Modern Vespa

If you make a withdrawal, many ATM machines require you to request the desired amount of money using a decimal point. Thus, if you want 200 Dollars (or Euro as the case is here or Pounds in the UK), you must enter the digit "2", followed by four zeroes, not two. (200.00 not 200)

Now, considering that the machines only dispense bills, often in denominations of 20 or higher, the inclusion of the decimal point is useless, and for some folks, confusing.

There are two reasons for this. Some of you software developers may take issue, but one reason is just plain and simple lazy or thoughtless code writing. I am amazed that the ATM code writers, or their employers, haven't noticed this and modified the code.

Now, having said the above, anyone want to identify the other reason that ATM machines often require expressing the amount to be withdrawn with two decimal places?

Al

Maybe so the bank can't be sued for not offering a particular amount of your money back to you (even though you'd never get the pennies)?

Is this a quizz? Did I win a toaster or something?

BTW, I usually select one of the suggested withdrawal amounts, so it is not an issue for me. Besides, it is likely that I would habitually add the two pennies digits, from the frequent deposits I make.

Well I don't have a clue as to what you think the second reason is, but I wouldn't have a problem with pressing the zero two more times if I were going to withdraw $200.00. I did a short test on my computer keyboard and I found that I could type three zeroes in less than one second, so it's not as if this maneuver is time consuming. Note also that many ATMs have the most popular withdrawal sums listed as quick withdrawal amounts, and these require selecting only a single letter code from the device's keypad. I rarely carry large sums of cash, and, in checking Quicken, I found that the last time I withdrew cash from my ATM was on 14 May 2007, about 18 months ago.

You are probably correct in assuming that the code as written reveals a convenience to the code writers, but I also see it as a means of making the machine more user-friendly. While I may not withdraw much cash from my ATM, I regularly use it to make deposits of varying amounts - many of these include cents. When contorting from a car window, finding that decimal key might be a bit frustrating. I'm more interested in knowing when my bank will be forced to close though.

No more calls - We have a WINNER!

The decimal point capability allows deposits of any amount. For reasons known only to the people who make the machines, a separate software sub-routine for inputting the amount of withdrawals is not included in the machine's software, or if there is a separate routine, it is simply not written to address the obvious. Thus, both withdrawals and deposits tend to use the same keyboard input software. Then, for withdrawals, there is a subroutine that checks to make sure that the requested amount is input in the allowable multiple of 10 or 20.

That's today's minute of insignificant trivia.

Al

Must say, every ATM I have used in the UK, does not bother with the decimal point stuff.

When I enter my PIN and want to take out some cash, I get ".00" on the screen. I tap "2 - 0 - 0 - Enter" and get that amount of money. I guess we've already solved this issue here 8)

What your PIN ?
I want to try, I don't believe you...

ATM = automatic teller machine.

Why do some say ATM machine, or automatic teller machine machine?

+1

along with Hot water heater. who want to heat hot water?
or PIN number, Personal Identification number number?

Yes, very ironic. Like Swiss cheese....


(sorry, Corinthian and tonysmallframe reminded me of a very obscure TV show quote/reference... )

How about "The La Brea Tar Pits" in Los Angeles?

Since "la brea" means "the tar" in Spanish, we get:

"The The Tar Tar Pits"



Any comment? Just send me a personal PM message.

At my credit union we say ATM stands for Automated Transaciton Machine.

Also for simplicity we call them ATM machines. I agree with the above PIN is personal identification number. We always call it PIN number.

BTW the market is tanking again and they moved me next to a window. Is this a hint? I looked out and saw buzzards circling. Really.

The ATM in our village is quite interesting. If we use our card from our bank in the US, the "standard" amounts offered are 10, 20, 40, 80, 120, 180, 280, and 380 Euros.

If we use our Greek bank's card, we are offered 10, 20, 50, 100, 150, 200, 300 and 400 Euros.

Al

I remember not to long ago my credit union at the brach ATMs would dispense in increments of $5. 5,10, 15, 20, 25...

I'm guessing because people can also do deposits the software has to either include the to decimals on all transactions or not and since deposits could be in any amount they have tohave the two decimal points.

BUT, another question... why at drive up/thru ATM do they have braille markers on there??

If the software uses the same algorithm for deposits or not is not the issue. If you use a different method for withdraw entry versus deposit entry you'll confuse some people. It is better to keep it consistent and that is independent of the same software handling the key in or not. My parents cannot even set the timer on their sprinkler system.

Production costs. It's easier to tool a factory to produce one machine that can be operated in various environments. rather than having to set up multiple lines to produce niche machines.

Probably something to do with Americans With Disabilities act requiring equal access. Some of ours have headphone jacks for the blind to use with the ATM.

The same act caused stores to have motion detector activated power doors. A huge waste in heat and airconditioning. People walking by activate them by being close.

All Atms should do that, damn it, I want my money in singles, I hate going to strip clubs and not having enough singles.

If you want 5s or 10s you have to go to 7 11 or the damn super market.

I kept forgetting my ATM machine PIN number so I wrote it down with an ink pen.

The above sentence courtesy of the Department of Redundancy Department.

Braille on drive up ATMs is for "blind cagers". If you didn't know that, you don't ride enough.

Please, the drive-up ones have Braille. Because of this, I never sit at the ATM very long. I am always afraid that a blind person will drive up behind me and smash into me on my scooter.

I also hate when people take FOREVER at the ATM. Why? What could you possibly be doing. If I have to make a deposit and there is someone behind me, I take the envelope and circle the building so I have time to do the writing and filling out of proper forms. Yesterday I sat at the thing trying to get out $20 to do laundry...the woman must have used 3 different cards and then sat there forever while she put away her money when clearly she didn't have that much, anyway because the dang machine wouldn't give her money on the first 3 cards.

...sorry for the hijak, I needed to rant.

I agree, sometimes I wonder if they are trying to do their federal tax return while I wait.

Also if have a stack of the envelopes at home so I can fill out the deposit before I get there.

While I have reached the age where I no longer "hate" anything, I, too find my patience severely taxed by anyone who takes forever to do the simplest task when folks are waiting in line behind them. I have told Ardy that if I reach the point where age and infirmity, for example, cause me to have to ponder my navel while others are waiting in line, simply take me out back and shoot me.

--If I become so indecisive that I stare at the menu in Taco Bell for five minutes while trying to answer the question, "May I take your order", that's euthanasia time.

--If I should ever climb on the bus after 15 minutes of waiting, and then dig through all my pockets and wallet looking for exact change, pull the plug. --

--If I ever need her to accompany me to an ATM to discuss exactly what each screen means, shut off the oxygen.

-- If I ever stand in the aisle at the front of an airplane, trying to figure out which of 100 possible positions my bag should occupy in the overhead bin, administer a fatal dose of something.

-- If I ever stand in a doorway or the middle of a busy, narrow passage way to ponder the universe, throw me in front of a passing train.

Perhaps Douglass Adams was right. Mankind might just be a dead end branch on the tree of evolution.

Al

I will give a +10 to aviators post! How about, when someone is giving directions, they say,"go to the next red light". Does the light not count if it's green????? Art

Art-

My favorite as far as directions go:

"About two blocks before the supermarket, turn left"

Now, I would add, when it comes to directions, things are interesting on our island. There are no street names nor numbers for the buildings. 85 sq miles, about 10,000 permanent residents. Our postal folks are saints!

Al

Surely it's not that difficult to realize that someone who is blind would have a friend drive them to the ATM rather than driving themselves? People who are shocked by braille/headphone jacks on ATM's surprise me with their naivety. Nah, that was the store's decision. They could have chosen a push button door opener. They decided to go with a motion sensor.

I'm not at all surprised about the headphone jack. I pointed it out to explain how it helps with the braille keypads.

Yeah about the auto door openers but businesses don't want to make a customer do anything to get themselves into the store.

Same thing with meat counters and some freezer isles where there is no cover for the goods. Pay for heat in the winter and then pay extra to keep the icecream frozen because customers will walk by instead of opening a door.

[quote="die444die"] Surely it's not that difficult to realize that someone who is blind would have a friend drive them to the ATM rather than driving themselves? People who are shocked by braille/headphone jacks on ATM's surprise me with their naivety.


Soooo, you drive your blind friend up to the oneway drive-up ATM, exchange seats with friend, when done you reverse the seating arrangement and drive away.



Or you could ask for the card and PIN, do the transaction for them, in which case the braille is pointless. (this is what actually happens)

[quote="bkf"] Or you could do what I've done a dozen times.
Pull up to the ATM with the passanger side toward the ATM and let the your friend do the transaction.

You don't have to be blind to pull this off.

[quote="Santiago"] Or buy a car from the UK on ebay and drive in normally.

I would think that they would go to a walk-up one. Because the drive-up ones would be a problem...you'd have to stop far away, you'd have to help the person up to it, you'd have to tell them what they're doing. Um, go to the bank, go inside and have a teller do it. I'd feel much more trusting of that transaction. Or I bet there's a walk-up one better suited for their needs. I'd hate to be at a drive-up one if I were blind wondering if someone was going to crash into me.

And I know full well why they have them, I was being funny. I hate when people correct my funny.