Losing your bank card, while on holiday in Bali really sucks. I’ve seen people in the internet cafe, frantically making calls home to Australia (‘Mum, I’ve lost me bleedin’ card, have no ideeea what happened to it’). Same thing happened to me a month ago.
My bank is Washington Mutual, and like all those Aussie mates of yesteryear, I had no idea where my card ended up. The likelihood is I left it in the ATM machine I last used. Here’s what I did after that.
1. Go home. Search all likely places.
2. Once I had confirmed it was ‘lost’, I cancelled it online.
3. After cancelling it online, I immediately ordered a new one.
4. Wait for it to arrive.
My bank said it would take 5-7 working days to issue a new one. Then they had to mail it to my office, which then sent to me in Bali. Not a short process at all. During the time I had no card, I was unable to pay my pembantu, wife (plane ticket, spending money), motorbike, phone, internet connection and other things. Fortunately I had 2 things on my side. Firstly, Indonesians can be money grabbers, but if you can convince them you actually have no money, they leave you alone. I just told everyone who I owed money to, that I had none. Secondly, there are a few people in Bali, who like me enough to lend me money. I hit a couple of them up, and that got me through the drought.
My card arrived by mail from the US, a month later, a week after it was sent! I would never recommend sending anything important, to Indonesia by mail, but miraculously, it got through.
Everyone knows over here, that if you lose your cell phone, someone will grab it and change the SIM card. They also know that at ATM machines, if you lose your card, and it has a VISA or MC sign as mine did, the likelihood is someone will try to use it. Cancel the thing ASAP and call yo momma.
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{ 4 comments }
The ATM in Indonesia can be a tricky beast. It will allow you to take your money before removing your card. It can be a awkward situation to not be able to pay your hotel bill just before heading to the airport to fly out!
Hi there Nick,im sure the the sexy dancer a with the tongue at the Galaxy would have lent you some money, Best to you and the family mate,Wayan going great and says hi also, Cheers, Ray.
Your connections with hostels to stay at in Bali is a winner.
Some of those places look so nice, I’m going to have to try at least two of them.
cheers,
Adrian
Yeah, same thing happen to me twice in one week whilst in Bali, but luckily, the atm sucked my card back into it. All I had to do was go to the bank and get them to retrieve it for me! Embarrasing though when it is the same person who hands it back to you twice! I was lucky though….!
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