Matt
That’s a good question! What would you say? Money found in the ATM, money to put in your pocket? Isn’t it wonderful to have this providential windfall falling from the sky? Yes, well, even if the idea seems very tempting and exciting, a little restraint wouldn’t hurt. Deep down inside (somewhere deep down!), you are well aware that these bills are not yours. There is still a question of morality and ethics in this type of context, don’t you think? So, let’s gather our thoughts, and if you really have no idea what steps to take, we will enlighten you in this article.
What should you do if you find money in an ATM?
You nonchalantly walk towards the ATM, as you usually do. But that day, surprise, you notice that the slot is filled with bills. Normal human reaction: looking puzzled, you turn your head in all directions, almost wondering if it’s a hidden camera. No, it’s real, it’s not a joke. And, in fact, it happens more often than you think. Well, it’s time to recover from your emotions, and now you have to act. Some would say, “I found it, it’s mine.” Sorry to disappoint you, but that would be too good to be true. It is obvious that this sum of money does not belong to you. And, in the eyes of the law, you have an obligation to return it to its owner. There is no room for hesitation, it is written in black and white. According to Article 2278 of the Civil Code: “He who has lost or from whom something has been stolen may claim it back within three years from the day of the loss or theft, against the person in whose hands it is found”. Therefore, regardless of the amount found, you must return it in full, either directly to the person concerned (if they are still in the area), to the police station or to the bank. You have 24 hours to give back the money. Be careful, it’s very serious, if you don’t do this task, you will be breaking the law and you risk a lot (1 year imprisonment and a fine of up to 1500 euros). And, to put your mind at ease, don’t forget to ask for a receipt attesting to your good faith to clear you of any responsibility.
Good to know: since it is very complicated to find the legitimate owner of the money yourself, the best thing to do is to inform the bank branch, as it reviews all operations carried out at ATMs on a daily basis.
Money forgotten at the ATM, what should you do?
You are at the ATM, you have entered your code and requested the desired amount. Suddenly, your phone rings and you answer it immediately. Distracted by the call, you completely forget to retrieve your bills from the dispenser. It’s not common, but nobody is perfect, it can happen. First of all, don’t worry, unless there is a technical problem, the machine is programmed to retract the uncollected money after a certain period of time (20 to 30 seconds). This is precisely what prevents the next person from getting hold of it! So, once you hang up and realize that the bills are neither in your hands nor in the dispenser, what should you do? It’s not complicated, if the bank is open, go inside and calmly explain your situation. Present the transaction receipt directly to the employees to try to resolve this issue as soon as possible. Oops, the bank is closed? Don’t worry: simply call the issuer of your card, as well as the organization that owns the ATM where you made your transaction. With a bit of luck, if the two coincide, you can file a claim containing the following information: the cardholder’s contact details, information regarding the transaction in question, and the reason for the refusal/dispute of the transaction.
