I was using an ATM near my hostel in Lebanon, & 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?
Yeah, that's a huge hassle, but it’s manageable. My friend's card was swallowed by a bank ATM near their guesthouse in Jounieh. The key is to note the time and location and then call your home bank right away. The Lebanese banking system is under a lot of strain, and the best way to safe your money is to go through your own bank's fraud department. They'll likely tell you to get a new card. In the meantime, use a different card or get a cash advance inside a bank branch using your passport.
This is a very common problem, and in Lebanon, it's complicated by the financial crisis. I had my Visa card retained by an ATM from National Bank of Kuwait - Lebanon. You will not get the physical card back. Your best advice is to contact your bank at home, have the card canceled, and rely on other methods. I had some emergency cash in US dollars, which are widely accepted, and was able to get by for a few days until I had a friend send me a moneygram. Don’t waste your time with the local bank.
When it happened to me, my Mastercard was eaten by a BLOM Bank ATM in Beirut. Given the informal capital controls, the best thing to do is immediately call your bank's international helpline. They can block the card and issue a new one. Do not expect the local bank to be able to help you. They have strict rules about handling foreign currency and are unlikely to give you your card back. This is where having a backup card is critical. Your best bet for quick cash is using a money transfer service like OMT.
That's a tough situation, especially with the banking issues in Lebanon right now. I've had my card retained by a Bank of Beirut ATM near my hostel in Hamra. My advice is to not expect to get the card back. Due to the country's financial situation and capital controls, foreign cards are handled very carefully. The most effective thing to do is call your bank at home immediately and report it. They can put a freeze on the card and issue you a new one. In the meantime, you’ll have to rely on a different payment method like cash or a wire transfer.