I don't like it

Chase Manhattan has introduced new ATMs where you can make a deposit, either money or a check, without filling out a deposit form or putting it in one of those envelopes. You just put in your card, hit deposit and insert the money or check into a slot. It supposedly scans what you have deposited and gives you a receipt for it.

Now, I never deposit cash money into an ATM - does anyone, by the way? I mean, really, who puts money into an ATM? And I sure as hell wouldn't trust just letting it go loosely into the machine - but I occasionally have to deposit a check.

Today was one of those days. It was only a $50 check from Verizon, the mail-in rebate for the new phone I got a few weeks ago. (And kudos to Verizon. It said allow 6-8 weeks for delivery and I got it in less than three. I digress.)

So I'm reading the instructions, put in my ATM card and get my account on the screen, hit deposit, the thing starts flashing and I slide in the check which it scoops up and - nothing. After a minute, it spits it out and says it cannot be read.

Wonderful.

But they have taken away all the deposit envelopes, so now I had to go into the branch, fill out a regular deposit slip and stand in line for a teller.

A transaction that would have taken about 30 seconds with the old machines ended up taking about 5 minutes.

That's some kind of progress there, Chase.

Assholes.