How about this for a ludicrous situation then (not really on topic but related so I think it is ok
)
About three years ago I went to draw out £50 from an HBOS hole in the wall. I got the money without a problem but when I counted it there was.... £70! What had happened was one note had got folded over and had not got counted by the machinery.
So, I went into the Halifax and said 'I know this might sound daft but your machine just gave me too much money.' The rest of the rather surreal comversation went like this:
Bank: 'Not it didn't.'
Me: 'Sorry?'
Bank: 'It didn't give you too much money.'
Me: <somewhat bemused> 'I assure you it did. Look, I punched in £50 and here is what it gave me....' proffered three £20's and a £10.
Bank: <as though I was being somewhat tiresome!> 'Sir, you probably just typed £70 by mistake. It happens.'
Me: <showing receipt> 'But I have the receipt as well and it shows I took out £50!'
Bank: 'Well i am sorry sir, whatever you did doesn't really matter. Is there anything else I can do for you today?'
Me: 'Well, all I can say is this: I had NO money in my wallet.... which is why I went to the machine.... I have a receipt that says I drew out £50 but in my hands I have £70. Why can't you see that?'
Bank: 'Sir, it really is quite busy. If you have a complaint about the machine, please put the details in writing.'
Me: 'Complaint? My only complaint is that the machine doesn't give me more money more often! So let me get this straight. You are saying this is NOT your bank's money, it is MY money and you cannot come after me for £20 that was overpaid to me by YOUR machine at some point in the future?'
Bank: 'Sir, we don't chase our customers for money, they usually bring it in or pay it in through a machine!'
Me: 'Ok, thank you very much. It's very kind of your bank but I do sincerely hope they don't dock this from anyone's wages as I have done everything I can to be honest and give it back to you.'
Bank: 'Have a good day sir.'
I couldn't make them take it back no matter how hard I tried so I just gave up and left them to it. The look of surprise on the face of a homeless lady selling the Big Issue was an absolute picture when I shoved a £20 note in her hand and told her to have a good day!
I have later learnt that the bank's cashiers are under strict orders NEVER to admit a mistake from one of their machines under any circumstances. Aparrently 999 times out of a thousand it is someone trying to pull a fast one and telling the bank the machine didn't pay them enough so on this occasion she had to stick to the party line and insist the machine didn't make mistakes!
Whilst I laugh about it and just feel thankful I could help make someone else's day so easily, I also wonder what would have happened if that folded note had been pointing in the direction of the counting arm as it would then have been counted twice and I would have got £30 instead of £50.... and the woman in the bank would have denied everything, just the same!
I think I'll stick to investing my pennies in lovely lenses
Cheers,
Rob