If you forgot your bank card in the washing machine without going through your pockets, the first question you will ask yourself is will it work now? It all depends on the type of card, the duration and intensity of the wash, and the speed of response to the problem.
Let's figure out what to do if you washed a card in an automatic machine.
Accidentally washed my bank card
Technological progress does not stand still. If earlier we mistakenly threw things with passports and driver's licenses into the wash, now we wash plastic cards, automatic car key fobs and mobile phones. And it’s not surprising - a small piece of plastic, you won’t always notice it and you’ll hardly remember it at home. Of course, a damaged card is not the biggest tragedy in life, but it does cause some inconvenience. A natural question arises: is she “alive”? And if not, what to do then?
Determining the extent of damage
If, after an accidental wash, the numbers and letters on the plate are only blurred, then it often remains suitable for further use. Serious damage to the card is considered to be a scratch anywhere on the card and on the magnetic stripe . It is recommended to check such a card for serviceability by inserting it into the terminal.
A high degree of damage to the product is indicated by the presence of scratches on its chip. There is a high probability that the card will no longer work if, after washing, its chip has melted or been erased.
If such damage is present, it is also recommended to insert plastic into the terminal. If it “reads” the Sberbank card well, allows you to enter a password and make transactions, then the product is not damaged.
Severe damage to the card is its deformation and the appearance of cracks on it . You should not try to insert such a banking product into a terminal. He may not accept the card or take it but not issue it.
What happens if you wash your bank card?
The banking industry has excellent financial opportunities to keep up with progress, and therefore most often offers us advanced technologies. This also applies to plastic cards, which contain quite resistant polyvinyl chloride. This means that it is almost impossible to lose or damage the plastic itself during the washing process. But the card is equipped with “brains” - information carriers in the form of a magnetic tape or a chip (often combined: tape + chip). And it is precisely this information carrier that is the weak link of any card - high temperatures, sharp objects and a humid environment can cause irreparable damage to it.
Determining the extent of damage
If, after an accidental wash, the numbers and letters on the plate are only blurred, then it often remains suitable for further use. Serious damage to the card is considered to be a scratch anywhere on the card and on the magnetic stripe . It is recommended to check such a card for serviceability by inserting it into the terminal.
A high degree of damage to the product is indicated by the presence of scratches on its chip. There is a high probability that the card will no longer work if, after washing, its chip has melted or been erased.
If such damage is present, it is also recommended to insert plastic into the terminal. If it “reads” the Sberbank card well, allows you to enter a password and make transactions, then the product is not damaged.
Severe damage to the card is its deformation and the appearance of cracks on it . You should not try to insert such a banking product into a terminal. He may not accept the card or take it but not issue it.
If you wash a bank card, what happens to it?
Since it is unlikely that anything can happen to the plastic itself, we will consider in more detail the effect of washing on a poorly protected storage medium, based on its type:
- Magnetic tape. The main enemy of information integrity is a magnet, high temperatures and sharp objects. There is no magnet in the washing machine, the main washing temperature is -30-40 degrees (not critical if you do not set the laundry to a boiling program), but there is a risk of damage to other things while moving in the drum. Conclusion: the first thing you need to do is check the integrity of the tape after washing (statistics: in more than half of the cases the card will be “working”).
- Chip. More technologically advanced, but also more “sensitive” - most often it does not tolerate the washing process due to the penetration of liquid into the carrier.
In any case, the functionality of the card will need to be checked, so it is recommended to check its viability at the nearest ATM, terminal, or simply at the checkout counter in a store. 2-3 checks are enough and you can make an accurate diagnosis of washed plastic.
Will the credit card work after getting wet?
If the Sberbank card was made of high-quality plastic, then even washing will not affect its further operation.
The product can continue to be used in cases where:
- the banking product is made of high-strength material;
- it has a protective film that protects it from damage and scratches;
- it is equipped with a magnetic stripe that is rarely exposed to external influences;
- During washing, the product was not in the drum of the machine, but inside the trousers or shirt.
In the described cases, the probability of maintaining the functionality of the plastic card is 70%. If during washing it was not inside any item, but in the drum of the machine, then the risk of damage increases to 50%.
If the plate already had any damage or defects before washing, then after washing the likelihood of the product failing increases many times over.
What to do if the card still gets damaged?
So, the situation has become clearer - the card did not survive the wash? This means we go to the branch of the credit institution that issued the plastic (don’t forget your ID). You will need to write and submit to the manager an application for early re-issue of plastic, indicating the reason for the need for such a procedure. The manager will provide up-to-date information about the need (or lack of need) to block accounts on the old card, about the possibility of choosing a new card and account - all that remains is to make an acceptable choice. The funds from the card account will not go anywhere (except for the amount of the commission for re-issuance), because you can link a new plastic card to your previous account or open a new account for this. The cost and time (usually 3-14 banking days) of re-issuing plastic are individual and depend on the issuing bank, which means it is more logical to familiarize yourself with this information in advance.
Is there a difference between manual and machine processing?
Hand washing is more gentle not only on clothes, but also on plastic cards . It is easier to detect plastic in a pocket if the product is washed by hand. There will be no excess friction on the chip and magnetic tape in the basin, so the likelihood of their damage is reduced.
However, when washing by hand, there are a number of factors that can negatively affect the condition of the plastic:
- Things are often soaked in a basin for a long time. All this time the credit card will be in soapy water.
- Washing is often done in boiling water.
- Aggressive detergents, such as chlorine bleach, can be used for soaking in a basin. They are not poured into the machine. Such compositions will lead to damage to the product with a probability close to 100%.
Therefore, both hand and machine washing have their own characteristics.
What commission is required for re-issuing a card?
You need to understand that the responsibility in this case lies with the card owner - after all, it was he who did not keep track of the plastic - which led to its damage. Therefore, the cost of reissue is reimbursed by the culprit of the precedent - the card holder. The fee for re-issuing plastic is individual and directly depends on the servicing bank, so it is better to familiarize yourself with the tariffs in advance. An interesting feature is that while debit cards are reissued for a certain commission (from 30 to 1500 rubles), credit cards are most often free of charge.
Determining the extent of damage
If, after an accidental wash, the numbers and letters on the plate are only blurred, then it often remains suitable for further use. Serious damage to the card is considered to be a scratch anywhere on the card and on the magnetic stripe . It is recommended to check such a card for serviceability by inserting it into the terminal.
A high degree of damage to the product is indicated by the presence of scratches on its chip. There is a high probability that the card will no longer work if, after washing, its chip has melted or been erased.
If such damage is present, it is also recommended to insert plastic into the terminal. If it “reads” the Sberbank card well, allows you to enter a password and make transactions, then the product is not damaged.
Severe damage to the card is its deformation and the appearance of cracks on it . You should not try to insert such a banking product into a terminal. He may not accept the card or take it but not issue it.
FAQ
What should I do if I washed my Sberbank card, how much will it cost to replace it?
If you have unsuccessfully washed your Sberbank card, you can order a reissue of the card either in person in the office or through the Sberbank Online system, and the cost of the procedure directly depends on the status of the plastic. So, the simplest options (social or youth) will cost 30 rubles. Reissuing cards in the mid-price segment will cost 60-250 rubles. For gold and platinum cards, in most cases there is a free reissue.
What to do if the magnetic tape on the plastic is damaged?
You must visit the branch of the banking organization that issued the card (don’t forget your ID) and write an application for early re-issuance of the plastic card, indicating the reason. The manager will provide the necessary information about the need to block the account on the old card, about the possible choice of a new card and account - all that remains is to make the right choice. The cost and time of re-issuing plastic are individual and directly depend on the issuing bank, which means it is more foresighted to familiarize yourself with this information in advance.
My bank card was in the washing machine, how can I open it while washing?
Since at the moment the majority of the population uses an automatic machine for washing, information about the fight against this particular unit will be relevant. We do not consider options for disconnecting from the network - the electronic content of the equipment may not withstand it and fail. In a top-loading machine, everything is simple - the doors open even while the mechanism is running, but we don’t risk it with our own hands - we turn off the rotation of the drum, open the door and take out the card. A front-loading machine will not allow the door to be opened while the program is running. Therefore, we stop the washing program, switch to the water draining program, after executing this command, the machine will unlock the door, and it will be possible to get plastic that has been refreshed after water procedures.
Action plan
If there are no noticeable mechanical damages visually observed on the product, then it is enough to put it in order.
To do this you need:
- Wipe the plate with a dry cloth. Allow the product to dry completely.
- Check the banking product again for damage. This is especially true for the place where the magnetic stripe or chip is located.
- Check the legibility of the inscriptions and numbers on the map.
- Check the functionality of the card on the terminal. Insert it and make sure that the device “reads” it normally. Try entering your password, checking your balance, and performing some kind of operation just to be safe.
When trying to return a deformed card to its previous shape, do not heat it too much. High temperatures can cause plastic to become even more deformed.
If there is noticeable damage on the plate and the terminal cannot read the necessary information from it, then it must be replaced.
To do this you need:
- Go to the bank. You need to contact the department that issued the plate.
- Take with you to the bank not only your card, but also your passport.
- Submit an application to the bank branch requesting early re-issue of the product. Indicate in the document the reasons for the failure of the plastic. Be sure to indicate the date and signature on the application.
- Return the damaged card to the bank employee for destruction.
- Get a new card from the same bank. In this case, the current account and number remain unchanged.
It takes about two weeks to reissue a card, but this period can be reduced to one week. At the same time, Sberbank does not charge a commission for this operation. The bank usually notifies you that the card is ready via SMS.
A few final words
Don’t want to find yourself in a similar unpleasant situation associated with getting wet and then replacing many bank cards? Then don't forget to check the pockets of bags, transport cases, jackets, jackets, shirts, trousers and jeans before washing. Remind your husband and children of the same.
If, nevertheless, the bank card ends up with wet things, try to remove it as quickly as possible, wipe it and put it in a dry place. If a plastic item has become damaged, do not panic, but contact your bank branch as soon as possible. Write an application for reissue and carefully follow the instructions of the people from the financial institution.
Likely consequences
A product equipped with a magnetic stripe is more reliable than a card containing a chip. The likely consequences of washing plastic with a magnetic stripe can be:
Possible consequences of washing a card with a chip can be:
In all cases, a common consequence is the erasure of numbers and letters from the surface of the plate. In the future, they become problematic to read and recognize. The product itself becomes shabby in appearance.
Expert opinion
Zolotareva Maria Vasilievna, expert on banking products
When machine washed, plastic is damaged more often. It is negatively affected by various elements of clothing. Additionally, the card can be in contact with the drum of the machine. With this option, the product more often suffers from hot water. And if you still have questions, ask them to me!
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