I was using an ATM near my hostel in Laos, & 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?
I had my Revolut Mastercard taken by a Lao-Viet Bank ATM in Vientiane late at night. By the time I went to the branch the next day, they told me foreign cards were destroyed immediately for security. I had to cancel it and switch to my Monzo backup. Laos is very cash-reliant, so I was glad I had dollars and kip with me. Lesson learned: only use BCEL ATMs during business hours, and never depend on one card here.
My Wise Visa was swallowed by a BCEL ATM in Luang Prabang. I went to the branch the next morning, and they returned it after checking my ID. The staff were friendly, spoke some English, and explained that the ATM sometimes retains cards when the chip reader fails. It was stressful but ended well. If you use ATMs near big branches in Vientiane or Luang Prabang, recovery is usually possible. I’d avoid using isolated machines in rural towns.
Yes, mine was swallowed at a BCEL ATM in Vientiane near the night market. The bank staff told me it would be destroyed. In Laos, you rarely get foreign cards back. Cancel it right away and use a backup. Stick to BCEL, Lao Development Bank, or ANZ ATMs in Vientiane or Luang Prabang. Always carry kip in cash - guesthouses, tuk-tuks, and street vendors are cash-only.
ATM wasnt working at all when we tried. Better have a backup option.
LDB ATM swallowed my card. Total nightmare!
Used an ATM at Laoviet Bank and later found out my card info had been stolen. Avoid at all costs!
Didnt work at all! Just displayed an error. Very frustrating.