It started in China.
The orchestra tour had been a whirlwind—crossing vast distances by train and bus, playing concert after concert, with barely enough time to eat, sleep, or recover before moving on to the next city. The pace was relentless, and my body finally gave in.
By the time we arrived in Wuhan, I was beyond exhausted—I was seriously ill. Fever, chills, a relentless cough, and a fatigue so deep I could hardly stand. When I tried to play at our next concert, my vision blurred, my hands trembled, and the world started spinning. I barely made it offstage before collapsing into a chair backstage.
Too sick to perform, I holed up in my hotel room, missing the rest of the China concerts. And yet, instead of sending me (and my colleagues who were also ill) home, the tour management inexplicably decided I should continue to Singapore for the final concerts with the orchestra. It made no sense—I was in no condition to play—but I had no say in the matter. So, still feverish and weak, I was bundled onto a plane and flown south.
Singapore should have been a relief—a clean, efficient city with excellent medical care. But I arrived feeling barely human, and I needed to see a doctor.
Although the orchestra gave us a daily per diem, I hadn’t yet received mine for the Singapore leg of the trip, so I had no local currency—only Chinese yuan.
At the doctor’s clinic, the receptionist informed me that, as a non-resident, I’d need to pay cash in Singapore dollars. “No problem,” I thought, “I’ll just withdraw some from an ATM.”
That’s when things went from bad to worse.
When the ATM Refuses to Cooperate
After staggering along the street to a shopping centre, the first ATM I tried simply spat my card back at me, refusing to process the transaction. Strange, but not entirely unusual when using foreign cards abroad. I tried another card. Same response.
Finding another ATM nearby, I inserted my card, entered my PIN, and requested the cash I needed for the doctor’s visit. The screen hesitated. Processing… Processing… Then an error message flashed up. My transaction couldn’t be completed.
Frustrated but determined, I pressed Cancel to retrieve my card.
Nothing happened.
I tried again.
Still nothing.
Then the screen delivered the message no traveller ever wants to see. Your card has been retained by the bank.
Panic at the ATM
I stared at the screen in disbelief, as a trickle of perspiration slid down my face. The machine had swallowed my bank card. I had no Singapore dollars, and was not prepared to risk trying to use my backup card again in case the same thing happened. Aside from that, I was feeling too unwell to think clearly.
I hovered near the ATM, unwilling to leave in case someone else tried to use the machine, and hopeful that someone might come along to help. Flagging down a passing bank employee, I was told to go inside the bank to sort it out. But I didn’t want to abandon the machine—What if my card could be retrieved? What if I left and it somehow got taken or destroyed?
Another bank employee eventually arrived to service the machine next to mine. Desperate, I explained my situation. After checking my passport (which, fortunately, I was carrying) and verifying my identity, they finally produced a key, unlocked the ATM, and handed me back my card.
By that point I was too exhausted—and unwilling—to try another ATM. I gave up on the doctor, staggered back to the hotel, and called home to book an appointment with my own doctor for the day I returned.
I later learned that I had pneumonia. No wonder I’d been struggling to walk those Singapore streets in the heat, feverish and weak.
What to Do If an ATM Eats Your Card
Having an ATM eat your card is a nightmare scenario, but it happens. Here’s what to do if it happens to you:
- Stay calm and don’t walk away immediately. Some ATMs automatically return a card after a time delay. Wait a couple of minutes to see if yours reappears.
- Check for a bank branch nearby. If the ATM is outside a bank, go inside and ask for assistance. They may be able to retrieve you card on the spot. (It’s always preferable to use an ATM inside a bank, if possible).
- Call the ATM’s bank. ATMs often display a helpline number. If the one you’re using does, call immediately and explain the situation. They may be able to unlock the machine remotely or advise on next steps. If you don’t have phone access, or don’t speak the language, see if there is someone nearby you can ask to make the call for you.
- Have a backup plan before you travel. Carry at least two different types of cards (preferably from different banks/networks) and store them separately. If one gets lost, or you forget your PIN, you won’t be left stranded.
- Set up emergency cash options. Some banks allow you to use a mobile app to withdraw cash without a card. Others offer emergency cash services through Western Union or affiliated banks.
- Always carry a small amount of cash in the local currency. Even if you think you won’t need cash, it never hurts to have a little on hand for emergencies, or for where cards are not accepted.
- If your card cannot be retrieved. Take immediate steps to notify your bank and cancel your card to avoid any unwanted or fraudulent transactions. While cancelling a card and waiting for a replacement is a great nuisance, it’s better than having your funds cleared out by a stranger.
- Carry ID when doing banking transactions. While you may not want to carry your passport around with you all the time, when you need to do banking transactions, you’ll need it (a) for over-the-counter transactions, or (b) if you have a problem.
- Purchase comprehensive travel insurance before leaving home. Contact your insurer to get emergency assistance, if it’s required. All travel insurers (in my experience) provide both local and international contact phone numbers. Keep a record of your policy number handy.
Lessons Learned
Travel is full of unexpected challenges. Getting sick in a foreign country is bad enough. Losing access to your money at the same time? That’s a whole new level of stress.
Luckily, I got my card back that day in Singapore. I also had a backup card and, travelling in a group, I would have been able to source emergency funds from our tour manager later, if necessary.
But I learned a valuable lesson that day—always have a backup way to access funds, and when you’re unwell, don’t push yourself beyond your limits. That day, I should have asked my tour manager for help instead of trying to cope with everything alone.
Because, as independent as we may be, solo travellers don’t always have to go it alone. Sometimes, asking for help is the best thing you can do.
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