I was using an ATM near my hostel in Montserrat, & 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, this is a common issue with some ATMs here. My friend's card was swallowed by a Royal Bank of Canada ATM. The most important thing is to act fast. Call your home bank immediately to lock your card. The local bank in Montserrat, like the Bank of Montserrat or RBC, can sometimes retrieve the card, but it’s best to rely on your own bank for immediate security. Having a backup card from a different network, like a Visa or Mastercard, is always a great idea.
Oh man, that's a classic ATM hiccup. It happens, unfortunately. When it happened to me with an ATM in the capital, I just went inside the branch. They were able to get it out for me, but it took about 20 minutes and I had to show them my passport. Don't worry, the bank staff are used to this. You won’t get a new one from them, but they can at least get your current card back if you go inside during business hours. It's a good reminder to always carry some cash.
Dealing with a swallowed card in Montserrat can be a hassle, for sure. When it happened to me with a local bank ATM, I just called my bank's international helpline. They told me that the local bank would likely destroy the card for security reasons. The best advice is to have a backup debit or credit card, preferably from a different bank, tucked away somewhere safe. Don’t depend on getting the card back; the process is often too complicated and takes too long.
That is a major headache, but in Montserrat, you're in luck because the banking system is straightforward. I had my card retained by a Bank of Montserrat ATM near my hotel in Brades. The fastest and easiest thing to do is to go directly into the branch during business hours. They were able to help me retrieve my card right there. You'll need to show your passport and another form of ID to prove it's yours. They don’t hold foreign cards for long, so acting quickly is key. The staff are very kind and have a system in place for these situations.