I was using an ATM near my hostel in Uruguay, 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?
Happened to me in Colonia del Sacramento - used a Banco República (BROU) machine, and it simply didn’t return my Revolut card. No error code, just blank screen. Went to the bank next morning; they were super helpful. They asked for my passport and let me fill a form. They said the machine pulls in the card after 20-30 seconds of inactivity. If it’s a bank-operated ATM, you might get it back in 1-2 days. If it’s a freestanding machine or kiosk, best to cancel and move on.
This just happened last week! My Mastercard got stuck at a RedPagos ATM in Montevideo, outside Tres Cruces terminal. It was after hours, so no help. I called the number on the back of my card (since the ATM helpline never picked up), blocked it immediately, and issued a replacement to my hostel. If it’s a BROU or Itaú ATM, visit the bank next day - but honestly, your best bet is to cancel the card ASAP and use a backup.
Lost my card in Punta del Este outside an Abitab ATM. It didn’t spit it out, and I panicked. Local staff told me ATMs auto-capture cards for security reasons after 30 seconds of inactivity, especially if there’s a network hiccup. I went to the Scotiabank branch next door, showed ID, and they said it would be destroyed for security. Lesson: always withdraw from ATMs inside a bank during business hours in Uruguay. Safer and easier to resolve things if they go wrong.
Yeah, that happened to me in Montevideo in March. ATM outside a RedBROU branch near Ciudad Vieja just ate my Visa card. No warning, just silence. I went inside the bank the next morning with my passport, explained it in broken Spanish, and they actually retrieved the card within 30 minutes. If you’re near a BROU or Itaú bank branch, go directly there with ID. Don’t waste time calling the number on the machine - it rarely connects. I now carry a backup card religiously.