If the ATM swallows your card
Feb 28th 2025 | 1:32 am
#31
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 182
Re: If the ATM swallows your card
On a similar note, paid the balance on delivery of sofas using UK registered credit card using a chip and pin machine. The following day charges started appearing on the card from Just Eat and other food take aways nearby in Spain. Then several accommodation bookings in North East of England (same local group of low budget establishments).
Coincidence? Maybe, but the card hadn’t been used for months!
Coincidence? Maybe, but the card hadn’t been used for months!
Feb 28th 2025 | 4:08 am
#32
Democracy advocate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 13,313
Re: If the ATM swallows your card
Sorry, I do agree that it probably helps to have extra security cameras on the darn things even though at the end of the day I wouldn't put all my faith in an ATM simply because it's located inside a branch. A lot of the time they're just placed in some semi-entrance area as they need to be accessible 24/7 and not just during branch operating hours.
Anyway, most of the time you're tied to a particular bank and need to use their ATMs without the luxury of looking around at other financial institutions who might have placed their ATMs to your liking. Heck, where I'm at even tourists all flock to one bank's ATMs simply because they're the only ones that don't charge them a fee for withdrawals...
And speaking of payments, I cannot remember the last time I had to use a PIN. Cards are added to ApplePay and I pay with my phone. This whole PIN-pad thing or having to take out a physical card are all relics of an ancient and long-forgotten past...
Anyway, most of the time you're tied to a particular bank and need to use their ATMs without the luxury of looking around at other financial institutions who might have placed their ATMs to your liking. Heck, where I'm at even tourists all flock to one bank's ATMs simply because they're the only ones that don't charge them a fee for withdrawals...
And speaking of payments, I cannot remember the last time I had to use a PIN. Cards are added to ApplePay and I pay with my phone. This whole PIN-pad thing or having to take out a physical card are all relics of an ancient and long-forgotten past...
Feb 28th 2025 | 5:13 pm
#33
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,171
From: Dubai UK Spain
Re: If the ATM swallows your card
Feb 28th 2025 | 7:41 pm
#34
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Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,130
From: Alicante
Re: If the ATM swallows your card
For belt and braces I do keep another card hidden in my car!
BTW the Curve app gives instant notification of any spending regardless of which card is used.
Last edited by Notdunroamin; Feb 28th 2025 at 8:10 pm.
Mar 1st 2025 | 12:23 pm
#35
Last resort... format c:/
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,095
From: Singapore to Surfers Paradise to... Tenerife... to Gran Canaria!
Re: If the ATM swallows your card
Good point. In fact every bank I deal with has it deactivated by default. You actually need to make an effort to activate it and on top of that need to provide the dates during which you want the magnetic stripe to be (temporarily) active.
Mar 26th 2025 | 2:53 am
#36
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,669
From: Costa Blanca
Re: If the ATM swallows your card
Now I want to tell everyone how this episode has finally worked out - after Sabadell twice returned my money and twice Redsys (the card/ATM mgmt company) debited me, accusing me of fraud and not fulfilling the conditions of the debit card contract (by not informing them of the card being swallowed by their ATM)
today (after a lot of serious stress and worry since Feb 14th), Sabadell have finally returned my money and written me a letter confirming that I have no liability and confirming my money is returned for good.
I sincerely hope no one has this awful experience and from now on I will never use the slot in an ATM and I will always make sure I have my phone on me and be ready to block the card if something goes wrong.
By the way, Sabadell charged me 60€ but only credited 50€, but I am out of the fight now. I am seriously considering whether to continue doing business with them.
today (after a lot of serious stress and worry since Feb 14th), Sabadell have finally returned my money and written me a letter confirming that I have no liability and confirming my money is returned for good.
I sincerely hope no one has this awful experience and from now on I will never use the slot in an ATM and I will always make sure I have my phone on me and be ready to block the card if something goes wrong.
By the way, Sabadell charged me 60€ but only credited 50€, but I am out of the fight now. I am seriously considering whether to continue doing business with them.
Mar 26th 2025 | 2:56 am
#37
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,171
From: Dubai UK Spain
Re: If the ATM swallows your card
Now I want to tell everyone how this episode has finally worked out - after Sabadell twice returned my money and twice Redsys (the card/ATM mgmt company) debited me, accusing me of fraud and not fulfilling the conditions of the debit card contract (by not informing them of the card being swallowed by their ATM)
today (after a lot of serious stress and worry since Feb 14th), Sabadell have finally returned my money and written me a letter confirming that I have no liability and confirming my money is returned for good.
I sincerely hope no one has this awful experience and from now on I will never use the slot in an ATM and I will always make sure I have my phone on me and be ready to block the card if something goes wrong.
By the way, Sabadell charged me 60€ but only credited 50€, but I am out of the fight now. I am seriously considering whether to continue doing business with them.
today (after a lot of serious stress and worry since Feb 14th), Sabadell have finally returned my money and written me a letter confirming that I have no liability and confirming my money is returned for good.
I sincerely hope no one has this awful experience and from now on I will never use the slot in an ATM and I will always make sure I have my phone on me and be ready to block the card if something goes wrong.
By the way, Sabadell charged me 60€ but only credited 50€, but I am out of the fight now. I am seriously considering whether to continue doing business with them.
For a variety of recent reasons Im midway moving my Spanish banking to Caixa ! Im not holding my breath that they will be much better but live in hope !
Mar 26th 2025 | 3:01 am
#38
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,669
From: Costa Blanca
Re: If the ATM swallows your card
It really has been - to be accused of fraud I found sickening and I was prepared to go to court to defend my name and reputation.
Please everyone take precautions and be prepared to act if you have a similar incident.
By the way - O2 were excellent - I asked them to provide my call records to prove to sabadell that I had called them to report the problem and O2 were excellent - responded the same day.
Please everyone take precautions and be prepared to act if you have a similar incident.
By the way - O2 were excellent - I asked them to provide my call records to prove to sabadell that I had called them to report the problem and O2 were excellent - responded the same day.
Mar 26th 2025 | 10:49 am
#39
Last resort... format c:/
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,095
From: Singapore to Surfers Paradise to... Tenerife... to Gran Canaria!
Re: If the ATM swallows your card
I still find it frightening that fraud was committed on your card... whilst it was in the bank's possession, having been swallowed up by the ATM.
Mar 26th 2025 | 7:58 pm
#40
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From: Costa Blanca
Re: If the ATM swallows your card
They (persons unknown) withdrew 400€ and 100€ and made 2 purchases totalling 1700€ in all.
I was thinking (I have done a lot) being able (ok depends on card limits and funds) to make 'unlimited' purchases with just the PIN (which they had via the scam device fitted to the ATM) in a shop is ridiculous - if you shop online you need to enter verification codes via the app which comes into play during the purchase transaction which provides security - maybe we should show ID for transactions above 50€ to prove we are the card owner.
Of course they only had a small window of time before I blocked the card but they were obviously highly organised and acted with incredible speed to make all of these fraudulent transactions.
I was thinking (I have done a lot) being able (ok depends on card limits and funds) to make 'unlimited' purchases with just the PIN (which they had via the scam device fitted to the ATM) in a shop is ridiculous - if you shop online you need to enter verification codes via the app which comes into play during the purchase transaction which provides security - maybe we should show ID for transactions above 50€ to prove we are the card owner.
Of course they only had a small window of time before I blocked the card but they were obviously highly organised and acted with incredible speed to make all of these fraudulent transactions.
Mar 27th 2025 | 11:32 am
#42
Last resort... format c:/
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,095
From: Singapore to Surfers Paradise to... Tenerife... to Gran Canaria!
Re: If the ATM swallows your card
I saw a similar feature on an ING ATM so I assume they have this function too and that it isn't just there to serve 3rd party customers.
When you insert a card into an ATM is it always the magnetic stripe that is used or the chip?
When you insert a card into an ATM is it always the magnetic stripe that is used or the chip?
Mar 27th 2025 | 7:40 pm
#43
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 6,172
Re: If the ATM swallows your card
Cajamar have this I think most of not all will these days as that is how you use a phone to withdraw money from an ATM.
Mar 27th 2025 | 7:53 pm
#44
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From: Costa Blanca
Re: If the ATM swallows your card
Funny you mention Caixa - I stopped to look at one of their ATMs in the centre of Alicante yesterday - and yes they did look a lot more modern compared to Sabadell.
I have never heard or thought of using a phone to withdraw money from an ATM.
I repeat to all of you - if your card is retained by the ATM you must contact the bank and get it blocked immediately - you cannot assume it is 'safe' inside the machine and the same applies if the card is out of your possession for any reason.
I have never heard or thought of using a phone to withdraw money from an ATM.
I repeat to all of you - if your card is retained by the ATM you must contact the bank and get it blocked immediately - you cannot assume it is 'safe' inside the machine and the same applies if the card is out of your possession for any reason.
Mar 27th 2025 | 9:18 pm
#45
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Re: If the ATM swallows your card
Last edited by bobd22; Mar 27th 2025 at 9:22 pm.
