Visit an ATM and you’ll be greeted with a huge litter of transaction slips. I haven’t yet understood why people simply discard their ATM transaction slips. It’s the only transaction record that you possess in an otherwise automated (read, faceless) transaction setup.

I can immediately think of a few instances where you should safely keep intact the ATM transaction slip.

• The ATM comes back with an error printed on the slip but your account is debited.
• The ATM merrily prints a slip but dispenses no cash.
• The ATM dispenses the wrong amount of cash (I have once had a Rs 50 note slipped in between a bunch of Rs 100 notes).

The ATM slip is your proof for repudiation. It has the date, time, and transaction identifier. In case there’s a problem, call your bank and inform them that you have the ATM transaction slip intact. Discard the ATM slip only after you have confirmed that the transaction has not caused any unwanted side effects.

An immediate question that comes to mind: “What if the ATM is unable to dispense a transaction slip for whatever reason?” My suggestion: Avoid that transaction at that ATM, unless its a real emergency. Most ATMs inform you in advance if a receipt can’t be printed.

What do you do? Do you usually carelessly discard ATM slips?

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