Debit cards in Met ticket machines

[pshute@melbpc.org.au (Peter Shute)]

This morning I tried to pay for my monthly ticket by debit card, but
after entering my pin number I got the message "bank not available".
The train was pulling in, so rather than assuming the machine was
faulty (which it was) and risking a fine for not having a ticket, I
assumed it might mean there was not enough money in my account (which
was a good possiblilty at the time). So I went home and drove to work.

I rang the ticket info number and they told me that every now and
again the machines "do that" for ten minutes or so.  If I had been
caught with no ticket they would have accepted that as an excuse. Even
if they didn't believe me, these faults are logged, so I wouldn't end
up paying the fine.

Has anyone else had this problem?
Peter Shute, Melbourne, Australia