Korean Job Discussion Forums

[teachergirltoo]

I am guilty of often withdrawing money and only glancing at my receipts. Learned a lesson today though.

This morning on the way to work I went to the bank and tried to withdraw 600,000. The bank machine didn't complete the transaction so I thought maybe it was my fault - possibly pushed the wrong button or whatever - so tried again. This time for 60,000. Same thing. Bank machine said I never completed transaction so I moved over to the machine next to it. I withdrew 60,000 no problem. (Originally, it was supposed to be sixty but I pushed one too many zeros.) Anyway, I looked at my receipt and it said that the previous two transactions were also deducted! even though they were not completed on my end.

At lunch I go to KB and tell them what happened. They said they would have never known that their internal computer was doing this unless I showed up with receipts in hand to show them that the ATM said the transactions were not completed. At first they tried to tell me that I had taken the money until they took a closer look at the ATM receipts. Without the receipts I would have not been able to prove otherwise.

I just wanted to share this experience because I have often chosen the NO RECEIPT NECESSARY function on the machines before (hate the paper) but if I had done that this time there would have been absolutely no way of proving to KB that their internal computer had docked me 660,000 won accidently.

From now on I will look at the receipts very closely, and if an ATM machine doesn't complete a transaction I will do a balance check right away to make sure the money wasn't deducted.

[prideofidaho]

Wow....I wonder what would have happened if you were at one of those machines that doesn't offer receipts.

Thanks for sharing.

[sojourner1]

Cheers on getting it corrected, OP.

I had this happen in Germany on an American military base for $500. It's highly likely, in my opinion, the Koreans will be as honest as they can due to having fairly high work ethic. The military bank ATM printed a normal receipt, but it didn't spit out $500 cash nor report an error. I showed the receipt to the banker and branch manager who then claimed I was trying to extort money and to stop pursueing it or it would involve my commander. This occured just 1 day after arriving back to my home garrison base in Germany from a 1 year deployment to Bosnia. It soon become apparent us troops were the target of many scams and financial set ups upon our arrival due to everyone knowing we were loaded with savings.

Because the bank manager was defensive and even hostile about my claim and would not investigate, it's quite obvious he was scamming the troops who were returning with thousands of dollars in their accounts due to saving up money during many months in the mud.

One thing I like about Korea is so few, in any, are gunning to take our money. No one, other than your hagwon director, is trying us here. I had more people gunning for my money while I served in the gunners batalion over in Germany than you shake, even phoney insurance and security sales people tried me on base.

[wylies99]

I JUST received a call from a new teacher I met last week who the same thing happen an hour ago at NH Bank for 270,000 won (move-in money from her school).
She inserted her card, and everything was fine, but the money never became available. She said one part of the machine went from green to red, it made noises, and then it went back to the beginning screen. She saved her receipt and will go to the bank, tomorrow, with her co-teacher.

[Geckoman]

OP,

Thanks for providing me and other readers this warning. It is much appreciated.

[justaguy]

OP Thank you for mentioning this. It's a good reminder for people. That kind of problem rarely happens but it seems like the problem never completely goes away.

[PeteJB]

My old man taught me well - to always take and look at receipts. I have quite the collection now (only throw away useless ones, and periodically throw the rest away after a while).

[Arthur Dent]

The same kind of thing happened to a couple from Germany while they were traveling in Canada. The bank was closed so I told them to go back to the bank and check with them. The bank does keep track of how much cash is in the machine. If there is more than there is supposed to be and the money you lost gibes with what is left.....but yeah, I always keep my receipts for quite a while as well. Good advice from Dad.

[cangel]

I hate to hear when things like this happen and I'm happy to know you were able to correct the error.

[Big Pun Lives]

Same thing happened to me two days ago. I went to a KEB using my Bank of America Card to take some money out - it deducted the 300,000 from my account but the cash never came out of the ATM and an error message popped up - I kept the receipt and went to the Bank the next day, after a little explanation it was sorted out and they gave me the Cash no problem.

[KYC]

This happened to me at Nonghyup bank last year. I came in at around 445 pm to withdraw some cash. The machine didn't complete the transaction but the receipt showed it deducted 100,000. I tried again, and same thing..

So I got worried and banged on the metal door they had just rolled down. I knew they were still inside...kept banging for like 3 minutes and they just ignored me...banged harder and harder til they finally did.

Anyway, even though the machine showed it deducted 200,000 total...it didn't actually deduct the 200,000...weird I know. I have no idea why that is.

[jackson7]

Had a similar thing happen a couple weeks ago. Deposited 400,000 cash and it just spit out a receipt saying "error--contact KEB." I checked at another ATM and the money had not been deposited. So I did, but their phone lines were nothing but advertisements. So I went to the closest branch, showed them the receipt, and explained the problem (I speak Korean). They also told me that I must still have the money, and there was nothing they could do.

After moving up the chain of command, I finally got a manager that called a technician over to the ATM to open it up and look. I met him over there and he pulled out my money. Then he looked at me suspiciously, and said, "How much is it?" Duh, dude, like another random foreigner was waiting here for you to point out the ATM that wasn't working to claim mis-deposited money. Anyway, he showed surprise and a bit of disgust when I told him the correct amount, which I then deposited with the bank teller. Those evil foreigners, always up to no good.

[Teelo]

Thanks for the warning. I shall now always take the receipt.

[moosehead]

good thread OP

I learned not long after being here the atms often break down - to wit - I was standing inside of a KEB machine using my American card, but I do have an acc with KEB - the machine started making noises, lights flashing off and on - it acted like it was fixing to take off or something! was actually kind of funny until it spit me a receipt out that said it deducted 70,000 won but didn't give me any money!

I went to my KEB branch and at first the manager was very nice and was going to refund my money - then I don't know what happened but at some point he started to change his mind and said since it was on my foreign card I should get the money from them!! and I'm like - but it was YOUR atm machine - not theirs!! I mean - how am I going to explain to my bank and how are they ever going to verify it when they'd have to call someone overseas, etc etc etc -

He became obstinate and we argued for a bit but he wound up giving me the money - after all - the receipt said the deduction was made but it was in their balance that the money was never dispensed.

after that I became very careful here BUT all the same - have had it happen several times, bank machines ate my card maybe 3 times? then you wait for a K person to come and call on the little phone there and a guy on a scooter will come up and give it back to you - and yeah- I've had them ask questions like some other foreigner is going to show up and claim another's card?? huh?

just be careful around atms - everywhere actually is good practice.

[julesk]

This happened to me last month at Nonghyup bank. I tried to withdraw 200,000 won from the ATM. My card came back with a receipt saying that the money had been deducted, but the little cash door never opened and no money came out. The receipt said that the money had been deducted, so I went to the branch the following Monday. They didn't believe me, and actually had to check the security cameras to verify that I didn't receive any cash from the machine. They finally gave me my money, but it was a total hassle.