Cash machine dishes out scorched banknote
County pics show at CIU BANK AND SHOP REFUSE TO TAKE BURNED £20
KEVIN Dunlop will give a show of his pictures of Northumberland called “Off the Beaten Track” tomorrow.
Much of his knowledge of our county was gained by accompanying the late historian Edwin Grieve, taking photographs to illustrate his many talks and series of lectures.
The meeting starts at 7.30pm in Ponteland CIU, Merton Way. Non-members can attend for £2. Reporter AN angry gran claims a cash machine dispensed a £20 note that “looked like it had been set on fire”.
Miffed Ann Munro says banks and shops then refused to take it – leaving her out of pocket.
She’s now warning people against using the machine, in Clayton Street, Newcastle, claiming: “I’ve basically been scammed”.
And to make matters worse, she says it is the second time the hole-in-thewall has created a problem for her.
“The last time I used it was a good couple of months ago, and it took my card for no good reason,” fumed the 65-year-old.
“I hadn’t used it again until this week. Now I’m wishing I’d gone to the one at Tesco.”
Pensioner Ann was shopping with her granddaughter on Wednesday when she requested the £20.
“It was badly burned and looked like it had been set on fire,” said shocked Ann.
“I was shocked, so I went to Tesco to see if they would change it but they wouldn’t entertain it.
“I even went to Santander and they said no, and was told to contact the Bank of England.
“But the lady in Santander said there was no way this should have been fed in the machine.
“Even if a note is creased it won’t go in the machines – so there’s no way this one should have gone through.”
But Ann’s battle for a refund may have a happy ending.
After the Sunday Sun highlighted her case to operator NoteMachine, the firm said that while no faults had been reported in the area, it may investigate.
A spokesperson said if it finds one of their machines was at fault, it may “potentially reimburse” her.
Currently, there is no explanation as to how the damaged note allegedly found its way inside the machine – but Note Machine offered to pay the postage for Ann return it for an investiga- tion. For now, Ann says she wants others to be cautious.
“Thankfully it was just pocket money I was getting out, but what if this was some young couple withdrawing their last?” she added.
“What if someone needed that to put money in the meter?”