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For some time now avoid using inter-bank ATM’s wherever possible since it is not yet full proof yet & could cause problems. Read the article for details or go the url : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Banking-Finance-/ATM-trouble-leaves-users-fuming/articleshow/4554105.cms Hundreds of customers who used their debit and credit cards in ATMs of other banks have complained that funds were debited from their accounts even though transactions failed and no money was actually withdrawn at these ATMs. All of these complaints have been made since April 1, when Reserve Bank of India made withdrawals from inter-bank ATMs free of charge. Experts blamed a glitch in the National Financial Switch (NFS), which handles inter-bank funds transfer for ATM operations, for these faulty transactions and debits. Banking industry sources said the problem was more acute in smaller banks like IDBI and Apex but even larger banks like SBI, ICICI and HDFC were not immune to it. While SBI, which has the largest number of ATMs - over 11,000 - across the country, had some connectivity problems initially, it was sorted out in a few days. But a more nagging problem has since emerged in ATMs with 'void transactions' getting recorded as successful ones. A void transaction takes place when an ATM is unable to complete the customer's transaction and dispense cash. However, in several cases, particularly with outstation customers who used ATMs of banks other than their own and encountered void transactions, they have later discovered that the amount has been debited from their account. Though such funds have been credited to respective accounts after complaints and cross-examination, it has become a major irritant for customers. So much so that many have stopped using the facility and are back to using dedicated ATMs of banks in which they have accounts. Industry officials said that though NFS had managed to seamlessly synchronize ATMs of all banks, a glitch in the system surfaced time and again, causing void transactions that were incorrectly recorded. The NFS network covers 16,891 ATMs and is the largest-single network in the country covering ATMs of 27 banks. The daily average transaction volume of NFS network is around 75,000. Officials at SBI and ICICI said the bank branches had been flooded with customer complaints of accounts being debited without successful transaction at ATMs of other banks. "There is a problem that is happening now and again when customers from Kolkata use ATMs of other banks in Siliguri, Durgapur, Asansol or other towns. We follow up each case, verify the transaction details with the other bank and try to credit the amount within two-three working days," an ICICI Bank official said. Customers of HDFC Bank, too, have faced the problem, particularly when using ATMs of IDBI and UTI in other cities. "There's a glitch in the system that has temporarily inconvenienced customers. But no one has lost money on account of void transactions," an HDFC Bank official said.

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