Having people standing right up close to you when you're at the bloody ATM giving you evils....

[MrBloomsNursery]

AIBU, or do these people peev other people off aswell?

So I was at the ATM today (withdrawing money). First I put in my card and withdrew some cash, and then withdrew some cash from our joint account and my Dad had asked me to get some money out for him aswell, so basically I had 3 cards that I needed to withdraw cash with.

A woman and her husband come and stand right up behind me whilst I was withdrawing the first amount. Now, please correct me if I am wrong, but I am not obligated to rush if someone is behind me at the ATM am I?

So I put my card back in my purse, and I take out the joint account card and put in the pin - I put the wrong pin in twice by accident - at this point the woman behind me comes and looks over my shoulder and says "HAS THE ATM RUN OUT OF CASH"? and I reply (without looking at her) "No, it's not accepting my pin". So then I put in the correct pin. When I am doing this, her husband calls to her, and says there is another cash point across the road (which there is). The woman replies with a "No", and then mumbles something

Then I take out money for my Dad, and when I turn around she is giving me EVILS!!! Like what the hell??? I was there before her, and if she was in that much of a rush, she could have easily crossed the road and used the other machine - What the hell was so special about the CO-OP ATM I was using?!!

I was so angry. First of all, you shouldn't stand up close to someone at the ATM. Secondly, why are you giving me dirty looks? Thirdly, if she hadn't stood so close I wouldn't have got all flustered and started putting in the wrong pin.
GOd those evil eyes she gave me!!! How rude!!

[RedOnion]

First of all, NO, YANBU. BUT, it is bloody annoying when people in front of you withdraw from 1400 different accounts!

Otherwise, just pretend you didn't know anyone was behind you and have a great big flail of the arms and elbows and hit the person behind

[MrBloomsNursery]

I know! But really, this is the first time I've ever needed to withdraw money from so many accounts, and I went to the quietest ATM on the main road. Still can't get over the evils!! There was a free cash machine in the post office about 10 yards away and there was another one across the street. I would have just gone to another one....but I would NEVER give someone dirty looks for using a PUBLIC ATM machine!!

[RedOnion]

Again with the elbows.....Oh i'm sorry I didnt realise someone was SO close behind me, I can only apologise for dislodging your dentures with my flailing arm, I suffer with FAS (flailing arm syndrome)

[MrBloomsNursery]

hahaha, thanks for the laugh!! I literally did bump into her when I turned around. I should have flicked her nose or something!

[EndoplasmicReticulum]

3 cards would annoy me, to be honest. I'm not sure why, there is no rule against it, it's completely irrational. But I like the person in front of me at the cash machine to just put in their card and pin and take money out, not to ponder every option or dither.

In this case I'd have gone to use the other machine though, rather than waiting for you to access multiple accounts.

[MrBloomsNursery]

Yes, I know, it would annoy me too. But I wouldn't start huffing and puffing and giving dirty looks. It's rude!! I would just stand back and wait patiently, unless I was in a rush. Why are people so rude?!

[PigletJohn]

when I was on crutches, I was hobbling towards an ATM when a woman RAN in front of me (I was about 10 foot away) and stuffed her card in.

I went and stood so close behind here she could feel my breath on her neck and growled loudly.

She cancelled her transaction, pulled her card out, and ran off.

Good thing too.

[MrBloomsNursery]

That's brilliant pigletjohn!! I'll remember that for next time!

[Mandy2003]

I used to work in a Post Office which offered cash withdrawal facilities for all banks except NatWest and HSBC. We were next door to a Co-op with an ATM set into its wall. The amount of people who came into the Post Office complaining that the Co-op machine was out of order so they had to come here instead was unbelievable!

Many other people were surprised the PO offered this service, and I used to delight in telling them that our machine did not Smell Of Tinkle (as the Co-op machines do)

[ThePrisonerOfAzkaban]

I had a row with a woman once, ihad a few bags on me that I had in crook of my arm, well she and friend got so close to me that they were knocking my bags, it was a quite corner and no need to stand close and turned round and said would you mind stepping back?

Cue a row that I was calling her a the if, um no, I asked you to step and stop looking over my shoulder, which she was also doing.

[MrBloomsNursery]

Yeah!! More people agreeing with me!! Horrible rude people standing up close behind you at the ATM . I wish someone would invent a personal space force shield, so rude people and smelly people would keep away!!

[ShadowsCollideWithPeople]

Oh, no, yanbu, I cannot abide people invading my personal space - standing on my heels at the ATM / in the queue at the supermarket / at a bar. Especially at the ATM, I find it infuriating. Er, you don't need to stand on me to be next in the queue. Grrrrr.

Although, I must admit, I do find myself getting rather irritated when people use several cards at the ATM. Which is irrational, and hypocritical, as I have done it when withdrawing money for my Mum when she was sick and bedridden. Am unfortunately very impatient, but am trying to work on this, as all it serves to do is get me all riled up and cross. Which is very unreasonable.

[Dilligaf81]

I work for a bank and we have little grids on the pavement by the ATMS which seems to keep people at a more reasonable distance.

[learningtofly]

I once told a bloke at a cash point that if he came any closer he would have to put a condom on.

He ran a mile :)

[MrBloomsNursery]

shadows I have had a problem with queues since I was 15. Once at a busy supermarket in the centre of town, a tramp came and stood RIGHT behind me in the queue. Everytime I would move forward, he moved forward too. Then he had the audacity to BURP in my ear!! Ugh!

I used to be impatient, but my DD has taught me patience! I can happily wait in any queue and not complain, unless someone pushes in, or the person ahead is really taking the piss. I didn't deserve to be given dirty looks!

[HenriettaFarthingay]

I live in Scotland, and use an ATM approximately twice a week. I've never seen anyone ever hang so close they could see over your shoulder. Usually people stand around four feet back from the ATM until it's free.

MrsBlooms, that woman was exceptionally rude. I'd have mentioned her lack of manners to her. In a mannerly fashion of course.

[MrBloomsNursery]

learningtofly Brilliant! Couldn't say anything like that to a woman :(

[learningtofly]

True, it only works with men. But the look on his face, well that was priceless!

[ShadowsCollideWithPeople]

Learning, that is brilliant . Just brilliant.

OP, I really do envy your patience. I am absolutely sure that you did not deserve any dirty looks - unfortunately, impatient people like me do exist, I wish I was much more calm, patient, and serene, but somehow, even when I am just wandering on my day off, with nothing to do, I still feel on edge and impatient. I think it might come from having a job where every issue had to be dealt with instantly. Or maybe I am just a grumpy old goat!

I can totally understand your problem with queues though! Shudder. I get instantly tetchy when anyone stands close to me in a queue / when browsing in a shop. I hate a stranger being within two feet of me. Which is also weird, but it does make me all hot and sweaty and itchy.

[Ripeberry]

If anyone stands too close to me at an ATM I will just cancel and go elsewhere.
You never know if they are taking note of your PIN or planning to take your money.
More ATMs should have a grid around them that others are not allowed to stand in.

[Cedise]

Our local ATM has an annoying little step at the foot of the wall it is in, which means you have to stand half a foot from the wall and sort of 'lean' in. It puts you just off-balance enough that if someone is standing too close, you accidentally stomp really hard on their toes when you step back...

[MoaningMcMyrtlepants]

I have stepped back sharply several times in my killer heels on to people's feet when they have got to close to me at the ATM. men and women, I'm not fussy.

[brighthair]

People annoy me when they do this especially in queues.
I was having a cigarette in the quietest place I could find, and everyone who walked past seemed determined to tread on my toes. I was stood with my back against a wall and one woman nearly took her eye out by walking on top of me

[Andrewofgg]

Learning what if he'd said

I have put a condom on! :o

[cleanteeth]

Rargh!! really annoys me to! I cant stand people standing in my personal space, gets me all creeped out and nervous.

I'd probably be a bit annoyed at you using 3 cards like, not that I'd have any right to be annoyed. I just would be. certainly wouldnt be breathing down your neck and making you nervous though!