Like in the USA, in Costa Rica, chips in credit and debit cards aren't ubiquitious. This makes taking cash out of an ATM difficult for almost all Canadians traveling with their bankcard.
A couple of nights ago, just before a salsa lesson, my friend and I stopped at an ATM to grab some collones for the night. One ATM rejected my card about 6 times, and worked for everyone else there. I'm pretty sure it's because my card has a chip.
So, we went to a different ATM down the road. I was so relieved because it read my card and gave me collones; but while I put the cash in my purse, the ATM quickly slurped up my debit card (that bastard). I was upset for about 3 minutes, but then I decided to get over it and go have fun at my dance class. This has happened to me before (in Turkey), and the bank had it the next morning. I would be able to go back in the morning and get it.
The next morning I grabbed my passport, and headed over to the bank, explaining in Spanish "Ayer, en la noche, the maquina ATM come mi trajeta de dibito". The security card let me in the bank, and I got a number. When I was called, I explained my situation to the banker, and I gave him my passport. He came from the back with my card in hand, and I was so relieved.
And then the banker said apologetically "I have your card, but there is a problem".
My heart dropped a little bit, but I waited patiently for him to explain. My debit card didn't have my name inscribed on it (like most credit cards do), so there was no way that he could prove that the card was mine. And (stupid me) the signature on the back of my debit card was different than that on my passport.
I pleaded and, not on purpose, cried a little bit. My debit card was the only practical way for me to get money. (Side note: When I lost my debit card in Turkey, it was a bit of a disaster. Thank goodness for my mother who always helps me out when I find myself in trouble, because she had good intuition to Fedex me a credit card before I lost my debit card. Can I get a hell yeah for all the mama's out there?).
The banker said he would talk to his boss, after he was done his lunch, to see if they could bend the rules for me. So, I came back an hour later to hear the verdict. The banker, again very apologetically, came back to me and told me he had no choice but to destroy the card right in front of me. He said it was impossible for them to verify the via telephone, even if my bank called them to explain. They needed the inscription, and that is the only thing that would work.
Defeated, I watched the banker cut my debit card in pieces behind the glass. He asked if I wanted him to through the pieces away, but instead I kept them.
I called my bank and they said they could arrange to Fedex me a card to the school, so I'll do that this afternoon. Thank goodness I'm in one place for a month, and that I lost my card at the beginning. All's that matters is that I'm healthy and safe.
As I was sulking on the way back to the school from the bank, a friend saw me and took me out for a coffee and a piece of cake to make me feel better. I felt better immediately. And then to top it off, I saw my first sloth on my way to dinner with the great friends I've met.
C'est la vie! Es la vida!
Pura Vida.
It hasn't been all monkeys and butterflies :) Though mostly.