The ATM just swallowed my debit card and didnt return it. This was in Burundi, close to where Im staying. Any idea if local banks can help? Help SOS how to get it back
That's really inconvenient. I was in Gitega last year and thankfully didn't have this issue, but my travel group discussed it. The general consensus is that once an ATM in Burundi takes your card, it's gone for good. There's little to no chance a local bank will be able to retrieve and return a foreign-issued card. The first thing you should do is call your bank's emergency line to report the incident. This is the most crucial step to ensure your funds are safe and to begin the process of getting a new card.
It’s a tough lesson to learn, but you're probably not getting it back. When I was there last year, my friend's card was eaten by an ATM. The staff at the bank told him they couldn’t return it and just advised him to contact his home bank. The process is too complicated with different banking systems and foreign accounts. The smartest move is to call your bank immediately to cancel the card and get a replacement sent to your next destination or back home. You'll probably need to get cash via a wire transfer or another card.
This is a super frustrating situation and it's happened to me twice! It's a common problem with some of the older machines around Bujumbura. Getting it back is almost impossible as they'll likely just destroy it. Your best course of action is to go to the bank the ATM is attached to, inform them of what happened, and then call your home bank to cancel the card. Don't wait. You might be able to get a small cash advance from a bank with your passport, but don't count on it.
Yikes, that's a bad start to a trip. I've had to deal with this before in Bujumbura. A tourist getting a card back from a local bank is really difficult; they often have a policy of destroying swallowed cards for security reasons. Your primary focus needs to be on protecting your funds. Call your home bank-like HSBC or whoever you use-and report the card stolen immediately. Don't just freeze it; get a new one ordered. You'll also want to make sure you have other ways to get cash, so maybe try a local money transfer service like Western Union with a friend or family member sending you some money.