My card was taken by an ATM near my hotel in Turkmenistan. Has this happened to anyone else? Solution?
That's a nightmare, and I'm sorry that happened. Your card is likely gone forever. The ATMs in Turkmenistan are known for being a bit unreliable. Your first priority should be to call your bank immediately and block the card. You won't get it back, as the bank will destroy it for security reasons. Your best bet is to get a cash wire from a friend or family member to a bank, or to use a different card if you have one.
It's a common occurrence. The ATMs are not as reliable as they are in other countries. The card is gone for good. You won't get it back. My solution was to have a family member wire me money via a bank transfer, which I picked up with my passport at the local branch. It was a stressful experience, but the bank staff was helpful. It's always a good idea to have a backup plan for money, like having a second credit or debit card.
This happened to me at an ATM from the State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs of Turkmenistan. It's a huge pain, but the card is likely gone. The most important thing is to call your home bank and cancel the card. Don't expect to get it back. The best solution is to have a backup debit or credit card for emergencies. You can also have cash wired to you from a friend or family member to a bank branch with your passport.
Yes, this happens. The first thing you need to do is call your bank immediately and report the card lost or stolen. Your card is likely gone for good, as banks will destroy captured cards for security. ATMs in Turkmenistan can be a bit temperamental, and sometimes an error will cause the machine to swallow the card. My advice is to have a second card from a different bank, which you can use to withdraw cash from a different ATM at a bank like Senagat Bank, or to have a family member send you money via a wire transfer.