Losing a credit card in the ATM machine in Bangkok – or anywhere in Thailand – is a very common experience that happens to dozens of people each day in the country. There is a big problem with the ATM machines in Thailand as you can see at that link.
Over 20+ years we have also lost a couple of bank cards to the ATMs in Thailand – in Krabi, Samui, and Phuket. We don’t spend much time in Bangkok, but we’d surely have lost them there too if we did! It’s a problem that is going to happen to you if you stay long-term. The machines are typically out of order and just eating bank cards all day.
Ideally, when you arrive in Thailand use the ATMs at the Airport and withdraw enough cash for most of your vacation. This way you won’t have to rely on other ATMs working, AND you won’t keep paying withdrawal fees that can quickly add up for international transactions.
Here is a short story about a guy from Australia who lost his card, then another card in the same ATM bank machine in Bangkok, Thailand.
The ATM Ate My Card!
John had always been the kind of person who loved to explore the world, so when he finally got some time off from his demanding job in Adelaide, he decided to take a well-deserved vacation to Bangkok, Thailand. Bangkok was a city he had always wanted to visit – the culture, the food, and the vibrant life of the city drew him in. He planned out his trip with every detail, making sure to include visits to the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, and of course, some time at the city’s famous malls.
On his third day in Bangkok, after spending the morning exploring the temples, John found himself at one of the city’s massive malls – the kind that seemed to stretch on for miles with hundreds of shops, restaurants, and entertainment options. One of the Central Malls scattered around the city.
The sheer scale of it all was both overwhelming and exhilarating. After a few hours of wandering through the various levels, John decided to stop for lunch at a cozy little cafe he found tucked away on one of the upper floors.
As he sat down and ordered a plate of pad Thai and an iced coffee, he realized he was running low on cash. No problem, he thought. There were ATMs everywhere in the mall. He knew the bank that offered the best conversion rate for his Australian dollars because of good planning.
After finishing his meal, he located one of the ATM machines just outside the cafe. The machine was built into the wall, sleek and modern, with several people using it before him. He took out his Australian bank card, inserted it into the slot, and waited for the familiar prompts to appear on the screen.
Instead, the screen flickered strangely, and an error message in Thai appeared, followed by an English translation: “Your card cannot be processed at this time.” Confused, John tried to cancel the transaction, and get his bank card back, but the screen had frozen. He waited, hoping the machine would return his card, but instead, it sucked his card in deeper and then went completely blank.
John’s heart sank. He frantically pressed buttons, but nothing happened. The machine was unresponsive. A pit started to form in his stomach as he realized that the ATM had just eaten his card. He looked around for help, but the mall was bustling with people who were all too busy with their own lives to notice his plight.
Wait! The machine was rebooting! He waited patiently.
Panicking slightly, John tried to stay calm. He had another bank card – surely that would work since the ATM rebooted itself!
He decided to use the same machine again, figuring that maybe it was just a temporary glitch. He inserted his second card, hoping for a better outcome. But to his dismay, the same thing happened. The screen flickered, displayed the error message, and then sucked in his second card, leaving him with no way to get it back.
“THE ATM SUCKED UP MY CARDS!” he yelled. People looked briefly and realized what a frustrating thing it was to experience and left him to himself. There really was no way to get the cards back. The company who runs the machines needs to come and collect the cards. They usually just destroy them.
John stood there in disbelief. How could this be happening? He was thousands of miles from home, in a foreign country, with no access to his money. The reality of his situation began to set in, and frustration bubbled up inside him. He couldn’t believe he had just lost both of his bank cards in the span of five minutes.
Desperate, he searched for any information on the ATM itself that might indicate who to contact for assistance. After a few minutes of scrutinizing the machine, he found a small plaque with a phone number for customer service. He quickly dialed the number, hoping to get someone on the line who could help him retrieve his cards.
A robotic voice answered first, directing him through a maze of options before he was finally connected to a real person. The customer service representative spoke in broken English, and the conversation was difficult as John tried to explain his predicament. The representative informed him that they would need to send a technician to the mall to retrieve the cards, but it could take a few days due to the weekend.
John’s frustration grew as he realized that waiting for the technician wasn’t an option. He needed cash immediately – he still had several days left in his trip, and he didn’t want to be stuck in Bangkok with no way to pay for anything. He tried pleading with the representative, but the response was the same. He would have to wait.
Feeling defeated, John hung up the phone and stood in the middle of the crowded mall, unsure of what to do next. The sounds of people chatting, the clinking of dishes from nearby restaurants, and the distant hum of music from the shops all faded into the background as he tried to think.
He considered going to a bank branch, but it was already late in the afternoon, and he wasn’t sure if they would be open, or if they would even be able to help him without the cards. As the frustration built up, he realized he had no other choice but to contact his family back in Adelaide.
He pulled out his phone and dialed his brother, hoping he would be available. After a few rings, his brother answered, sounding surprised to hear from him. John quickly explained what had happened, trying to keep his voice steady as he recounted the disaster with the ATM. His brother listened patiently, and after a few moments of silence, he suggested the only solution they could think of – sending money through Western Union.
John sighed, knowing it was probably the best option, but feeling embarrassed that he had to rely on his family to bail him out. His brother reassured him that it wasn’t a big deal and promised to send the money right away. They agreed on a Western Union location near the mall, and after a few more minutes of conversation, John hung up the phone.
He felt a mix of relief and frustration. The situation was far from ideal, the fees with Western Union were ridiculous, but at least he would have cash soon. John walked to the nearest Western Union office, which thankfully was not too far away. The minutes dragged on as he waited in the lobby, occasionally glancing at his phone for updates from his brother.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, John received a message confirming that the money had been sent. He approached the counter, presented his ID and the control number, and was eventually handed a stack of 90,000+ Thai baht. The relief was overwhelming – he finally had the cash he needed to continue his trip.
As he left the Western Union office and headed back into the mall, John couldn’t help but feel a sense of triumph mixed with lingering frustration. The ordeal had been a nightmare, but it was over. He vowed to be more cautious with ATMs in the future and decided to focus on enjoying the rest of his time in Bangkok, even if it meant being a little more careful with his money.
The experience left a mark on him, a story he would tell for years to come – about that time in Bangkok when he lost not one but two bank cards to a rogue ATM, and how a little help from family and a lot of patience got him through it.
***
John was lucky to have someone back home who could help so quickly. Do YOU have a person like that? Would you know what to do? It’s better to have a plan in place for contingencies like this, they happen often. I’ve seen foreigners asking for a couple of hundred baht for lunch at a mall because they had no access to their money.
If you lose your phone and wallet at the same time, think about how bad the situation would be!
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