I was using an ATM near my hostel in Djibouti, & it took my card & never gave it back. No error message, just gone. Has anyone had this happen? Whats the fastest way to get it back? Any advice on who to call or what to do next?
Yeah, that's a common problem with some of the older machines. My friend's card was retained by a bank ATM in the Haramous area. It's a bummer, but the advice is pretty consistent: immediately contact your home bank. Don't expect to get the card back. The local bank will likely destroy it for security. The best solution is to get cash from a currency exchange using another form of ID or have a friend or family member send you money through a reliable service. Keep a stash of emergency cash in US dollars, as they are widely accepted.
Ugh, that's just the worst. My Visa card was swallowed by a Banque pour le Commerce et l'Industrie - Mer Rouge (BCIMR) ATM once. Don't waste time trying to wait for it to come back out. The first thing you absolutely must do is call your bank at home, even if it's the middle of the night for them. They will be able to lock the card to prevent any fraud. You won't get the physical card back, so start the process of getting a new one. In the meantime, see if your hostel or hotel can help you with a cash advance or if you can use a mobile money service.
This is a traveler's worst nightmare, and it's even worse in a country like Djibouti. I had my card retained by an Exim Bank ATM at the Place du 27 Juin. The key is to immediately call your own bank and report the card lost or stolen. The local bank in Djibouti will likely not be able to return a foreign card to you due to security protocols; it will probably be destroyed. The best advice is to have a backup card with you or cash, because getting a new card shipped can be incredibly expensive and can take weeks.
That's a tough situation, especially in a place where cash is king. I've heard this happen to other travelers in Djibouti. ATMs here, especially outside of major hotels or banks, can be pretty unreliable. The fastest way to deal with this is to go directly into the bank branch the ATM belongs to. I had a similar issue with a CAC International Bank ATM near my guesthouse in the city center. The staff were helpful, but warned me that it could take several days to access the machine's contents. You’re often better off having a friend wire you money via Western Union or using a separate credit card for any major purchases.