Bank ATM Issues in Spain

Acraven,

So sorry that happened to you...
It's a good thing you were able to get your card back.

Just wondering... Why would you make several small withdrawals?
Since my bank charges $5/ transaction, I always make fewer but larger withdrawals during my trips.

Enjoy the rest of your trip! :-)

Acraven,
You were lucky (and smart) that the second transaction took care of the problem...good thinking.

Priscilla, there are certain types of bank accounts at certain banks that do not charge any foreign transaction fees, provided the customer uses an ATM that is in the overall network in which the bank participates, such as VISA, Plus, etc. Granted, those type accounts are not common, but wonderful when that benefit is included. Often they are relationship-based accounts, and that benefit is usually not even listed in printed or on-line account features. One may have to inquire.

But, yes, I would do fewer withdrawals, just to limit functional problems at ATMs (and as was just underscored above, use only those attached to banks, or better yet within the lobby, during business hours, if at all possible).

Neither Capital One nor my credit union charges for ATM withdrawals, and having been pickpocketed last year on a day when I had made a sizable withdrawal, I'm now being more cautious. I charge everything I can to get airline miles, and I mostly just need cash for cheap bus tickets and grab-and-go food. Sometimes 40 euros lasts 3 days. Sometimes it doesn't.

Another issue, not insignificant, is that stores and cafes do not like making change for large bills when uou make a small purchase. Withdraw 50 euros or more in Spain and the ATM will likely spit out a 50-euro note that is difficult to use on small purchases, which are--as noted above--about the only ones I do not charge. Last year (not in Spain) I received a 100-euro note from an ATM. Very frustrating.

Acraven,
Thanks for your explanation. It makes perfect sense not to want to carry large amounts of cash, especially after the misfortune
you experienced.

Many years ago, when visiting Florence, I decided to go to the ATM at dusk, because I'd realized that I didn't have enough cash to pay for our hotel the following morning (cash only). The second the ATM delivered the cash, I was surrounded by a group of about 5-6 children, who started begging as they continued to follow me. Fortunately, they did not take my money because I ran back to the hotel which was about a block and a half away.
After this incident, I decided to only use bank ATMs & only during business hours.
I also prefer banks which have ATM's inside.

You're smart to use your credit card for most of your purchases in order to get miles! ;-)

There are also regular old credit union accounts that charge nothing (0%) for using their ATM cards abroad - no special, high-level, secret status needed and you don't have to use any particular network or partner bank. Shop around for a better deal.

acraven, is it possible that the machine just sucked your card back because you were slow in taking it after the first transactions. Most ATMs are designed to taken the card back if it is not withdrawn quickly - maybe 15, 20 seconds. Maybe you were slightly distracted putting your money away, etc., didn't notice that the card have been ejected, and it was pulled back in. I have learned not to move until I have money, card, and receipt in hand.

No, I'm sure that wasn't it. I always watch the card slot since some machines return the card first, and I want to get my hands on that card and put it away. The card's worth more to me than my usual 40-euro withdrawal.

Could there have been skimmers inserted into these machines?
Thank you for the warning.

I looked after the second problem occurred, and I didn't see anything unusual about the machine. It felt to me like a hardware malfunction, but I'm no engineer.

I just did a quick Google check and found a number of 2015 reports on TripAdvisor about a Bankia machine at Madrid-Atocha that ate a bunch of credit cards. It sounded as if those victims didn't get any money from the machine and didn't get their cards back. I was much luckier.

I suppose issues with returning cards may be more common than we know. If it happens to you just once and the card is returned when you hit the Cancel button, you might not consider it worth mentioning to anyone else. That's the way I felt until the second incident occurred.

I've generally had more trouble than usual with the ATMs here, needing to press keys more than once to get the selection to register, so perhaps the equipment is old or suffering from weather-related deterioration.

I am not certain that if it had been a Bank ATM during working hours that the people inside could have done much for you other than maybe give you a phone number to call. Most banks have an entirely different group that manages the ATMs, the tellers and personnel have no access to the ATMs.

Not entirely sure of the problem you had, but I have been at ATMs that are very slow to return the card, to the point that I thought it was not coming out...but it always did. Maybe trying to abort the transaction caused an issue.

I wondered about that, too, but the second time for sure, the screen was displaying the Welcome screen when I gave up and tried Cancel. It certainly seemed as if the ATM thought it had already ejected the card. But you're right; if--heaven forbid--it happens again, it won't hurt to wait quite awhile before I start in on recovery techniques.

If you can find a BBVA bank you can choose to get small notes.
Given a choice, I withdraw money from them so I don't end up with all 50's.
They give mostly 20's and some 50's.