I was using an ATM near my hostel in Rwanda, & 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?
Yes, mine got taken at a Bank of Kigali ATM in downtown Kigali near UTC Mall. The machine kept it, and the bank said it would be destroyed. Cancel it quickly and switch to a backup. Use ATMs from Bank of Kigali, Equity Bank, or GTBank inside malls. Rwanda is very cash-based outside Kigali, so carry Rwandan francs for moto-taxis, hostels, and market food.
Yep-mine vanished at a BK ATM too, in the middle of a cash withdrawal. No beep, no message, just ate it. A guy nearby told me to visit the main branch in town. They were super helpful and found my card inside the machine’s collection box. I was lucky it wasn’t the weekend. If you can, avoid nighttime ATM runs.
Had that happen with a BK ATM in Kimironko-completely swallowed my card without a message. I went to the nearby branch next morning with my passport and explained. They checked the machine logs and handed it back in under 20 minutes. They said it happens more often than you'd think, especially if the power cuts out mid-transaction. Always use ATMs during bank hours if you can.
Lost my debit card at an I&M Bank ATM outside Kigali Heights mall. I called the number posted on the machine right away-they told me to visit the branch with ID. Took about a day, but I got it back. If the ATM’s not attached to a branch, you're probably better off blocking the card and requesting a replacement. I now carry a backup card just in case.
This happened to me at a small standalone machine near Nyamirambo. No error, just… swallowed. No bank nearby either. I tried calling the number on the ATM but got nowhere. Ended up calling my bank back home and blocking the card. Took five days to get a new one shipped. From now on, I only use ATMs at proper branches-and during daytime.