ATM accessibility and cash shortages in Turkey

Turkey is experiencing significant challenges regarding Automated Teller Machine (ATM) accessibility. Users are reporting frequent cash shortages, particularly during pension and salary payment periods, as well as technical malfunctions such as stuck banknotes and accounts being debited without cash being dispensed. These issues are exacerbated by inflation, which increases the volume of cash withdrawals and strains machine capacity.

In response to these difficulties, citizens are filing over 1,500 complaints weekly. In regions with low ATM density, shortages are forcing residents to travel to other districts to access funds. As an alternative for unexpected needs, users are increasingly turning to credit card cash advances, though these involve specific interest rates and fees distinct from standard withdrawals.

Legal developments have also emerged regarding ATM usage. The Court of Cassation (Yargıtay) has ruled that money left in an ATM compartment remains the property of its original owner. The court warned that taking such money or performing unauthorized transactions via unattended screens can be prosecuted as theft or misuse of bank and credit cards. Additionally, customers may be held liable for losses due to negligence if they fail to report lost or forgotten cards immediately.