Clare vs. The ATM card: losing the battle, and the war

Those of you who have been following my blog from the beginning may well remember the Great ATM Card Debacles of 2011. In my first semester here I lost my ATM card. Twice. To be fair, one time it wasn't lost, but rather eaten by the machine when I could not remember the PIN. I've had an ATM card (and sometimes in more than one country) since the late 90's and I'd never lost one before I came here. In a cash based society, losing your ATM card is fatal. It took me several tries to get it all sorted when I did it the first few times, and the lady at the bank branch definitely scolded me the second time, seeing as it was only a month or so later. 

It's been nearly two years since I lost my card. I was feeling so proud of myself. 22 months, and luck ran out. Pride cometh before the fall. 

The root of the problem is that the very last thing the ATM does is return your card, so it takes a great deal of concentration to not walk away without it. The first time I lost it, I had been talking to a friend while getting cash. Never again have I talked and used the ATM at the same time. This past Friday after school, I need a massage. I'd been in moderate to severe pain all day due to muscle tension (too much tension to feel the pinched nerve underneath it) and ended the day with a stressful meeting that made me want to pull my hair out. Or someone else's. I needed cash for the massage so I stopped at the ATM in that frazzled state. Mistake. 

Saturday morning I got ready to leave for a friend's house and discovered the card was gone. Checked for card activity: none. Called to cancel the card. I'm a pro at this now. In theory it's actually quite easy to get a new card, except you need your passport, and our school keeps ours, so mine wasn't accessible until today. Friends loaned me cash for the weekend and I was not stressing out. At least, not too much. 

There are two types of bank branch- main branches and branches inside malls. The main branches are open from 8:00-3:30. Seriously, who set banking hours? So I go to the mall branches. Today after school my passport and I were off to the bank. I wasn't in a rush so I took the bus, walking in the heat to the bus stop, riding on a bus with no AC, then walking to the bank. I waited in line for an bit and then signed the million forms for a new card. Paperwork set. And then she got out the new card. It has a special chip in it, she told me. New security feature. Cannot be used at any other bank besides Bangkok Bank. Uh-oh. I use mine on the islands, at other banks when the BKK ATM at my apartment runs out of cash, and perhaps most importantly, in foreign countries. No can do lady. Except they don't have regular cards at the mall branch. I was unclear on whether this was just because they were out or because they don't issue them. Cannot madam, cannot, was about all I got. She told me I had to go to a main branch if I wanted a regular card. Tomorrow. Between 8-3:30. 

If I rush right after school, and probably take a taxi instead of a bus, and cancel the students coming in for help, then I can make it. But I was already there today, hot, sweaty, and tired. With a flight I need to book online ASAP. And a race I need to register for as well. I know it sounds trivial, but I wanted to cry. I kinda wanted to punch her in the face too, even though it really wasn't her fault. 

I was reminded a few weeks ago that these frustrations are not limited to Thailand. It's just as bad trying to get things done in Argentina, or with most US government agencies (Secretary of State or DMV anyone?). It's 100 times worse in Brazil, or so says my friend who lives and blogs from there (incidentally her stories confirm to me that I will never live in Brazil). But I guess the thing is, when it happens in the US I can at least communicate clearly, and maybe even tell them how ridiculous I think it is. 

So tomorrow I will make attempt number two. And maybe, just maybe, I will emerge with a card that will allow me to get some baht. I also plan to hide some cash in my house for the next time this happens. I hide dollars for if/when disaster strikes and I need tradable currency on hand (perhaps I've lived in Argentina too long) and now I think I'll add baht to the collection. Not for disasters so much as for my own stupidity.