ATM's
By Chevee
@Chevee (5905)
United States
October 23, 2008 12:03pm CST
The company I work for is about 18 miles from where I live so I travel a total of 36 miles back and forth to work . We get paid every Thursday, I have my check direct deposit into my checking account, so that if I am not working the day we get paid I don't have to travel the 18 miles to pick up my check.
Having my check direct deposit, I don't keep cash on hand. When I need a little cash I use the ATM. We have vending machines at work, with snacks, sodas, coffee, etc.
I work the night shift which is from 11:00 pm - 7:00 am Midnight to morning. I didn't have any money on hand. I went to the ATM. This ATM is out in the open away from the building( I know this is dangerous.) It was real uncomfortable being there and using it that late at night. That was the first time I did that. I am a very caution and careful person. I don't normally do this. I just didn't want to use the other companies ATM, they charge a $2.25 fee.
My question is:
Do you use the ATM?
Have you used an outside ATM late at night?
4 people like this
21 responses
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
24 Oct 08
I think i will only use that ATM only if i have to... and i can ask someone to go with me... there are a lot of ATM's in my area... and most of them are guarded so it is okay... but the problem is when i leave the area... i just do not know is someone is lurking in the dark waiting for me...
@thedogshrink (1266)
• United States
23 Oct 08
I think it is best if you plan your schedule so that you would be able to get cash in the day time. IS the ATM near your work only? IS there no ATM near your house? It's very dangerous to use an ATM at night, and I even worry about some in the daytime! I can't remember every using one that late at night, unless I went into a store that had one -- but it's possible I may have used an outdoor one late at night once or twice many years ago, not in the last 5 years anyway.
Unless it is a drive up ATM. I might "chance" using one of those at night, keeping the car running the whole time and doors locked so no one could jump in the passenger side or back. But that is still not very safe.
If it isn't convenient for you to go in the day time, then maybe you should figure out how much you need while at work, for the week, and get it all out at once, and then only bring the right amount each night for that night, leaving the rest at home (if you don't like to carry it with you).
1 person likes this
@DonnaLawson (4032)
• United States
23 Oct 08
I never use an ATM while out alone, but I am also never out late alone, my husband is always with me.. We are very careful if we have to use the ATM late at might as you never know who is watching and ready to rob you.. I hope you are very careful if you have to do this again, I believe that I would have someone go with me or at least keep an eye on me from the door.. Take care..
1 person likes this
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
24 Oct 08
I use ATMs but usually at the grocery store. The grocery is open 24 hours and the ATM is inside and right near the pharmacy where there's lots of traffic. Makes it feel safer, I guess.
1 person likes this
@fifileigh (3615)
• United States
24 Oct 08
i use atm as needed. i dont carry too much cash with me in my purse. i wouldnt go late at night to an atm...that is creepy. it is dark and who knows who is hiding in the dark when u least expected.
@quinnkl (1667)
• United States
26 Oct 08
I use ATMs occasionally. I don't like to carry a lot of cash either and also have my check direct deposited (then it gets there and I get paid no matter where I am, etc). I have used them late at night, but only use the drive up ones and not the walk up ones, unless they are inside a convenience store or somewhere. I hate paying the fees, which is why I don't use them much anymore.
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
24 Oct 08
Yes, I use ATM, but I do it mostly during the day. I'm seldom out late at night anyways. You must be very careful. Our ATMs are equipped with security cameras, but even then it's not safe to do it late at night. Try to have some to last you at least throughout the night in future, so you need to withdraw only in the morning. The other important thing is to cover with your hands when keying in the pin number.
@sudalunts (5523)
• United States
24 Oct 08
I am always wary using the ATM, day or night especially out in the open. I usually will use an ATM in a store, where there are other people around.
I did go once to a drive thru ATM early in the morning. I was so busy looking over my shoulders and around, because I was a little scared.
ATM machines are a convenience, but they can also be dangerous and risky.
I am glad that you were okay. Yes, the fees sometimes will make you go someplace that you do not usually use, but sometimes the additional fee is still worth your safety.
Be careful and take care.
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
23 Oct 08
Hi Chevee,
I am so lucky that I don't to get cash from ATM machine late at night, if I have to go out in the evening to get money out I always take someone with me. Please be careful and make sure you have money on you so don't have to go out to machine. Hugs.
Tamara
@mienkoos (95)
• Netherlands
24 Oct 08
I use the ATM a lot. Here in the Netherlands almost everybody gets his salary on their bankaccount, so if you want the notes and coins to spent, you need to either use the ATM or go to the counter (which are hard to find, busy and almost never open). But here you can pay at a lot of shops by your bankcard. It's not like paying with your creditcard and I don't think every country uses this way of paying. But here it works great: you don't have to go to the ATM a lot and at almost every shop they have this device where you can pay even very small amounts.
When I use the ATM I always try to avoid nighttimes, just because here the crime rates are rising. But it sometimes happens that I do use the ATM late at night. I always feel uncomfortable using the ATM when its late.
@GardenGerty (160708)
• United States
23 Oct 08
I do not use ATM's I have not for a long time. I would drink water, and take my own snack rather than use machines that take extra money. I would probably ask someone to go out to the ATM with me.
@mayka123 (16605)
• India
24 Oct 08
Like you I too dont keep any cash at home. I have an ATM just near my house. In an emergency I use that ATM to withdraw cash. If I have to make a payment early in the morning I go to the ATM at dawn but avoid going there at night. I think it would be too risky.
@fwidman (11514)
• United States
23 Oct 08
I rarely ever use an ATM machine, but I would have to be pretty desperate to use an outside machine late at night. That i s too dangerous for me. Not that a crook would get much, as my money for an ATM machine is a prepaid credit card and that's not much 
@lilcee (2703)
• United States
23 Oct 08
My husband also gets his paycheck directly deposited to our band account. So, I go to the ATM every Fri to get money for grocery shopping. It's during the day tho. I don't like to go out at night by myself so I wouldn't use the ATM at night. Be careful. Have a good lotting day.
@PaulCarey (96)
• Ireland
23 Oct 08
I have only used an ATM once and that was when i was on holidays
@marianstallings (201)
• United States
23 Oct 08
A $2.25 fee...that's great! Here, the going rate on ATM's is $3.00. I drove around last week looking for an ATM that was less than $3.00 and only found a few. The gas stations all seem to have the same fees on their ATM's which is between $2.00 and $2.25...The convenience stores are between $2.25 and $2.75....I finally came across a fee free ATM just yesterday at Walmart! They don't charge for cash withdrawals, though your bank still may assess a fee because you used a non-bank affiliated ATM, but that's better than being charged from both sides. I hate Walmart (way too crowded) but I will definitely be using their ATM if nothing else.
