This December, specifically on the week beginning December 17, automated teller machines began conking out. As the long holidays beckoned, ATM outages became common. I actually pitied BPI ATM cardholders. Their cards were next to useless.

I think it was a common sight among BPI ATMs – a piece of paper taped into the machine, telling poor BPI clients that they could only do balance inquiry and bill payments using the ATM. Some of them had paper-taped messages, telling clients of other ATM networks that they could not do any transaction using BPI ATMs. Some ATMs indeed suffered from outages, but BPI’s system clearly had problems this month. Heck, just earlier today, the BPI ATM at Araneta Square in Monumento, Caloocan had that balance inquiry-only message; nearby, a Robinsons Bank ATM was online and was serving non-Robinsons cardholders (I used my PNB card and I got money).

And to think these banks had the gall to charge for every transaction made using ATMs. They could not even serve their customers right.

Do you have any exasperating experience with ATMs this season? Blurt it out in the comments. Specially if you are a BPI account holder.

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I know, not a good thing to end the year. But some things need to be said. Anyway, happy new year! May you have complete limbs by tomorrow.