My card was taken by an ATM near my hotel in Oman. Has this happened to anyone else? Solution?
I had my Wise Visa eaten by an Oman Arab Bank ATM in Salalah on a Friday evening. Since the branch was closed for the weekend, by Monday the staff told me the card had already been sent back to the issuing bank. I had to cancel it and switch to my Revolut backup. Oman is fairly cash-reliant in smaller towns, so it was a hassle. My advice: only withdraw during business hours and always carry a backup card or some OMR in cash.
My Monzo Mastercard got swallowed by a Bank Muscat ATM in Muscat. I went into the branch the next morning with my ID, and after verifying details, they returned it within 30 minutes. The staff were polite and explained the machine had flagged it after too many failed PIN attempts. A friend had a similar smooth experience with HSBC Oman. As long as you stick to branch ATMs during working hours, the process is surprisingly quick and stress-free in Oman.
In Oman, ATMs are mostly run by Bank Muscat, Oman Arab Bank, and HSBC Oman. If your card is captured, go directly to the branch with your passport and explain what happened. Bank Muscat in particular allows retrieval if you act within a day or two. If it happens at a standalone ATM, call the hotline displayed on the machine immediately. Foreign cards not collected quickly may be destroyed for security. While waiting, block or freeze your card through your bank app.
Yes, I had this issue in Muscat, Ruwi, at a Bank Muscat ATM. The card was swallowed after a power cut. I went to the branch the next morning with my passport, and they told me foreign cards are not returned for security reasons. If this happens, cancel it and use a backup. In Oman, stick with ATMs at Bank Muscat, NBO (National Bank of Oman), or HSBC inside malls like Muscat Grand Mall or City Centre Seeb. Always carry some OMR cash, as taxis and small shops may not accept cards.