I guess this is going to be more of rant than anything, and to be honest I think I have a damn good reason to, I'll start from the beginning. I was out out last night with some mates and went into Nottingham and went to the cinema. We went to watch Tropic Thunder (If you like random plots and humour go see it now!) anyway I usually have some spare cash on my desk, but this time I didn't so I took my debit card and aimed to withdraw some cash when we go into town.

Conviently there was a Cash machine right outside the cinema, so obviously I went there to withdraw money. There's one inside the cinema but guess what? That charges £2 to withdraw your own money out of your own bank account. I never use them because there just massively ripping you off. So I put in my card and PIN etc and it asks me how much I want to withdraw. I thought for a moment and thought I need at least £25 left in the account to for my guitar lesson, so I chose £10, seem the cinema is only going to cost £5 so I ask for £10 but the little screen pops up with a message saying "Sorry can't deal with your request." and gives me my card back. Puzzled I but the card back in and decide to try a different amount this time £20. I was really reluctant to take out £20 as I don't need that much, but needs must so I chose £20. This time it gave me my money without any trouble but guess what it gave it me in? TWO £10 NOTES. ARGH. It couldn't give me £10 but it will let me have £20 in two £10 notes. What the hell is that all about?

It's the most annoying thing ever. Cash machines and banks are now so fussy and won't give you £5 anymore either it's all £10, £20, £50 etc and oh that option on getting a custom withdraw amount. Don't even both anymore. Because ever bank doesn't let your withdraw £5 notes anymore you've probably got only a 5% chance of being able to withdraw a amount of money with a £5 value in it.

But it begs the question. Are banks controlling the money we take out? I mean I don't know about you but being able to withdraw a £5 note or a £10 note would be so convient, in many situations I've been in before especially the one above. It's like the banks are giving you one massive middle finger in your face and saying "This is your money, but we control how you take it out."

This problem is generally with alot of people and the fact of my card being a debit card doesn't seem to be the reason why withdrawals are controlled like this either. My bank account is with Barclays but Im sure many of the banks are also doing it. I know for fact that my mum's bank account which is with the Royal Bank of Scotland won't let her withdraw £10 either. I mean we we're in Center Parcs just the other week and she needed £10, but she couldn't do it, so she went for the next amount up £20. Of course it happily gave her £20 but possibily more annoyingly than my situation she got £20 in one £10 note and two £5 notes. Wait a second I thought the £5 note was banished my the evilness of cash machines. Oh! Of course they give you £5 notes when YOU WITHDRAW AN AMOUNT YOU DIDN'T WANT IN THE FIRST PLACE....

Got a similar story to tell? Why not reply with your comments. Im sure im not the only one thats experienced problems with cash machines and banks.