Why ATM pin should not be shared even with spouse?

Seldom do we pay attention to clauses that govern the use of debit cards. Although we all know that ATM pin should not be shared with anyone, some of us do share it with people close to us. This Bengaluru couple had to learn it the hard way that violating the 'non-transferrable' clause could cost them, and for them it was as much as Rs 25,000.

Vandana shared her ATM pin with her husband Rajesh Kumar and asked him to withdraw Rs 25,000 from an SBI ATM. Rajesh went to the ATM and swiped the card; the machine delivered a slip showing the money was debited, but the amount was never disbursed, said a TOI report.

Upon calling SBI's customer care, Rajesh was told that money would be returned to their account as it was an ATM glitch. When this did not happen, the couple approached SBI branch with a formal complaint. SBI, on its part, remained adamant and claimed that transaction was correct and that the ATM disbursed the cash.

When the CCTV footage was examined, it further strengthened bank's argument as the card holder could not seen in it and the 'non-transferrable' clause strictly forbids anyone other than card holder to use it.

Many attempts and three-and-half-years later, Vandana and Rajesh still did not get back their Rs 25,000 and the final say in the matter was that case was closed as PIN was shared. Further, the bank produced documents, including log records, showing the stated ATM transaction was successful and technically correct, reported TOI.

There was no reprieve even from the court as the bank stood its ground and said that it was mistake of the card that that she shared the PIN.