Forgot to take cash from EFTPOS withdrawl at Coles - what to do?

GaelicAU on 24/08/2015 - 17:54
Last edited 24/08/2015 - 17:54

Today, I shopped for my lunch at Coles. I paid for my items at the self service and also request additional cash whilst paying by EFTPOS. In my haste to get back for a meeting, I left without taking my cash withdrawal. Whilst the error was entirely mine, the lack of assistance I received from the Coles staff member when I called the store was very abrupt. The staff member offered no help other than stating 'its gone' and even refused to take my details should someone decide to hand it in.

Other than emailing Coles directly, I'm interesting in finding out what others would do in this case?

Financial

Comments

  • ukmark on 24/08/2015 - 18:06
    +43

    Honestly, stop beating yourself up and move on. It is gone, nothing you can do now.

    Edit: Make it your mission for the week to save the amount of money you lost using discounts, money making schemes etc :p

      • dylanando on 24/08/2015 - 18:50

        Dont think Coles can do anything once you leave the store, Except ban you!

      • [Deactivated] on 24/08/2015 - 19:45
        +12

        What are Coles meant to do though? You can't assume Coles have your money. The next customer to use that Self Service register might have pocketed it - I've seen it happen before (looked like it was just a fiver). How would Coles then track down the person who took it?

      • Ughhh on 24/08/2015 - 21:26
        +1

        How do you know it wasn't another customer who was after you who took the money?

        • GaelicAU on 25/08/2015 - 10:11
          -1

          I would assume this was the case. My biff is not about the money. It was the lack of the staff members help (ie not taking my name and number) should someone decide to hand it in.

        • Ughhh on 25/08/2015 - 11:23

          @GaelicAU:

          Staff not being helpful does not mean they stole from you. Hope ozb doesn't get sued.

        • GaelicAU on 25/08/2015 - 11:27
          -2

          @Ughhh:

          I never said they did.

        • Ughhh on 25/08/2015 - 11:46
          +8

          @GaelicAU:

          Whilst this is not stealing from Coles, they stole from me, one of their customers.

        • GaelicAU on 25/08/2015 - 11:47
          -3

          @Ughhh:

          Okay - bad explanation on my behalf. I was referring to a customer.

      • nikey2k27 on 26/08/2015 - 18:27

        Call store manger they might help you if it out.

      • lostn on 27/08/2015 - 23:42
        +3

        It's unlikely that Coles stole from you. Chances are it was an unscrupulous customer who noticed it and took it. I would go back there and speak to someone else. Ask the service manager if any money was handed in as lost and found. If a customer was the one who noticed it, then most likely they took it and it's gone, but in some rare cases you might get a very honest person who does the right thing.

        If it was discovered by the staff member watching over the self checkout, you would hope they turned in the money. If they kept the money, then yes they stole from you by keeping what wasn't rightly theirs.

        If a customer took it, you can't say Coles 'stole' from you. Stealing is a conscious action. They were either unaware that it happened, or could not have done anything about it. It's unfair to say they stole from you unless a staff member was the one who took it.

        Your analogy is not good. If you walked out without paying for your goods, then you stole. But if you lost money and someone else took it, Coles are not the thieves. The thief is the one who took it.

        Even if Coles were able to catch the person who took your money on their CCTV, they still wouldn't be able to retrieve it. They wouldn't know who that person is. All they'd have is a face. What can you expect them to do with that?

        How much did you lose? Based on the limits at self checkout, I'm guessing not much. Coles loses more than that to theft each day. Just consider it a loss. Pretend you got into an accident and had to pay excess. Or treat it as another bill, or insurance that you didn't need to make a claim on (that's like a loss too). Or just gambling, or spending a lot on lottery tickets without winning anything. If you'd done that, the result would have been the same.

        That kind of make believe is what I do to get over a loss.

    • GaelicAU on 24/08/2015 - 18:16

      +1 for the edit ;-)

    • Oliver on 27/08/2015 - 23:23

      Call them up and ask them to check the cameras. Either a staff member took it and put it aside for you or someone stole it.

      Either way you deserve to get it back because:

      • an atm would eat it back up to keep it safe for you
      • a human operator would have put it aside for you

      You shouldn't be disadvantaged by self-service else we'll all stop using them.

  • swiggity swag on 24/08/2015 - 18:07
    +62

    Remember to take your cash next time.

      • swiggity swag on 24/08/2015 - 18:12
        +23

        I'm just letting you know what I would do in this case.

        • robbyjones on 24/08/2015 - 20:33
          +31

          @GaelicAU:
          If you don't like what people are offering in response, why bother asking in the first place?

        • [Deactivated] on 26/08/2015 - 14:30
          +25

          @GaelicAU: Remember next time not to make tongue in cheek responses.

        • SupeNintendoChalmers on 27/08/2015 - 12:26
          +2

          Very constructive. Thanks Dad.

        • Tiggrrrrr on 02/09/2015 - 13:46
          +1

          @GaelicAU: Stop making comments. Just ask rodripa, It's a trap!

      • windrc on 26/08/2015 - 20:34
        +22

        next time if you dropped a coin on the street, try calling the city council they might be able to help

        • juventino on 27/08/2015 - 02:05
          +1

          Next time you drop your coin, the pool outside of the NGV art gallery is where you will retrieve it !!

    • GaryQ on 26/08/2015 - 09:46

      Found Ron Swanson

  • iratepirate on 24/08/2015 - 18:20
    +16

    I'm sure it was recorded on camera. If you report it to the police they will be able to get a copy of the recording. The person who took it could be charged with theft by finding. It might be that a staff member took the money or that the person who took it paid with a card - an easy pinch for the police.

    But is it worth your time to make a report to police? And is it worth the police time as well?

    • GaelicAU on 24/08/2015 - 18:23

      I must admit this crossed my mind, however your last point has made me think I'd far prefer they chase a 'real' crime rather than what has happened. Live and let live I suppose. Hopefully OzKarma will +1 me.

      • [Deactivated] on 24/08/2015 - 19:45
        +1

        How much money did you withdraw?

        • GaelicAU on 25/08/2015 - 10:02
          +2

          $80

        • Hirolol on 26/08/2015 - 13:47
          +25

          @GaelicAU:
          How much is that converted to eneloops?

        • TurkishDelight on 26/08/2015 - 13:47

          @GaelicAU: Police won't even bother for your $80. My mate lost his phone at a train station and he went to report it. It was galaxy S that cost about $100 and they didn't even check the camera or tracked the device.

          Consider it was given to someone in need, God bless you. And good luck next time.

        • Tech5 on 26/08/2015 - 16:34
          +1

          @TurkishDelight:

          Read a new article somewhere they don't do anything unless theft is over $500. They got way too much on their plates.

        • apey2000 on 26/08/2015 - 22:02
          +11

          They got way too much on their plates.

          Krispy Kremes?

        • [Deactivated] on 27/08/2015 - 01:00

          @Hirolol: going by some oz bargains he could get up to 4 8 packs of AA or 4 pack of AAA BUT if he requires a chargers well thats a different story.

    • snook on 26/08/2015 - 14:31
      +4

      The police will not be the slightest bit interested in this.

    • lostn on 27/08/2015 - 23:45

      I don't think the police are going to waste their time with petty thefts (a few hundred). Especially considering how much work is involved in finding someone, over such a small loss. The time and resources needed to be put in would exceed the amount lost. If they actually did it, it would lead to an enormous influx in theft reports and they'd be unable to cope with the load.

      If a murder or robbery took place though, that would be a different story.

    • geoffellis on 29/08/2015 - 02:30

      TIL I could be charged with theft by finding for keeping that $5 I found at the bus stop last week…

      • iratepirate on 29/08/2015 - 08:42
        +3

        If you take the $5 to the local police and nobody claims it in 60 days it's yours. Story time…

        I once found a tool box on the side of the road that was filled with expensive mechanics tools - torque wrenches, full set of snapon sockets, air tools. I took it to the local police station and told them where I found it and who it likely belonged to (based on where I found it and a reciept that was inside).

        Forgot about it until the police phoned me up 60 days later and asked me if I wanted it. I said no I just wanted to get it back to the owner - hard to make a living without your tools…they hadn't even phoned around looking for the owner.

        So I went down to the workshop where I thought the owner might be and asked if anyone had lost a toolbox - it was the apprentices (he could describe the tools and brands), fell off the back of his ute and he'd been borrowing tools ever since. Told him to go down and pick it up from the station.

        • geoffellis on 29/08/2015 - 10:51

          Just thinking this could be a lucrative sting op for the po po. Kinda like speed traps or prostitution setups. leave 100$ on the ground, stake it out, and then arrest/charge/fine everyone who doesn't go directly to the station :P

        • scrimshaw on 29/08/2015 - 15:45

          @geoffellis:

          That sort of sting ops is unethical and probably illegal. It sounds like something American police do in poor hoods and target black people with.

  • Ryk on 24/08/2015 - 18:42
    +9

    Dispute the transaction with your card issuer. You never know what they might do, or find.

    One of the benefits of an ATM, most will retract the cash if not taken, you have a chance of getting it back.

    • zappy32 on 24/08/2015 - 20:15

      Yep, seen this happen before whilst someone was chatting while the money was sitting there. I guess it would depend on the type of ATM and whether it spits it out on to a tray or keeps it in it's 'mouth' but I'd be giving the ATM vendor a call and they should be able to tell you.

      EDIT: Just saw that it was the self checkout and not ATM.. sorry. That place should be surrounded by cameras though!

    • FirstWizard on 26/08/2015 - 12:11
      +1

      Well according to the new AU cardholder agreements, any transaction requiring a PIN cannot be disputed.
      At least with the bank I'm on. Maybe it's the same with everything.

      Why do you think they made the PIN mandatory ;)

      • dazweeja on 26/08/2015 - 16:53
        -5

        You don't need a PIN to withdraw cash using Visa Debit and PayWave.

        • Daemos on 26/08/2015 - 18:27
          +3

          As far as I know (and it doesn't work for me) at self checkouts or at the cashier you cannot get cash out (with the cashout option) via paywave or visa debit credit option. It must come from savings or checking account.

        • MrTweek on 27/08/2015 - 15:13

          Yeah, you can't get cash out via Paypass/Paywave.
          Cash out only works via EFTPOS while Paypass/Paywave always uses Visa/Mastercard.

        • windrc on 28/08/2015 - 07:30

          @MrTweek:
          Amex card also does contactless payment, doesn't work with most card machines, but the ones in woolies, coles and maccas do.

        • MrTweek on 28/08/2015 - 11:17

          @windrc:
          Yeah, but same thing. This will go via credit, not EFTPOS and thus no cash out possible.

      • bobbified on 29/08/2015 - 10:08

        any transaction requiring a PIN cannot be disputed.

        I haven't read the agreements, but that doesn't sound right because the type of fraud committed with ATM skimming machines involve the use of the PIN. If those transactions are not disputable, then we'd probably never hear about it.

        • MrTweek on 30/08/2015 - 21:20

          Well, let's say you can't dispute them without cancelling your cards and reporting this to the police.
          Transactions without pin or signature can be disputed much easier.

  • scrimshaw on 24/08/2015 - 20:05
    +4

    Doesn't the machine continually beep at you until the cash is taken?

    Or have they silenced the machines and now simply state "Please take your cash"?

    • Charleston on 27/08/2015 - 10:57
      +1

      It sure does. It also doesn't let another transaction occur until the cash is taken.

      I've been at a register and found cash in there which belonged to the previous person. There wasn't a staff member around so I had to take it out before I could put through my items (with the intention of taking it to the front desk).

      Luckily the person came back while I was there and was able to reclaim their money.

  • superb on 24/08/2015 - 20:12
    -1

    Normally the cashier would give the money alongwith the receipt. Do you have this receipt or the approximate time and lane used. If you have some of this information than Coles should be able to check with the relevant cashier whose name would also be printed on the receipt if there was an excess cash noted when balancing their cash for the shift.

    Coles should assist with these enquiries as part of their customer service.

    • Davo1111 on 24/08/2015 - 20:14
      +3

      I paid for my items at the self service

      • swiggity swag on 25/08/2015 - 17:38
        +2

        *Assisted Checkout

      • arcticmonkey on 27/08/2015 - 22:15
        -1

        More fool you for using a machine instead of a human. I hope your kids aren't in need of a job.

        • Davo1111 on 27/08/2015 - 23:25
          -1

          More fool you for using a machine instead of a human

          wut

        • surethang on 28/08/2015 - 13:48

          Absolutely. Now where did I leave my hand plow? I have go to till my acreage /s

    • scrimshaw on 24/08/2015 - 20:15
      +32

      Um, the cashier you are referring to would be a robot, whose only job is to take your money and advise you: 'Unexpected Item in bagging area'.

      • altomic on 24/08/2015 - 20:23
        +2

        and "kill all humans"

        • TurkishDelight on 26/08/2015 - 13:51
          +1

          @altomic you need to check out Jibo and The buddy before you even blame those poor machines. The creepy robots -.-

      • Charity on 27/08/2015 - 00:27
        +1

        This is how Skynet starts.

        The robot cashier is self aware and funding itself on random cash transactions at Coles.

  • superb on 24/08/2015 - 20:21

    If cash was dispensed and was waiting to be picked by the next customer it comes down to thr honesty of the next customer and the Coles staff to whom it was reported to. Further action could be considered if amount was significant.

  • 2jzzzz on 24/08/2015 - 21:07

    Doesn't it get sucked back in and then the register will be up?

    • scrimshaw on 24/08/2015 - 21:26
      +3

      AFAIK the register dumps the money into the receptacle, and can no longer retract the money.

    • silverrat23 on 24/08/2015 - 21:52
      -3

      Never. It just sits halfway out of the machine.

    • GaelicAU on 25/08/2015 - 10:05

      I think @scrimshaw is correct in the case. AFAIK, it sits in a tray. I'll go back today to confirm. If not and it has the ability to take it back in, I'll call the bank.

  • nomoneynoproblems on 24/08/2015 - 21:49
    +1

    I've been in a similar spot but i was quick enough to run back when i realised my error. I paid for goods and collected my bags. As i was walking out (Probably less than 50m) from the store i had a funny feeling thinking i had forgotten to buy something or rather…'Hey i cashed out $20!'. I ran back and thankfully one of the supervisors saw it and took it. I briefly explained and she gave it to me knowing i was the rightful owner.

  • icd on 24/08/2015 - 21:57

    tell the bank and get the money back. a friend of mine did the same thing a few weeks ago and got the money back last week.

    • Nutrino on 25/08/2015 - 00:18

      Wow, thanks for the loophole, I'm gonna take out $200 bucks tomorrow and tell the bank I didn't receive it. Thanks again.

      • Lockieasy on 25/08/2015 - 09:07
        +25

        People like you are why we can't have nice things.

        • tomclancy on 25/08/2015 - 12:02
          +7

          Whoooosh

        • Lockieasy on 25/08/2015 - 21:58
          +2

          @PBG:
          I know he was being sarcastic and I don't care. :P

        • TurkishDelight on 26/08/2015 - 13:54
          +3

          that escalated quickly -.-

  • affable on 25/08/2015 - 07:51

    I know a club bouncer/security who boasted to me that he made a lot of money pocketing forgotten ATM withdrawals from drunk patrons, often $100's in a single night. He ended up being caught by the club using security footage. They didn't take it to police, he just lost his job.
    Then there is my brother who many years ago went to withdraw money from an ATM and say asked for $40 and got $60 dispensed (can't remember the amounts involved). The bank was open so he went in to report it, however the bank made him fill out a complaint form to return the extra money, lol.

    • McFly on 27/08/2015 - 08:56
      +9

      Hope he filled in a complaint form about having to fill in a complaint form!

    • mooboy on 27/08/2015 - 11:11

      Similar thing happened to me except I think I got about $80 extra (the machine went crazy spitting out lobsters). I went into the bank to tell them, and the guy just checked that my account hadn't been deducted the extra amount and then left it at that i.e. I didn't have to fill out a complaint form, and I got to keep the money.

    • lostn on 27/08/2015 - 23:52

      Has an ATM ever shortchanged anyone? I always have that fear, especially with large withdrawals ($1000 = 20x $50).

      It would take very good tech to accurately count that, and I never trust a machine.

      Also, what happens if there's not enough money in the ATM to give the requested amount? Will it reject your attempt at withdrawal and just cancel the transaction? I always have fears it takes my money from my account but doesn't spit out the notes. Does someone monitor the levels of cash in each ATM and respond pronto to fill it up when it drops below a certain amount?

      • affable on 29/08/2015 - 08:22
        +1

        About 25 years ago I worked for IBM and we had an actual, real ATM on our floor for testing an AS/400 banking system. Naturally I was quite interested and the sides were always off the ATM so you could see what was going on inside.
        Needless to say, there is very little chance of the machine under-dispensing. The ATM can tell each time a note passes through to the customer, so the only real problem being when 2 notes are stuck together ie over-dispensing (a bit like your printer picking up 2 sheets of paper). Back at IBM we just used paper rectangles as cash with a denomination printed in the corner, so sadly not much fun :(. Infact I don't think we had plastic notes back 25 years ago?
        ATM's definitely report stock levels to be resupplied before they run out, and there is an audit trail so if you don't get the note in your hand it will be stuck somewhere in the machine for the service guy to find and the "dispensed" sensor won't have triggered to say the note left the machine.

  • SlickMick on 25/08/2015 - 08:30
    +3

    One of those Current Affair shows once did an article on people stealing previous customer's change at the self checkouts. It was definitely considered theft, not "luck" :)

    Either the money is still sitting there, or it's been handed in, or it's been stolen. In all cases, Coles needs to be involved in helping resolve this.

  • minniethemoocher on 25/08/2015 - 12:08
    +2

    Well if a customer leaves their money with a cashier it is written up and it's is available to be reclaimed. You should check if this is the case also, perhaps an honest employee found it? Speak to the supervisor of the self checkout.

    • cantoangel on 26/08/2015 - 23:35
      +1

      I remember when working at Coles having to keep cards that people left behind and people actually coming back to get them.

  • pebee47 on 25/08/2015 - 12:33

    Agree the employee should have been a little more sensitive to your immediate emotional situation. You've "thrown away" some money. I also believe they should have taken your name and details so if some really honest/kind person wanted to see it returned it could be. Might also be wise to report to the Police as the aforesaid h/k person might think the store employee might pocket it. I think it depends where you are. Many moons ago my 9 year old daughter found $80 in a shopping mall in Darwin. As a matter of principle we made her hand it in: 3 months later she got the call to come and collect, as no-one claimed it. 12 days ago, I found $50 on the platform of a train station. I did mot hand it in nor wave it around saying "anyone lose this?"

    • Tiggrrrrr on 02/09/2015 - 13:51

      You found my $50? ;)

  • AMLagonda on 26/08/2015 - 11:12

    Self service, its either gone or picked up by the Coles worker, never to be seen again.

  • DarkOz on 26/08/2015 - 11:13

    No one can help you except the Police. I am talking from experience here when one of our customer(customer A) left an iPad and the very next customer(customer B) took it.

    Customer A called us and reported a lost iPad. We checked the CCTV and confirmed Customer B took it. We encouraged customer A to report it to the Police as stolen and he did. Police arrived the next day and I passed all the relevant information over.

    The question to the OP is how much was stolen. Is it worth the hassle to report it to the Police. Keep in mind that there is no guarantee that the Police can track down the person who took the cash.

  • birdmaster on 26/08/2015 - 11:35

    Exactly it is the same as ATM machine, you withdraw the money and left the money there and some one came took it, for that bank is not responsible.

    In this case i don't see Coles or any body can do anything within the line of duty.

    However there are few options.

    1. You can pay a visit to same Coles and request to see the store manager or customer service manager if they say what is the matter tell them you only going to speak with manager than explain the situation most likely they will try to defuse it by saying its not there fault but you can request them politely to check the camera and tell what exactly happened. but for that they need exact time and location as they very bussy and dont have time like hours to sit and watch the recording max they can spend 10 to 15 minutes to track. After they inform you what had happened you cannot do much if a customer took the money very less likely if any staff had it than you have high chances to get it back.

    2. 2nd option as every body said police.

    3. 3rd one you not going to like it which is forget about it.

  • OldBugger on 26/08/2015 - 11:39

    My dear old Mum did the same thing at Big W. Left $100 at the self-service machine. Came back minutes later and it had gone and no assistance from the store at all. I'm sure she learnt her lesson… or more likely didn't tell Dad and completely forgot about it.

  • xuqi on 26/08/2015 - 12:38
    +6

    $80 is a small price paid for the lesson you've learned.

    I would just chalk it up to 'lesson learned', and move-on.

    No point wasting any more of your time/effort, others' time/effort.

  • [Deactivated] on 26/08/2015 - 12:50

    I see the same old negative nancies are out in full force… so shallow sighted, what if the attendant was actually the culprit here? I would have thought Coles would at least view the CCTV footage to confirm a patron had pocketed the cash.

    • Topdog on 26/08/2015 - 12:59
      +2

      +1 happened to me before. They checked cctv and i got my cash.

      • Hirolol on 26/08/2015 - 14:01
        -1

        So was it pocketed by an employee and i would assume they were fired?

  • Mysterious Laptop on 26/08/2015 - 13:03
    +2

    There was some person on whirlpool forums a while back who took $100 (?) from a woolies (from memory) self checkout, only to have police knock on her door a couple weeks later demanding the money back and charges pressed against her. Her question was about some legal advice regarding this situation. I can't find the thread, but it's possible to have police assistance.

    Shouldn't those things beep now when you cash out and forget??

    edit: found the thread! here it is http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2277917

    • Hirolol on 26/08/2015 - 14:50

      Wow
      What ended up happening to that girl?
      too bad she didnt update it

      • altomic on 26/08/2015 - 17:00
        +2

        I really like the intro - "Around a month ago I was shopping at Woolies for my groceries through the self-serve and I accidentally took home $200 of someone else's cash out money."

        if she had a clean record then she would have been found guilty with no conviction recorded, with restitution of $200 to the victim.

        • Hirolol on 27/08/2015 - 09:24
          +1

          Yeh but some people made a few good points saying that she easily took the money thinking it was her own the same way someone forgot to take their own money.
          I think i would give her the benefit of the doubt.

  • Handsoff on 26/08/2015 - 13:06
    -2

    Sounds like you're just mad and taking your frustration out on Coles when they haven't done anything wrong. Would be no/ minimal difference to you asking them to do something about you dropping less than $100 in one of their aisles….. Seriously what do you expect them to do? In this case they're being very honest and not wasting yours or their time by letting you know it's gone and there is nothing they can do about it.

  • Hirolol on 26/08/2015 - 13:53
    +20

    This one time i was at a packed atm, it finally came to my turn and as i walk upto the atm i see some notes in it and the person that had used it was walking awayt, quite far by the time i knew what was happening, tried to yell out a couple times but she didnt hear, so i grabbed the notes and ran after her. I caught upto her and she says to me "omg thank you so much i do that all the time!"
    As i got back to the atm the guy that was behind me had been waiting patiently till i got back. What a nice bloke.

    • surethang on 26/08/2015 - 18:06
      +12

      Two very nice people by my count

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