At busy times, customers waited in wet weather watching others repeat their processes then walk away baffled before enduring their own fruitless efforts to draw cash from the Clyde St money machine.
The ANZ bank branch is temporarily closed for personal, over-counter services.
Some ATM users were frustrated enough to walk directly into the adjacent ODT, Clutha Leader office to let off some steam.
"I’ve been chasing my tail on that f...... thing for 10 minutes," one customer who did not want to be named said.
"I can’t get my money out ... all it lets you do is check your balance.
"Why doesn’t it just say ‘out of order’?" he asked, having spent an additional "10 minutes" on his phone to ANZ’s call centre.
Bypassing the banking ombudsman, Clutha Leader went straight to the source for answers and was informed the ANZ branch next door was closed for the removal of asbestos.
"The ATM is still accepting deposits, therefore is not out of order," ANZ head of external communications Briar McCormack said.
"We did explore alternatives to house a temporary ATM while the asbestos removal was under way.
"Unfortunately there were no suitable options," she said.
ANZ was aware the cashpoint was no longer dispensing cash but it was unable to access the branch to re-stock the machine until the asbestos had been removed, she said.
"We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
"Our branch staff communicated to customers this may be the case."
Dozens of users continued to approach the otherwise inscrutable "hole in the wall" throughout the week.
By Thursday the message "Sorry, this ATM isn’t available right now" was permanently displayed on its touch-screen, enabling potential customers to immediately understand the situation and consider other options.
Besides cash-out at eftpos retailers, ANZ’s spokeswoman said Balclutha’s ANZ customers could use Balclutha’s BNZ and Westpac ATMs for cash withdrawals "free of charge".
She said asbestos removal work was expected to be completed "by the end of the month."
