Imagine going to an ATM to take out some cash, you slide in your card, type your PIN, and… surprise! Your card got stuck in the machine. The screen is frozen and it seems the ATM stopped working. What would be the best thing to do in this situation? In case you don’t know. we got you covered.
When an ATM doesn’t give your card back, it doesn’t mean you’ve lost all your money (it’s not a trap). So, stay calm because your account is still there and your money is safe. The most important thing is to know what to do, so let’s find out.
Why do cards get stuck in ATMs?
Before you think it’s your fault, let me tell you it’s not. These machines can keep your card for many reasons:
- You entered the wrong PIN too many times.
- Your card is expired or damaged.
- The bank detected suspicious activity on your account.
- The ATM glitched or restarted while you were using it.
Careful! It rarely happens, but criminals put fake devices on ATMs to trap cards. That’s why you should always take a quick look at the card slot before using any machine.
The first thing you should do
If you notice your card is stuck in the ATM, don’t run away! Wait a second because sometimes, after a few minutes or when the machine resets, the machine will give you your card back. If the screen goes black or flickers, wait about 15 minutes before leaving.
In the meantime, write down some data: where’s the ATM, the exact time, which bank it belongs to, and any message that appears on the screen. This will be very helpful when you talk to your bank about what happened.
A classic
I warn you this option doesn’t always work, but it’s worth it when you are desperate: press the ‘’cancel’’ button several times. Sometimes the system releases the card this way. I mean, you have nothing to lose and if it works you can save time and it’s safe.
Call your bank
If the classic option doesn’t work or you see that the card is not going to leave the ATM, you should call your bank immediately. This is the only one that can block your card so nobody can use it. Also, your bank is the one in charge of sending you a new card.
So, don’t waste time calling the ATM company, your bank is the only one that can help you the most.
Use your app
Today almost every bank has their own mobile apps, which allow you to temporarily freeze your card. It’s like pausing it until you decide to cancel it, this way you make sure nobody can use it even if the ATM has it.
What if you need cash?
Great question! There are some ways of withdrawing money while waiting your new card:
- Go to your bank branch with your ID and withdraw money directly.
- Some banks offer “cardless withdrawals” through their apps. You get a temporary code to use at the ATM, so you don’t even need your physical card.
What happens to your card stuck in the ATM?
In most cases, when an ATM keeps a card, it destroys it in a few hours as a safety measure. That’s why banks prefer to send a new card instead of trying to get it back. If your card had expired, the ATM might have held it on purpose. Even if it still worked at stores, the machine automatically knew it was out of date.
So remember, if this ever happens to you: stay calm, trust your bank, and keep control of your account.