The ATM Apocalypse

Never take anything for granted in the Philippines. Just because the ATM's have been online and there have been no long lines the past 20 times you used them does not mean the 21st time will be the the same. It's not the end of the world when ATM's are offline but it sure is inconvenient. The lack of ATMs at convenience stores like iMart and 7-11 is also inconvenient and I am sure their absence is due to fear of robbery. Can't trust anyone in the Philippines!

I was eager to withdraw my money and quickly get all my errands done. What a disappointment when I came upon this scene.

Thankfully there are two banks in the area close by. First up Metrobank.

Offline. No good. BDO is just down the sidewalk.

Both of them are out? Both! There is a Metrobank ATM across the street. Maybe that one's online.

Well it was online but I did not have time to wait in that line. It was just as long as the one at SM and since I was meeting someone at SM I returned there to wait in line. The wait wasn't so long. Sometimes you get an old lady who checks her balance two or three times and has no idea what she is doing. There was also money in the machine when my turn came. Like I said it wasn't the end of the world but it was sure inconvenient and in the Philippines conveniences are often turned on their head.

What a Difference a Garbage Can Makes

Something so little like a box to put the garbage in can make a big difference.  Take a look.

No garbage box

With garbage box

At least people were thoughtful enough to toss their receipts in the corner.  But the bank should have left a box to receive the trash.  A strong wind could blow all that trash away.

Of course on the other hand having a trash can isn't always a guarantee it will be used.

ATM Brownout?

A while back I was having trouble finding a working ATM at the mall.  There used to be a line-up of four ATM's I could rely on but they were removed and replaced by four different machines in another place inside the mall.  None of the new machines accept my card and what used to be quite easy has become a bit of a hassle. I think the reason the machines don't take my card is because none of the replacement ATM's are affiliated with a bank.  So that leaves me with BDO.

There is a BDO branch in the mall but both of their ATM's were offline so I trudged back across the mall to where I knew there was a third BDO machine.  This is what I came across:

No Power? Brownout!?  The kiosk light is on!  What Brownout!??

  

It's scary enough having my card rejected by these machines because I'm not sure if it's the machine or if my bank has put a hold on my card because I have made too many withdrawal attempts. But stupidity like this is completely dumbfounding.

Well it was worth a laugh I guess.

I did manage to find a fourth BDO machine that was working.

But why is such a hassle to use the ATM in the Philippines in the first place? Why does the bank allow the machines to run out of money? Why is it always a gamble whether or not the machine is online? Why do people take so long to do one transaction? Why aren't there more ATM's to ease the long lines? Why did the mall replace four ATM's connected to major banks with four no-name ATM's that not everyone can use? Why do ATM's dispense only large bills for which no one has change?

Why have an ATM in operation if no one can withdraw money? What's the point of that? Who uses an ATM just to check their balance?

Just more questions with no answers.