If
the Automatic Teller Machine happens to swallow your card during
transaction, there are certain things you are supposed to do.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
Illustrative photo by The Punch
There are steps to protect your cards and what you can do if the
Automatic Teller Machine swallows your card, according to
http://echeck.org.
- Wait for 10 minutes to restart: As annoying as it may be, I suggest you wait 10 to 15 minutes first before doing anything. There is a good chance the ATM machine software will reset on its own and your card will spit back out.
- Take note of the time, place and location: If waiting for 10 to 15 minutes does not resolve the issue, well move on to this.Note down the time the machine swallowed your card and try to be as specific as possible. Note the date, the place you are, and the type of machine (if possible). For example, is it an ATM outside a bank and/or controlled and branded by the bank, or is it a stand-alone ATM in the street, or an ATM in a mall? Does it have a name, brand logo, and/or any other details?
Is there a number you can call on the machine itself, or any helpful information that may be relevant?
If so, you should make a note of it and have a quick look at the ATM to
see if it has been tampered with. You may want to use your phone to
take a picture of the ATM and the numbers on it so you can show a bank
later.
Contact the bank account provider: The bank or
institution you use will have its own rules and own definitions. Some
will say you have to raise a claim with the bank, others will say that
you have to raise an inquiry, and some may say your account is frozen
and freeze your account until the matter is resolved.
It is not wise to contact the ATM provider unless the bank you use
and the ATM provider are the same company. In this case, your problem
may be resolved a little quicker. When you raise the issue with your
bank, they will often contact the ATM provider; but if you raise it with
the ATM provider, then they will refer you to your bank and/or account
provider.
If you can’t find the bank associated with the ATM, look for the
contact number on the ATM (there usually is) and call it for support.
You may be able to get a technician to come to the location right away
and deal with the issue.
If ATM swallows your card while abroad
This is not a good situation as there may be language problems and
it may be difficult to fix the problem on the spot, especially if the
ATM is not attached to a bank but is in some other location.
If you are not in your home country, the situation is more
difficult as you may be dealing with language problems and it may not be
easy to call up the bank on the spot.
Minimise risk; we suggest you use an ATM outside of or, even
better, inside of an actual bank while travelling abroad. If the ATM
swallows your card, you can simply walk into the bank or call for
assistance — the bank will be able to resolve the issue on the spot.
Make sure you have a backup ATM card linked to the same account or a
different bank account. If one ATM card gets eaten or lost, you still
can access your bank account and get money.
How to prevent ATM card issues while abroad
Use ATMs inside of a bank branch lobby: If the ATM card gets
swallowed, you can enlist the bank staff to resolve this for you. This
is much easier than trying to resolve the issue if the ATM is in a
remote area. So use ATM’s attached to an actual bank if you can.
Enlist the help of a local to contact the number on the ATM/ATM
bank: If you are in a foreign country, you may not be able to call the
ATM company/bank branch yourself. If you are in a public area such as
the metro, mall, airport, try contacting the local security or help
desk. They may be able to contact the bank for you and explain the
situation. If there is no security around or help desk close, you may
have to ask people around you for help. Ask a local to call the contact
number on the ATM if you don’t have a working phone and the language is
not your own.
Know your bank’s policy regarding ATM card problems while abroad:
If you have ATM card issues while abroad, it’s a good idea to know your
bank’s policy regarding this. Will they send you a new card in a
reasonable amount of time for example?
Consider using a travel credit card while abroad, especially when
making large purchases: Credit cards have better protection, better
exchange rates, and can be rush-replaced within a few business days. If
you want to use it like debit card, preload the credit card with money
(above your monthly balance and use it like an ATM card to withdraw the
cash).
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
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