Buzz
Picture Mytour's writer, Josh Ocampo, standing outside a Tokyo 7-Eleven, gripping his stomach while waiting on hold with his bank. His debit card's chip malfunctioned in the middle of his trip, leaving him unable to withdraw cash from an ATM. To make matters worse, the local clinic that could treat what Josh called 'the worst food poisoning of my life' didn’t accept credit cards.
Josh was drawn into sharing this tale after stumbling upon this Reddit post, where a user recounted how their debit card 'slipped off the back of the boat and sank into the water' during a Semester at Sea journey. The student wouldn’t be back in the U.S. for quite a while, with only brief stops at ports during the remainder of the voyage.
What should a stranded traveler do when they lose access to their cash?
Josh ended up relying on his credit card to withdraw cash from ATMs as a cash advance. When he got home, he paid off the amount from his checking account to avoid the high interest rates typically associated with cash advances. On his last day in Japan, when his credit card started malfunctioning at ATMs, another Mytour staff member helped him out with the cash he needed until they returned to the U.S.
However, not everyone is as fortunate as Josh. He had his cards available, unlike the poor Redditor whose card ended up at the bottom of the ocean.
I reached out to Brandon Neth, a credit card and travel rewards expert at FinanceBuzz, to ask for advice on how to handle this unfortunate scenario. He explained that while credit card issuers can typically ship a replacement card overnight if you're in a pinch, that's often not the case for debit cards, particularly when traveling abroad.
The best solution for a missing debit card might already be in your pocket: your phone. However, it's important to test this option before you hit the road.
“Debit cards can be added to certain digital wallets,” he said. “Be sure to check with your bank or mobile provider before your trip. If it's compatible, activate this feature and test it to ensure it works, giving you a backup plan while abroad.”
He also suggested using a money transfer service like Western Union to get funds sent to you. You might be able to log into your bank account to initiate a transfer to yourself, or have your bank’s customer service assist you in arranging a transfer over the phone. “Although this may not be the most cost-effective option and requires carrying cash, it will definitely help you out of a tight situation,” he said.
Some Reddit users recommended asking a friend to withdraw money from an ATM and transfer the amount to them through services like Venmo or other peer-to-peer platforms.
No matter what method you choose, be sure to report your lost card to your bank as soon as possible, even if you believe it’s safely out of the hands of fraudsters at the bottom of the ocean.
