The banking ombudsman says there are no clear-cut laws governing what should happen to money wrongly dispensed from ATMs.
More than 100 Darwin residents are thought to have received $50 notes instead of $20 notes from a Commonwealth Bank machine at Berrimah on Darwin's outskirts.
The bank is planning to contact people to ask for the money back.
The ombudsman says it is prepared to investigate any disputes over the money on a case-by-case basis.
The bank's Brian Fitzgerald says security staff probably loaded the notes incorrectly.
"The automatic teller machines are all online and we have a record of every transaction, every customer, how many notes were dispensed, and we will start contacting those customers that used the machine today, seeking reimbursement of the additional funds that they have received," he said.
The Territory's director of consumer affairs, Gary Clements, says banks can tell who has used a faulty machine.
"If you went and purchased something from a store and handed over an extra $100 more than you thought you had, you'd want that money back," he said.
"And it's really the same situation for a bank. If you haven't received it in the proper manner then you are not entitled to it."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200509/s1456299.htm
More than 100 Darwin residents are thought to have received $50 notes instead of $20 notes from a Commonwealth Bank machine at Berrimah on Darwin's outskirts.
The bank is planning to contact people to ask for the money back.
The ombudsman says it is prepared to investigate any disputes over the money on a case-by-case basis.
The bank's Brian Fitzgerald says security staff probably loaded the notes incorrectly.
"The automatic teller machines are all online and we have a record of every transaction, every customer, how many notes were dispensed, and we will start contacting those customers that used the machine today, seeking reimbursement of the additional funds that they have received," he said.
The Territory's director of consumer affairs, Gary Clements, says banks can tell who has used a faulty machine.
"If you went and purchased something from a store and handed over an extra $100 more than you thought you had, you'd want that money back," he said.
"And it's really the same situation for a bank. If you haven't received it in the proper manner then you are not entitled to it."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200509/s1456299.htm
