I was using an ATM near my hostel in Eswatini, & 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?
Oh man, that's a classic ATM hiccup. It happens, unfortunately. When it happened to me with a Bank of Taiwan ATM, I just went inside the branch. They were able to get it out for me, but it took about 20 minutes and I had to show them my passport. Don't worry, the bank staff are used to this. You won’t get a new one from them, but they can at least get your current card back if you go inside during business hours.
Dealing with a swallowed card in Eswatini can be a hassle, for sure. When it happened to me with a Nedbank ATM in Ezulwini, I just called my bank's international helpline. They told me that the local bank would likely destroy the card for security reasons. The best advice is to have a backup debit or credit card, preferably from a different bank, tucked away somewhere safe. Don’t depend on getting the card back; the process is often too complicated and takes too long.
Yeah, this is a common issue with some ATMs here. My friend's card was swallowed by a Standard Bank ATM in Manzini. The most important thing is to act fast. Call your home bank immediately to lock your card. The local bank in Eswatini, even if it’s a big name like Standard Bank or Nedbank, may have different protocols for foreign cards. They might be able to help, but it’s best to rely on your own bank for immediate security. In the interim, mobile money services like MTN MoMo or Nedbank's Send Money can be a lifesaver.
That is such a frustrating experience. It happened to me a few months ago with an FNB ATM in Mbabane. The fastest and easiest thing to do is to go directly into the FNB branch attached to the ATM. They were able to help me retrieve my card right there and then. You’ll need to show your passport and another form of ID to prove it’s yours. They don’t hold foreign cards for long, so acting quickly is key. The staff were very kind and had a system in place for these situations.