I was using an ATM near my hostel in Zambia, and it took my card and 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?
While withdrawing money from an ABSA ATM in Kitwe in April, the machine ate my card and locked up. I took a photo of the serial number, froze the card through my travel bank’s international desk, and visited the ABSA branch next morning. They located it within 24-48 hours after lodging a missing-card form. Advice: don’t leave the scene - find staff, report it right then, and don’t forget to freeze the card yourself.
At a First National Bank ATM in Ndola last June, my debit card vanished - no warning, no receipt. I quickly phone-blocked it, emailed my UK bank and contacted FNB Zambia via their local number. They gave me a reference ticket and said retrieval could take up to five days. I had to provide ID in person. Luckily, they held it securely, but I wouldn’t rely on hostel-area machines any more. Always track the exact machine location and timestamp.
In May, a Standard Chartered ATM outside my Livingstone guesthouse swallowed my Visa card mid-transaction. I immediately called Standard Chartered customer support hotline (visible on ATM). They remotely flagged the card and submitted an internal retrieval request. About 48 hours later I picked it up from the main branch with my passport. Bottom line: stay calm, take photos of the machine, call the bank hotline immediately, then visit the branch in person.
This happened to me in Lusaka last month at a ZANACO ATM near my hostel. No “card retained” message, screen just went blank. My first move? I froze my Mastercard using the bank app. Then I walked into ZANACO branch nearby with my boarding pass and passport - they submitted a requisition right away. I got the card back within 3 business days. Tip: always get the ATM ID, time stamp and ask for a retrieval ticket before walking off.