I was using an ATM near my hostel in Brunei, & 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, that's a bummer, but it happens. My Mastercard was eaten by a Standard Chartered ATM near my hotel at the Co.Lab. Co-working space. The key is to act fast. Note the exact time, date, and location of the ATM. There should be a phone number on the machine, but your best bet is to contact your own bank's fraud department. They'll likely block the card and issue a new one. Don't expect to get the old one back; it's a security risk. If you have a travel buddy, they can withdraw money for you while you wait for a new card.
Ugh, that's the worst feeling, especially when you're far from home. A friend of mine had her American Express card swallowed by a BIBD ATM in Bandar Seri Begawan. The thing about Brunei is that things can move a little slower, and getting a new card sent internationally can take more than a week. The best advice is to call your home bank immediately and freeze the account to prevent fraud. They will likely issue a new card for you. In the meantime, you'll have to rely on other forms of payment or withdraw cash inside a bank branch using your passport.
I've had this happen a few times now, and in Brunei, the procedure is a bit different. When it happened to me with my HSBC Visa card, I went straight to the branch attached to the ATM at The Mall in Gadong. They told me that if they had to open the machine, it would take days. The best and fastest advice I got from them was to immediately block the card through my banking app and call the HSBC international helpline. The local branch staff can't always help with foreign cards, so your own bank is your best resource.
This is a pretty common problem, actually. I had my card retained by a Baiduri Bank ATM once near the Pusat Belia hostel. First thing you need to do is not panic, and immediately call your own bank to report the card as lost or stolen. The bank operating the ATM will probably not return the physical card due to security protocols; they'll often just destroy it. You'll need to get a new one sent to you, which can be a pain on the road. The fastest resolution is usually to go into a nearby branch of the ATM's bank, explain what happened, and see if they can help you with a cash advance or temporary card, but be prepared for them to tell you they can only assist their own customers.