Ardachaidh
Full Member
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- 439
Apropos an ID thread on here I was almost stymied in Spain earlier this year when I had no ID. We had cycled to a small town to go to the weekly market and get some cash at an ATM. We parked the bikes and F went shopping while I got ready to find the bank. Before setting off I noticed she’d left her phone in a pouch on the bike where it could be seen so I took it with me.
The bank was about 5 minutes away and when I arrived there was no queue. I put my card in. Nothing happened. I gave it a small push to make sure it was properly in and it disappeared and wasn’t going to come back. I couldn’t phone F (who had more Spanish than me) as I had her phone.
Fortunately the bank was open, but there was a queue - and only 1 teller. Time seemed to stand still and I began to think the rest of my 90 days would have disappea before I got out, but eventually I was at the front of the queue and I explained what had happened as best I could. Some other customers also seemed to have problems connected with the ATM. The teller opened up the back of the thing and retrieved my card and held it in his hand. But then he wanted ID. I only had a skinny bum bag on me which held another pre-paid card - in case the first one didn’t work
. He wasn’t impressed. And wanted a passport (which I know you are supposed to carry in Spain) or driving licence, (or birth certificate or maybe my mother’s maiden name, or my memorable word). I had nothing, except an honest face.
Eventually he relented and returned the card. I hurried back to the bikes, cashless, to try again another day, in another place, where I discovered that the ATM’s have a contactless card reader. Eureka!!
The bank was about 5 minutes away and when I arrived there was no queue. I put my card in. Nothing happened. I gave it a small push to make sure it was properly in and it disappeared and wasn’t going to come back. I couldn’t phone F (who had more Spanish than me) as I had her phone.
Fortunately the bank was open, but there was a queue - and only 1 teller. Time seemed to stand still and I began to think the rest of my 90 days would have disappea before I got out, but eventually I was at the front of the queue and I explained what had happened as best I could. Some other customers also seemed to have problems connected with the ATM. The teller opened up the back of the thing and retrieved my card and held it in his hand. But then he wanted ID. I only had a skinny bum bag on me which held another pre-paid card - in case the first one didn’t work
. He wasn’t impressed. And wanted a passport (which I know you are supposed to carry in Spain) or driving licence, (or birth certificate or maybe my mother’s maiden name, or my memorable word). I had nothing, except an honest face.Eventually he relented and returned the card. I hurried back to the bikes, cashless, to try again another day, in another place, where I discovered that the ATM’s have a contactless card reader. Eureka!!