June 2020 by John K.
I'm NOT a BofA fan because of repeated technical glitches at several branches over the last couple of years. I found this branch since it is convenient and on my commute route. Also in an upscale area where I feel safe transacting cash. The shopping plaza offers other store choices. I won't utilize any of the nearby branches since I've had BofA ATMs either seize my card and fail to return it (San Carlos), or dispense $60, only to snatch the money away as I reached for it and close the door. The east Hillsdale Blvd branch in Foster City is too exposed, and I feel like easy prey for muggings or snatch and grab robberies. So the Redwood Shores branch proved to be the most reliable. I also feel safe there because it's in a comfortable plaza where you can see any potential threats while handling cash. Also, the police and sheriff deputies roll in there on their breaks. There is a dayshift security guard. Imagine my shock (but not surprise) yesterday evening when I inserted my cash to deposit, and then the machine kind of blanked out or looked like it was in reset mode. I heard the machine innards whirring and clicking, but then nothing for at least ten minutes. The lady next to me at the adjacent kiosk also experienced difficulties, but eventually withdraw a large handful of bills. But the next customer observed me standing perplexed, waiting for something to happen (the cash deposit slot remained open and a Processing message remained on the screen). She made a snarky comment that I might be installing a skimming device. Anyway, that lady walked back to her car and sat there with her adult daughter, watching me. The next patron walked up.and immediately experienced problems with his transaction. However, his ATM self corrected it's glitch and off he went. Meanwhile, I'm standing there looking like an idiot while behind me, I catch the adult daughter of my previous "friend" snapping a pic of me with her cell phone camera! As I stepped away from the machine to explain to them what was going on, the machine changed messages and, after a few more minutes, finally displayed an error message. Luckily, it returned my ATM card, but then indicated it could not accept all of my cash. It began to spit out one dollar bill, but yanked it back as my fingers reached for it. I had to go online to dispute the transaction, because it accepted only half of the amount I was depositing. Luckily, I resolved my discrepancy online. But my likeness is out there on someone's cell camera files or social media post, depicting me as a skimmer scammer flimflam man. I worried about them calling the Redwood City Police, and having to endure the indignity of a field interview (while being the true crime victim). This is the fifth time I've had issues with their ATMs systemwide. They need to change equipment.
