We got "Strung"

[SudsMan]

Well we got hit! One of our two American 2001 changers was strung sometime within the last couple of days. When I went to take out the currency and refill the hoppers, both hoppers were empty to the bottom. I did some calculations and figure they got me for about $300. Could have been worse.

Both of my changers have the Coinco BA50B validators in them. Does anyone know if these are the validators that have a reputation of being able to be 'stringed'? Mine have little fingers that would resist a bill from being pulled out, I think, but don't seem to have helped. I'm going to call American first thing in the AM to find this out. Also, I understand the MARS valicators 'can't be strung'. Does anyone have any history to know if this is true or not?

Onward and upward....

[Anonymous]

My Mars has a bunch of metal teeth where the bills come in, and I think if anyone tried to pull a bill out it would shred it and jam everything up much the way parking lots use those flexible spikes to keep people from backing out.

[BWJR]

Sudsman,

Read my thread titled Mars vs. Coin co. I just posed this question days ago and spoke to a Tech. from American. He told me its happening very frequently in Flordia. Now you tell us its happening in NY. Where upstate are you located?

I haven't been hit yet, but i had a customer give me back $34.00 in quarters that the machine might have over paid, if it wasn't left by the last customer, which seems unlikely. give us as much detail as possible and let me know what the Tech says to you.

Thanks,

BWJR

[David]

Last August when I bought my 1002, the dealer told me that because CoinCo's were being strung, that American was switching to CashCode until a solution could be found, hence my changer has a CashCode and it is supposed to be string resistant.

I was under the impression from the dealer that American were working on some add-on that was supposed to stop stringing, but I haven't heard anything about it since.

You might call your dealer or American and see if a field solution was created.

[BWJR]

What input and experience do you have in this area?????

BWJR

[pete f]

I know a guy with American changers with Cashcode acceptors, he got strung for around $1200 last summer.

[Rondo]

With all the negitives towards Standards here, It's funny none of them have been strung. All I keep hearing is about American's being strung. Maybe the Standards are a little bit for finicky, but at least they aren't being strung.

[BWJR]

Pete,

What are cash code acceptors?

BWJR

[Anonymous]

Standards were getting strung on the system 500 for along time, not sure about the 600.

[BWJR]

I got strung about 8 years ago with a Standard Changer. I had new software put in and I haven't had a problem since. Now I don't know if that is becaise nobody has tried or the preventive measure has worked. How the crocks work is that they buy there own changer and they continue to beat the updated software that the Changer companies install. Some of them I am quessing may be former employees. Its a battle of technology and the good guys have to stay ahead of the bad guys. Updating your changer is the key irregardless of the make or model. American has advertised that there changers have never been strung. I saw it in the Journal Ad for their Changers. Has anyone else seen this Ad??

BWJR

[MSKLAUNDRY.]

I have had several Standards that have taken c10's and 20's conterfeit bills, and rather poor ones at that. Even sent them to Herb Jackson so they could fix it. Working mostly with Rowes I cannot recall ever having heard of any problems with hacking it but that is not to say that it is not possible. Just about everything is hackable. It just taken someone with time and effort to do. If I really wanted to I could hack a few of them but I use my time for more contructive purposes. One of these days I'll rig something up with a couple of ba50 coinco's just for the fun of it.

Please don't ask what it would take to do as this is not a hacking site and I will not even go there!!!

[SudsMan]

For those folks who've had experience with the MARS validator, are they any models you would specificly recommend or avoid?

[MSKLAUNDRY.]

At the show there is a anti-stringing device add on for for the validator from American Changer as an add on for about $200.

Give them a call!!!

[SudsMan]

Here's the scoop from American on the Coinco and MARS bill acceptors. They will ship a MARS acceptor as a replacement for the Coinco for $385 plus your Coinco trade in. I don't think that $385 is any special price. But if someone trys this upgrade and is quoted more, please get in touch with me. The way I was treated by American was FANTASTIC. I called Monday AM (8/11) and was told the MARS units were back logged. I received my two today by FedEx overnight! You can't beat that for service. The American tech, Lenny, told me the Cash Code acceptors can and have been strung.

They have some sort of add on to be used with the CoinCo acceptor that would also stop stringing. It consists of a slotted wheel type thingee (sorry for the technical description) that lets the bill in but will grab the bill if it is removed. This unit is not available (as of 8/11)for shipment yet, it's still in the final prototype manufacturing stage. It will sell for about $198. I chose not to wait for this unit.

[BWJR]

I think this thread needs to be moved to an Alert in addition to the Service Problem Board.

BWJR

[Duane]

Place a small sign on your changer that reads:


ATTENTION:

An anti-stringing device has been
installed on this machine. To avoid
setting off the alarm, please do not
hold the bill tightly when inserting
it into the changer.




Or something like that.

[CharlieS]

Another reason to have a good camera system.

Charlie

[BWJR]

Duane,

That's a good idea. Hopefuly they can read English.

BWJR

[JBTcajun]

well I would never thought of stringing had I not been here. Would have thought that surly the machine had safe guards for such a simple thing. So it is my thought that posting such a sign would cause more people to try than stop the ones that know of such techniques. I favor putting a monitor next to the changer showing the person infront the changer for the best defense. Very inexpensive tool

[pete f]

trying to catch up with everyone here..

cashcode? name/sp? acceptors, coinco and mars are all in use around here, and all have been strung to my knowledge.

Here is an idea, I have not looked at my acceptors yet, but Neil Dennis told me of this. Stringing is everywhere, even in Austrailia where he is. He knew of a guy who attched fish hooks to the end of the acceptor, the bills can pass over but when pulled back the fish hooks grab them. Sounds cheap and easy way to help slow the stringers.

Also an update on T-handle style locks and the Medco lock in them. The crooks are using a dent puller, screw into the lock and hammer it out. Medco has the lock now with a titanuim tooth so it won't break and be pulled out.. Course when they mess up your lock you are SOL and have to drill to replace/fix it. Cheaper than all the money in your changer. Best bet, have a welder put a plate over those T-handle locks and add a couple more locks just for good measure.

[Anonymous]

My Mars acceptors have about 12 "V" shaped pieces of metal at the top of the stacker that prevent anyone from stringing. If you tried to pull a bill past them it would shred it and jam everything up.

[Ken]

The American unti string kit will not give the bill back,just cut the string,keep the bill,I like that,so I know anyone try to do it in my area.
Mars will reject any bill with string but won't keep the funny bill.
I will update all my old Coinco.

[BWJR]

Are you saying that Mars and CoinCo's are both being strung? If that is the case, why is American Changer replacing the Coinco's with mars Changers? Also I don't understand this Fish hook set up. Where exactly do you put them, without messing up your belts?

Thanks,

BWJR

[Ken]

I asked American's national service manager Brian Szerdy in Clean 03.
The untistring kit will cut the string ,keep the funny money but won't payout,it is a little cuter looking kit in front of the Coinco accepter,so you remove your Coinco,put the kit in then put the Coinco back.It come with a little harness so it can get power from the accepter.I saw the kit worked,Brian even had a few cut from the cutter.I am going to order one on Mon.
Mars use sener to look for string,so when the sener find the string,it will reject the bill,will not accept the bill or payout.
No,Mars won't get strung,so far anyway.
So,you can get a new Mars or get the unti string kit.Either one should stop stringer.

[BWJR]

Ken,

Sudsman said that the kits are not ready yet. Did you here differently that they are ready now? He said the price is $198.00.
Did they give you a shipping time frame? I need to order also, so let me know.

Thanks,

BWJR

[pete f]

I will check with my changer guy, I am sure I heard Mars was hit, but will verify.
As for the fish hooks. well, I have not looked at my accpetors.
You place them upside down so the bill passes over easy. if pull back them they catch the bait.. I asume at the end of the acceptor.. not sure how the attachment works, super glue?

[Ken]

Brian Szerdy from American didn't tell me when they will be avaliable,I thought they are avaliable already.
He told me it cost about $200.I guess it maybe $198.I don't really care,as long as it work,won't cause the good bill jamed up.
Call American Changer tomorrow.

[dirty-laundry]

I got strung when I first got my mat. It was an American changer with the Coinco validator. I cut very small tips from a razor and super glued the razor pieces to the 2 - teeth located on the fixed side of the validator. I had a problem on occasion when a bill is being rejected it would get caught by the teeth. (looks like a snake bite). I only had 1 person that decided to pull on the bill and it left real clean cuts down the bill. I finally tweaked the problem by sanding the razor tips lightly. (they where extending a wee bit pass the original plastic teeth) My machine has not eaten a bill in over a month and I have not been strung since the first time. I do sleep better at night knowing if sometried to pull a bill back out of my machine the will not be able to stick that (shreded) bill back in.
The suprised look caught on camera would make for a nice picture on my "Wall Of Shame".

-Dirty-Laundry-

[bvlaundry]

i had three stores that were strung two years ago and switched to mars from coinco---no problems yet---same with a buddy of mine in this area he has a bunch of stores that were strung and he got rid of his coinco with the mars and he has not had a problem either...