Srikar Aditya was distraught when he drew money from an ATM at Vanasthalipuram late on Friday. He drew ₹10,000 using his debit card, and got five notes of ₹2,000, all torn and defaced.
Never having faced such a situation, Mr. Aditya tried calling a contact number mentioned in a flyer pasted inside the State Bank of India’s ATM, but could not get through.
“I just waved the notes at the CC camera and walked out. With no idea on whom to approach, I went to a police station and lodged a complaint so that there would be some proof,” he said.
He was accompanied by another person, who also received damaged currency notes amounting to ₹28,000 from the ATM. “He told me he drew his entire salary, but is stuck with bad notes,” Mr. Aditya said.
To add to their woes, the damaged notes were dispensed on Friday night, leaving them no opportunity to approach the bank for the next two days.
Both filed complaints against the bank in Vanasthalipuram police station, and Mr. Aditya posted a picture of the notes along with the complaint copy on his Twitter handle.
“All 5 notes(Rs.10000)(2000 denomistions) withdrawn from @TheOfficialSBI ATM at vanastalipuram are torn and unusable. Is @TheOfficialSBI trying to cheat the public with such kind of notes. How do you even dare to put in the ATMs with your sticker @TheOfficialSBI . Made a police complaint in vanastalipuram. I need to wait till Monday because its a holiday tomorrow for banks. @TheOfficialSBI who will take care my mental trauma and who is going to deal with my cash requirements for these two days. @cyberabadpolice,” the two tweets by Mr. Aditya read.
When contacted, SBI officials said it was rare for damaged notes to be placed inside the ATM, as they are sorted beforehand. Only ATM-fit notes are loaded into the machines.
However, among the notes dispensed to Mr. Aditya is a plastered one bearing State Bank of Hyderabad’s name, suggesting that the tear was joined by the SBH.
The SBI officials blamed the vendors who place cash inside the ATMs and informed that the notes drawn from any ATM may be exchanged with the currency chest branch of the same bank. As a precaution, the customer may show the notes to the CC camera inside the ATM cabin.
