I was using an ATM near my hostel in Turks and Caicos Islands, 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’ve seen this happen a few times. If the card was taken by an ATM not attached to a branch, you’re probably out of luck. Even if it’s from a major bank, local policy is usually to destroy foreign-issued cards, even if found. If it’s Scotiabank or CIBC, call their Providenciales branches and file an incident report, but act fast - they do daily cleanouts. Always safer to withdraw during bank hours at indoor ATMs. And yeah - bring a backup next time.
Yeah, ATMs here can be flaky. Mine got taken in a little strip mall outside Providenciales and I had no clue what to do. Locals told me to forget about getting it back - if it’s a foreign card, it’s gone. I had to use Western Union for a quick cash top-up while waiting for a replacement. So if you're here now, freeze the card and have your bank ship another to your guesthouse or hotel. Painful lesson, but I won’t travel with one card again.
Had my Monzo card eaten by a Butterfield Bank ATM outside a grocery store near Leeward Highway. No beeps, no alert - it just didn’t come out. Called the number on the ATM and they told me they couldn’t confirm anything until the next business day. Even then, they said they don’t return international cards. It’s a frustrating policy but not uncommon here. Always travel with a second card, and use ATMs inside banks when possible - they’re safer.
That exact thing happened to me at a Scotiabank ATM in Grace Bay. No error, just swallowed my Wise card and shut down. I walked into the branch the next morning, and they said they could retrieve it after their daily check - but because it was a foreign card, they refused to return it. Said it would be destroyed for security reasons. Your best bet is to block the card immediately through your bank and switch to a backup if you’ve got one.