Is there ANYthing I can do if I think I left money behind at an ATM? :(

[Imgoingonanadventure]

I feel so stupid writing this, but I took some cash out yesterday for a builder we have in today, and when I've gone to take the money out of my purse it's nowhere to be found!! The £20 that I had in there before I 'took' the money out is still there and I have the card (phew!) so the only reasonable solution is that I stupidly left the money at the ATM and walked away.... I'm 25 weeks pregnant, so blaming baby brain, but I'm devastated as purse strings are tight atm with baby on the way.

I guess the answer is no, as I accept it's entirely my fault, but is there anything I can do?!?

Have you checked your bank?
Was it busy?

ATMs usually suck money back in and refund to the bank if not taken out.

But if it was busy maybe someone behind you could of nabbed it.

Was this at a shop?

The money will have gone back in to the machine unless someone else was very quick and took it. Have you spoke to your bank ?

I think the machine takes the money back in if it’s not taken within a certain time so the bank might still have it. If there was a person behind you though that took the money then I don’t think there is much you can do. I would start by going to the bank and asking them.

I did this once a good few years back, went to cash machine went to take £20 out & walked away! Didn't realise until later on that day.
I rang my bank & they said to contact where it was withdrawn from which was an actual bank and luckier still someone had handed it in! I can't remember all the details as such but I def got it back.
I know with atms they do timeout after a while & the £ will get sucked back in if not taken. Have you contacted your bank?

Go in and tell the bank.
They'll ask you security questions etc but you may well get the money back, but it will take a week or two. I did this with £80 and was lucky enough to get it back, so hopefully you will be too. Good luck 😉

Contact your bank.
The machine does take money back in if it isn't taken. The bank will reconcile the withdrawals at the end of the day and if there's too much money still in the machine, they will be able to refund you.
If someone else has taken it though you're not going to get it back.

Ooh ok, thanks everyone - sounds like all is not necessarily lost!!

Just to clarify on a few questions - it was an ATM outside a big Sainsburys, and there wasn't anyone behind me, but obviously it's generally quite a busy footfall (although it was around 2.30pm so not as busy as it could have been...!)

I checked the bank this morning and it's definitely taken the money - if it did get sucked back in would I see the refund immediately or would it take a few days?

That's a great idea about ringing the Sainsburys, I will try that! If a kind hearted soul has handed it in, I will be SO grateful. And failing that, I will try going into the bank at lunch... there's hope yet!

Thanks so much everyone, I really appreciate the responses!

You will probably have to ask. Don't wait and see.

Hope you get it back. This once happened to me when DD distracted me. I didn't realise that I'd not taken the money until my bank statement revealed that it had been refunded to me. Fortunately it was only £20.

Good luck, OP.

It sucks back in pretty quick. (Although it beeps pretty loud first!)

My ex boyfriend and I once walked past a cashpoint with the money sticking out. We stood there until it went back in to make sure no one else stole it. Only took a few seconds. (We were debating if it would or not when it did!)

How did it all work out OP?