You wouldn’t believe what happened to me today, so I have to tell you the story because it’s absolutely true.

I need to back up a couple of days when, before breakfast, I went to the ATM to get cash and left my debit card in the machine. OK, that part was my fault and I will definitely be more mindful in future. Anyway, I went back to the bank after breakfast, and lo and behold they had the card! It was under lock and key and I got it back with no trouble — I was so relieved I flung my arms round the woman’s neck to thank her!

The withdrawal limits are low here, so I have to go to the ATM every couple of days, and I did that before breakfast this morning. My card didn’t work.

I immediately assumed my PIN had been locked, so I came home and called my account manager at my bank in Toronto. She wasn’t there, so I left a detailed message telling her what happened. I asked if she could either reinstate the card, which I now had in my hand, or alternatively transfer money from my personal to my business account so that I could access it using my business debit card, because I don’t want to use my business money for my trip.

In the meantime, I went back to the bank machine with my business debit card. It didn’t work either! Now I was really concerned, and the knot in my stomach was growing by the minute. I tried my credit card — it didn’t work either! So then I was having dire thoughts about identity theft. I went into several banks in the area round my home, with no luck on any front. Panic was really setting in now, because all the cash I had was 180 pesos, which is less than $20, and no way to get more.

My rep emailed me back and told me to call telephone banking, which I did. I was on Skype to them for over half an hour, and the guy was super helpful and empathetic towards my situation. And he said there was absolutely no reason why my card shouldn’t work. My PIN had not been locked, I had plenty of funds in the account and I wasn’t asking for nearly my daily withdrawal limit. But he did link my accounts so that I could do the transfer myself online, which I did.

So… a few minutes ago I went back to my usual bank, put in the original personal card — the one that I had left behind — and it worked! So for good measure I withdrew money using my business debit card and my credit card — and they all worked!

I think the problem was nothing to do with me, and everything to do with the banking system here. This bit is just my speculation, but there was some sort of anti-government demonstration in the area this morning and I think the banks just shut up shop till it was over!

Anyway, all is well again in my world. But it’s been a rough day, and I had no appetite for lunch. So I’m now going out to my favourite parilla (steak house) to have a nice steak with a lovely glass of Malbec — I think I deserve it, don’t you?