it can be unpleasant. Because if the card sticks out when the voltage is applied, then another person may not be next to the ATM. Which card can pick up. Actually, if the ATM has gone out and the card is inside, then it would be better to wait until the ATM turns on again and make sure that the card does not come out. Although, in fact, one card is not enough to do something with it. Usually you also need to know the PIN. Therefore, if you are in a hurry and are ready to put up with the temporary absence of a card, and the ATM does not turn on, you can give up. Or you can call the bank and explain the situation. The card will most likely simply be temporarily blocked.
Otherwise, the card will remain inside the ATM. There is a special storage for cards, since the ATM is able to capture them. For example, when PIN entry attempts are exceeded, or when the card expires, or when the card is found in the stop list, etc. Cards from this drive are withdrawn during collection. To return the card, you need to contact the bank that owns the ATM.
By the way, they say that not all the cards come from their holders. Sometimes the bank collects an impressive collection of cards from various banks.
Well, with a transaction, there are two options. She either managed to fly before the processing - and then she was fulfilled (if she could), or the electric karachun overtook her on takeoff, and then she died without being born. If it is dear to you, you will have to repeat it.
Failure to receive cash
In an ATM with a cash-in device or GBRU (for recycling ATMs, which not only accept bills, but also put them in cassettes to re-issue them) there is some kind of intermediate storage of bills. Escrow is called. The dictionary translates this word as "money, property or a document held by a third party until a certain condition is met." The essence is conveyed very accurately. This is an intermediate storage where banknotes go after recognition, detection and counting. When the ATM asks you whether to accept bills, you can choose what to do with them. If you agree, the ATM will arrange the bills into cassettes (if it is a recycling ATM) or place them in a separate deposit cassette (for simple cash-in ATMs). Well, it will carry out the enrollment transaction.And if you refuse, then the money from this escrow will stick out back and you can pick it up. They will be carefully checked by ATM detectors. By the way, some people use this free authentication service. You go to an ATM with cash-in, deposit bills, and refuse to deposit them. However, one must understand that the ATM is not able to perform meticulous detection. In theory, there could be bills that go through ATM detectors, but a full check at the bank reveals a counterfeit. I just recently saw one channel in a telegram, they were selling counterfeit banknotes. The ATMs are said to mistake them for authentic. By the way, the point of selling counterfeits is that the buyer pays, say, 5 thousand rubles, and receives counterfeit banknotes with a total denomination of 10 thousand. I'm just wondering, I'm generally an interested person, therefore I look at such channels. But I didn't dare to subscribe to this one ... You never know. In my telegram, my real name is indicated.
So what happens if the electricity goes out at the time of accepting bills?
You put in cash, the ATM started pulling it in ... and it went offline. If the bills can be pulled out, pull them out. If they are already inside, don't worry. When the ATM is turned on, it will either drop the bills into a special returnable cassette (reject cassette), or leave them in escrow, but will set a fatal error in it, which will block further cash acceptance (and often the entire ATM). This is frustrating, but it means to you that your money can be easily found and verified. The collector will arrive, draw up an act, withdraw the bills. All will be counted. And in all the ATM logs there will be traces that there was an operation with your card. Therefore, it will be fairly easy to establish the owner.
You need to call the bank and tell about the situation.
In any case, the bank will see on the monitor that the ATM first suddenly became offline (and ATMs work only if there is a constant connection with the processing), and then a fatal error appeared in it. Or, at any next operation, processing will receive information that the previous operation was not completed correctly. In any case, there will be a little investigation, and the money will be returned or credited to you.
Even if all this does not work, the discrepancy between the actual amount at the ATM and the counters of the processing center will be revealed during cash collection. Any discrepancy will be noticed. The situation is similar to the checkout in a store. If you think that you have been cheated, you should withdraw the cash register with you, check the entire balance. And in case of discrepancy with the journal of the cashier-operator, you will have to return the difference.
Failure in the cash dispensing process
It's even easier here. If the dispensing has not started, but the ATM is disconnected, then upon connection, the processing may request the status and find out that there was a failure. Or, during the next operation, it will be seen that the previous one ended in failure. In any case, it will become clear that the transaction must be rolled back, which the bank will have to do.If the issuance process has already begun, and there was a failure ... Then there will be a slight difference. In general, it is arranged there that the bills are first taken out of the cassettes, then collected in a common bundle, and prepared for dispensing. At this moment, the shutter's steel curtain opens, this is the device from which you take the money. Then the bills will come out, the ATM will make sure that the bills have been removed, or, after a timeout, will take them back and dump them into the reject cassette. By the way, this sequence was based on the old trick of tricking the ATM.
So, in whatever position of the mechanical limbs would not be found by the ATM electric paralysis, all these devices have position sensors or limit switches. And with a fresh sip of the electric machine, the ATM will find that its mechanical limbs are in improper positions. All necessary entries will be made about this and signals will be sent to the operator. And in the transaction log it will be seen that the ATM honestly tried to complete a transaction for such and such an amount with such and such a card. All evidence will be on your side.
In general, there are probably situations when the bank cannot prove that you took the money after all. According to my information, with the proper perseverance, it is not so difficult to achieve a decision in your favor. Because you can go to court, and the bank may not have enough evidence. Well, yes, I expect that my readers are decent people, so we can only talk about a situation when you defend your own, and do not take someone else's. Here everything is in good faith, so feel free to defend your rights.
