I was using an ATM near my hostel in Saudi Arabia, 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?
I had this happen in Khobar at an ATM inside a Tamimi Market. I was using my ICICI debit card and the ATM rebooted mid-transaction. No receipt, no card. I asked the store manager and he said the ATM was run by Arab National Bank, not the store. The phone number on the ATM actually worked and I spoke to someone in English who took my details and said they’d escalate it to the technician. They called me two days later to say the card was destroyed for security since I wasn’t a local account holder. I had already blocked it using the ICICI app. If this happens to you, take a photo of the ATM, note the location, time and name of the bank, and call both the local bank and your card issuer right away.
Same thing happened to me last month in Riyadh, outside a Banque Saudi Fransi ATM. My French Amex was taken without warning and there was no option to cancel or retrieve it. I called the number listed on the ATM and got through to a support line that confirmed the ATM was locked and would not be opened until the following business day. Since it was Thursday night and the weekend here is Friday and Saturday, I knew it was going to take a while. I called Amex Global Support and they cancelled the card instantly and offered to courier a new one to my hotel. I received it in three days. If this happens, do not wait on the local bank. Go straight to your card issuer and ask for an emergency replacement.
Yes I had this exact issue in Madinah near the Haram when I tried withdrawing money at an Al Rajhi ATM using my German Commerzbank Mastercard. The machine beeped twice then just stayed idle. My card never came out. A local guy told me it happens sometimes if the ATM has a faulty reader. I went into the branch and gave them the card number and approximate time and they confirmed the machine had “retained” the card. Since I wasn’t an Al Rajhi customer, they couldn’t give it back directly. I had to file a report and they said the card would be mailed to the issuing bank. I didn’t wait. I cancelled the card and used my backup. So unless you’re banking with the ATM owner, your best bet is to block the card immediately and move on.