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ATM ate debit card

So after multiple trips to Europe (and else where), an ATM ate our Capital One debit card today in Amboise France. Thought our experience might help others.

We used a bank ATM inside secure vestibule. Inserted husbands debit card. Nothing came up on the screen for either PIN or withdrawal options. Tried canceling, but nothing. We took pictures of the Bank Name, phone #, hours, street address etc. Then we Called Capital One, and first person I spoke with said to call the French Bank. I asked how that would work if I did not speak French. Had a very dificult time understanding this person, foreign accent. Then he said he could lock our account. Since its a joint account, our conversation went round and round asking if I would still be able to use my card if the account was locked. Finally gave up and said I woukd try to call bank first.

Called both French bank numbers and of course hear a recording in French. The picture of the bank info also said bank is closed on Monday (tomorrow) open on Tuesday. We are leaving here tomorrow morning, so no way to recover card from bank.
When I called Capital One back, the next person was understandable and more helpful. We locked my husbands card, and she assured me my card would still work. But Capital One will not send a replacement card outside of the US. In theory my CO card should work, and we have 2 Debit cards to access a different bank account. But I was surprised That Capital One would not send replacement out of US. Since we are living in Italy now, not a simple or cheap way to get the card sent to us.

Just another good reason to travel more than one debit card.

Posted by
8889 posts

But I was surprised That Capital One would not send replacement out of US. Since we are living in Italy now,

Are you saying the address the bank has on file for you, and to which they send statements, is in Italy?
If so, that should be the address they by preference send cards to. To what address do they send new cards when your old cards expire?

I should ring your bank again, I suspect you got somebody who thought you were living in the USA.

Posted by
8312 posts

When we travel, we have two separate ATM cards (2 separate banks) and two separate credit cards as backups in case there are such problems.

Posted by
6788 posts

We always travel now with multiple ATM/Debit cards, linked to multiple banks - lately we (as a couple) each carry two, so we typically have 4 cards between us, each connected to a different account...that should cover it.

I'm not surprised that a bank would not send a card to you overseas. That bit about "we are living in Italy now" sure could complicate things.

Capitol One has always given me the impression that they are a scammy, deceptive company that caters to the low end and relies on low-information customers (their TV commercials sure suggest that to me).

Good luck on Tuesday!

Posted by
7763 posts

Karen, thank you for sharing your experience. ATM transactions were my only worry when I was traveling solo in September. Each time I had a successful transaction, I had a sigh of relief since some ATMs weren’t handing out money, and I’m picky where I want to do a transaction on a public crowded street.

Several years ago, my husband and I had identical ATM card numbers. His card was eaten by a machine, so when he notified the bank, they also put a hold on my card. Usually not a big deal except that I was on a work trip at the time (and playing in Disneyland in the evenings). We always make sure that our card numbers are distinct now, so the bank won’t put a hold on both of them if it happened again.

Posted by
21098 posts

Capitol One has always given me the impression that they are a scammy, deceptive company that caters to the low end and relies on low-information customers (their TV commercials sure suggest that to me).

Geez. Just because they hire Hollywood actors as spokespersons does not mean they are deceptive and scammy. I have always found Capital One to be highly customer oriented and provide excellent service. But maybe sending a card outside of the US trips a few "scam" triggers. Does the OP still use their US address of record? Is the OP an Italian resident or just temporarily domiciled in Italy?

Wells Fargo, Morgan/Chase, Citibank, or Bank of America, on the other hand, I have always found scammy due to their charging excessive fees for just about any services they provide. Wells Fargo was especially scammy, thus their new slogan, "Established 1852, Re-established 2018".

Posted by
11841 posts

Several years back when my Capital One Mastercard ( credit card) went missing they sent me a new card to the hotel I was at (Rome) by 2nd day delivery service. ($0. cost )

Leaves me to wonder if there is a different standard for debit vs. credit cards or has the passage of time brought new procedures.

Good point made of having more than one way to get one's money.

Posted by
3272 posts

Having problems communicating with a customer service associate on the phone? Find them difficult to understand? Feel they do not fully understand your problem? ALWAYS ask for a supervisor. Take it up the chain as far as you have to.

It might not solve every problem, but it’ll solve many.

Posted by
27928 posts

I had exactly the same problem at a French ATM (in Lyon) last year. I was lucky that it was within banking hours and I was able to retrieve the card right away. I confess that I do not always plan ahead well enough to stick to the banking-hours-only rule, but I do make much more effort to do so after that experience, plus two I had in Spain in 2016.

The Spanish incidents both occurred in Salamanca but at different ATMs. My money was delivered but my card wasn't returned. In one case, pressing the "Cancel" button worked. The second time around, that was ineffective. I paused for a few seconds and figured I didn't have anything to lose by trying another transaction. The ATM was displaying the "Welcome" screen. So I asked for another 40 euros and got both the money and my card. Whew. I offer this information for the benefit of others.

I have a long, sad history of leaving a trail of credit cards behind me, plus I was pickpocketed once, losing both an ATM card and a credit card. I travel with two ATM cards and didn't have a fixed itinerary with all future hotels booked, so I opted not to try to get a replacement for the stolen ATM card following the 2015 pickpocketing.

I did request a replacement for a lost credit card (United Mileage Plus--I wanted my miles) during a trip to Spain. I happened to be returning to the same hotel about 2 weeks later, so it was easy to speak to the desk staffer and arrange to have mail held for me. That particular card issuer was willing to mail a replacement card to Europe but said it would take about 2 weeks. I know some issuers will get replacements to you much faster. I now have a second airline card (different airline) in case the United card goes astray again.

I am happy to report that I lost no cards on my most recent trip, so maybe I'm getting smarter. Or at least less careless.

Posted by
2787 posts

In 16 trips to Europe in the last 18 years, we, too, do as David does.

Posted by
1600 posts

Over the last 20 years of traveling the world, I have had my ATM card eaten 3 times - at the airport in Istanbul, Turkey, at a bank in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and just this summer at the airport in Odessa, Ukraine. Best to have a back up. These days it is easy to just call the bank and quickly cancel the card.

Posted by
3456 posts

I've never tried it, but occasionally I go to the teller to take money out using my debit card at home, instead of the ATM machine.
I'm wondering if that would work in a foreign bank?
I've only done it in my own bank, ie: Bank A; not a different bank ie: Bank B; if you understand me.
I too am always leery of overseas ATM's; and always use ones inside a bank if possible, and when it's open.
Though in this OP's case, that 's not always safe either!

Posted by
6788 posts

occasionally I go to the teller to take money out using my debit card at home, instead of the ATM machine. I'm wondering if that would work in a foreign bank?

I'm quite sure the response would be the teller saying no, being perplexed by your request, and pointing to the ATM machine.

Posted by
23604 posts

It is like all aspects of travel -- need back up plans to deal with the unexpected. We carry basically three debit cards and four credit cards all with associated pins. To keep things straight we encode our pin numbers on the cards. NOW -- having done all of that we have never had a problem -- knock on wood (for whatever value that has). We have had cards rejected but never eaten but there is always the next trip. Good luck.

Posted by
3522 posts

occasionally I go to the teller to take money out using my debit card at home, instead of the ATM machine. I'm wondering if that would work in a foreign bank?

There is a fee for that over and above what you pay to get money from an ATM unless you do it at your bank that issued the card. It is treated as a cash advance even though this is not a credit card.

But as others have mentioned, it would be nearly impossible to find a bank in Europe that would be willing to do that. They don't do much of anything for you any more unless you have an account with them.

Posted by
381 posts

We recently lost three credit cards in a robbery in Spain, and both Chase and American Express were willing to send replacement cards to Europe for us. Capital One would not.

American Express took an extra step and verified with our upcoming hotel that we indeed had a reservation there before sending the cards. Chase didn't do this.

However, our Chase cards arrived on schedule and the Amex cards didn't - we think it was an error on the part of DHL.

Posted by
12313 posts

I have two checking accounts with the same bank (I call them the old account and the new account). I have a debit for both and bring both on vacations. If a card is lost or stolen, I can move funds to the other account online and use the other debit card. I did get an error on one card recently, I think the chip may have had an imperceptible crack, that required using my back up card. Once upon a time, you had to let the banks know you were traveling. Now, with the embedded chip, cards aren't easily faked so they no longer need to know your travel plans.

In my experience as a banker, the bank always wants to send a replacement card to their address of record for you. They have gotten themselves in trouble too many times trying to be overly helpful and ended up sending cards to thieves (who then clean out your account). I expect every customer service person has had it drilled into their head that the card can only go to your address of record. It's not completely true, but you need to talk to someone higher up the food chain who can make a decision. These days most bankers aren't allowed to make many decisions so it may be hard to find someone who can.

Posted by
3100 posts

Here is a cautionary tale. In Romania, I stopped at the airport to get some lei, and put my card in. I did not get the card back. We did a variety of things, but could not get the card back.

Well, to my embarrassment, I found that I had gotten the card back and put it in my wallet.

So, before getting concerned, check your wallet and pockets. Sometimes when you go into "automatic mode", you put it away. It was my fault, not the bank's.

Posted by
1639 posts

Chris F
Our permanent and mailing address is in the US. We are living in Italy for a year or so, but were travelling in France. But someone else confirmed that CO wouldnt send to outside the US.

Since original post we used my CO atm card and worked fine. We have another account with 2 ATMs as additional backup.

For future we will add the “during bank hours” to our ATM rules.

Posted by
27928 posts

Paul otFN, exactly the same thing happened to me in my own credit union--so no "I was jetlagged" excuse!

Posted by
14915 posts

Only one time I had a bank "eat" my plastic...a credit card. That was in LA near Little Tokyo 15 yrs ago. It was on a Sunday, I just let it go as I did not want that card anyway. On Monday I did not bother going to the bank which was near my hotel to inquire and tell them