Absa's ATM pepper-spray plan backfires

Necuno

Necuno

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Absa's ATM pepper-spray plan backfires
A plan by Absa to fits its ATMs with pepper spray went awry recently when three technicians had to be treated by paramedics after inhaling the irritant.

Absa said on Thursday that it was piloting the initiative in an attempt to stop criminals from tampering with the machines.

Depending on how successful the initiative is, it could be rolled out around the country, said spokesperson Patrick Wadula.

"During a routine maintenance check at an Absa ATM in Fish Hoek, the pepper-spray device was accidentally activated. At the time there were no customers using the ATM, however, the spray spread into the shopping centre where the ATMs are situated," said Wadula in a statement sent to the Mail & Guardian Online on Thursday, adding that the bank regretted the "unfortunate incident".

He said due to security reasons, Absa could not divulge further details of where and when they would roll out the initiative.

The technology uses cameras to detect people tampering with the ATM slots. Another machine then ejects pepper spray to stun the culprit while the response teams rush to reach the crime scene.

The FNB and Standard Bank spokespersons declined to say whether their banks had introduced the new technology.

"Even if we were using it we wouldn't want to alert criminals ... One has to always keep a step ahead of the criminal," said Erik Larsen of Standard Bank.

There was no immediate comment from Sabric, the company responsible for combating crime in the banking industry - Sapa
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today, tomorrow, together, free pepper
 
I can see this happening a lot, dunno how many times I've seen an angry customer bash a ATM.
 
I love this - sure it will stop the criminals sometimes and save the bank some money, but in the end you will collect that money in terms of claim settlements due to false sprayings.
 
I think there will be a small 'disclaimer' posted at every pepper ATM. Can't sue ABSA then. Also at malls there's always a "You Enter At Your Own Risk" disclaimer.
 
BLIXEMPIE said:
I think there will be a small 'disclaimer' posted at every pepper ATM. Can't sue ABSA then. Also at malls there's always a "You Enter At Your Own Risk" disclaimer.
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These disclaimers are never valid in a court of law. If ABSA messes up or the centre management mess up and someone gets hurt because of that, they will get sued and they will loose the suit - no matter what is written on a disclaimer.
 
PeterCH said:
These disclaimers are never valid in a court of law. If ABSA messes up or the centre management mess up and someone gets hurt because of that, they will get sued and they will loose the suit - no matter what is written on a disclaimer.
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That is my understanding too.

Disclaimers doesn't give anyone the right to be negligent.
 
bullfrog said:
That is my understanding too.

Disclaimers doesn't give anyone the right to be negligent.
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Or malicious. Pepper spray at ATMs could backfire and injure ordinary customers. An airbag in a car could also go off but at least the airbag is for the protection of the car's occupants and not the car manufacturer. In this case the pepper spray does not protect you, the customer, just the bank. Now more customers will be mugged because it's easier to mug customers than deal with ATMs. Now when you're mugged and your cash is taken - ABSA won't be responsible. Before they had to cough up the missing ATM cash themselves.

It's the same with the new PIN cards. Now you have to type the PIN everywhere and you have to do it many times at ATMs. At ABSA when you use your card at the ATM you must punch in the pin when you want a Statement, again if you want to do a transfer and again if you want to do a withdrawal. So you may be doing 2-3 pin entries per ATM visit while in the past it was only once. All this makes it easier for people to read off the keys you're pressing and get your PIN. Then they only need to pickpocket you or rob you of your card and voila - the bank is blameless.

These measures just shift the responsibility to the customer from the BANK.
ABSA and Barclays and all these other banks are just greedy, unethical b/tards.
 
This is a really stupid idea. If somebody abuses a machine then swallow their card or decline service. Pepper spray.......??? Come on...

What about those ink cartridges inside the safe that destroys all the money when the safe is tampered with or moved illegally. Seems daft that ATM's don't have this enabled already...
 
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