I was using an ATM near my hostel in Saint Kitts & Nevis, & 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?
This happened to me at a Republic Bank ATM in Basseterre near the ferry terminal. The machine froze and wouldn’t eject the card. When I went to the branch, they said foreign cards are not returned for security reasons. Best thing you can do is block it immediately through your bank’s app or hotline. On the islands, ATMs are limited, so when you get a replacement, stick to those inside branches or at the airport. Most shops, tours, and guesthouses prefer cash in EC dollars, so always carry some.
I lost my debit card the exact same way near a mini-mart ATM in Frigate Bay. No error, no beep, just gone. The machine didn’t even have a bank name on it-so I was out of luck. Called my bank back home, cancelled the card, and had them FedEx me a replacement to my guesthouse. Took five days. Now I only use ATMs at actual bank branches during working hours. Lesson learned the hard way.
Card got stuck in a Scotiabank ATM in Nevis after hours. Called the bank’s number (on the ATM), they logged the issue. Went in the next day with ID and got it back in 10 minutes. Key thing is: only use ATMs attached to bank branches during open hours-way easier to solve problems. For standalone ATMs, contact your bank right away and block the card.
Had my Mastercard eaten by a CIBC FirstCaribbean machine in Basseterre. No error, just blinked and kept it. I called the number posted on the ATM (definitely write that down beforehand!) and they told me to come to the branch with ID. Got it back the same day. They only open weekdays, so if it happens on a weekend, you’re waiting till Monday. Carry a backup card, always.
Same thing happened to me at a Scotiabank ATM near Port Zante. No message, just swallowed the card and went silent. I panicked, but a local told me to head to the branch the next morning. Brought my passport and they returned it after checking logs. So yeah, don’t leave it-go to the bank as soon as they open, with ID. If it’s a standalone machine, you're probably better off calling your home bank and blocking the card.