Lost & Found (Found) Lost my credit card between Larrasoaña and Pamplona

[Feetzgerald]

So as the title says I've lost a credit card, but apparently it was picked up by some other pilgrims and they plan to leave it for me somewhere in Pamplona. If this is you, please get in touch and let me know where to collect it. Thanks!

 

[Former member 92300]

Good luck reuniting with it! This is one of my fears of my daughter travelling alone a month after me - she seems to always be losing stuff like this - it makes me so nervous! Especially if she loses her card after I had home (there will be an overlap where we are both somewhere in Spain).

 

[ELHS220]

If possible, take two or more different cards and keep them in separate places. For me, one in my wallet, another in my day pack, and a third in my big pack (I use the transport service).

Also, I have a duplicate copy of my ATM card and keep them separate. The account is the same but, if one is lost, no one else would likely be able to use it because a PIN is required.

I have never understood why a PIN is not required for a credit card purchase. At most gasoline stations, you have to enter your billing address zip code. But, anywhere else, no ID is required. Maybe I am missing something here, but it doesn’t seem to make sense.

 

[ranthr]

Since I was robbed on the train from the airport in Barcelona on the way home from my second camino in 2007, I have sewn an inner pocket into all my trousers. There I keep some euros, an extra creditcard, identification, health information and personal contacts.
Hope you get your your card back, Feetzgerald!

 

[Former member 95219]

Take advantage of modern functionality on Apps. After every transaction you can block/freeze your card and unblock it when you want to use it again. I always do this!

 

[Former member 49149]

So as the title says I've lost a credit card, but apparently it was picked up by some other pilgrims and they plan to leave it for me somewhere in Pamplona. If this is you, please get in touch and let me know where to collect it. Thanks!

Have you got it yet?

 

[Mike Molloy]

Try using Google pay to store online copies of cards and tickets, and don't lose your phone !

 

[Feetzgerald]

Late update! But the magic of the Camino showed itself.

I started walking back to see if I could find it. Bumped into a woman pilgrim who asked if anything was wrong and I explained the situation. She told me that a man had found it and picked it up and was going to leave it in Pamplona for me. He must have passed right by me!

About an hour or so later I'm just nearing Pamplona. I got into a cafe and see a pilgrim. I begin to explain my situation in English and then in broken Spanish, but he's French and speaks little English. Then suddenly his face lights up and says "ah, credit card!" and digs into his travel pouch and brings out my card. I'm so relieved that I'm thanking him in every language I know and offer to buy him a 'cafe au lait' which he gracefully accepts. We then sit together with our coffees and attempt to communicate in what little we know of each others languages, with help from a French woman who speaks a bit of English.

I guess my days of being an English Francophobe are over. Vive la France!

 

[BookGirl305]

what a fantastic ending to your story!

 

[Former member 95219]

Lovely story! I know that feeling of overwhelming relief and immense gratitude to the person that has made it happen!

 

[rometimed]

Late update! But the magic of the Camino showed itself.

I started walking back to see if I could find it. Bumped into a woman pilgrim who asked if anything was wrong and I explained the situation. She told me that a man had found it and picked it up and was going to leave it in Pamplona for me. He must have passed right by me!

About an hour or so later I'm just nearing Pamplona. I got into a cafe and see a pilgrim. I begin to explain my situation in English and then in broken Spanish, but he's French and speaks little English. Then suddenly his face lights up and says "ah, credit card!" and digs into his travel pouch and brings out my card. I'm so relieved that I'm thanking him in every language I know and offer to buy him a 'cafe au lait' which he gracefully accepts. We then sit together with our coffees and attempt to communicate in what little we know of each others languages, with help from a French woman who speaks a bit of English.

I guess my days of being an English Francophobe are over. Vive la France!

Love it. Classic Camino magic.

 

[nycwalking]

Talk about the Camino providing.

Wow!

Buen camino.

 

[MaineSally]

what a fantastic ending to your story!

The Camino provided yet again! There are so many good souls everywhere! Glad you bumped into him!

 

[Kelly Ann]

Since I was robbed on the train from the airport in Barcelona on the way home from my second camino in 2007, I have sewn an inner pocket into all my trousers. There I keep some euros, an extra creditcard, identification, health information and personal contacts.
Hope you get your your card back, Feetzgerald!

Can you share the details of how you were robbed please?

 

[ranthr]

Can you share the details of how you were robbed please?

When I was to leave the train at Saints, going from the airport in Barcelona, somebody pressed me from behind and stopped me in front. I got a bit irritated because I wanted to get off the train. When I got off I noticed that my wallet was gone, and I told it to an English woman who sat next to me. She told me she had seen somebody trying to stop me and that they did not leave the train. I went into the train again and cried out about being robbed. I saw the people that robbed me but they refused to give me back my things. Went off at the next station and took the train back to Saints where I went to policeoffice. i was not alone. Several people was in front of me in the queue. I was without my passport, without money, luckily with another creditcard than the ones being robbed.
After this happening,many years ago on my second camino in 2007, I always take more care, have more secret places to keep valuables, always have copies of my passport and some hidden money.
Afterwards I learned thet this was a typical method of robbing people, and on my way home from Barcelona I could see the persons in actions again. It was possible on the trains because you could travel all day on a ticket if you did not leave the train. So a lot of people had their working day robbing people on the airportline.
Always taking the bus from the airport after that, there youhave to show a ticket for each trip.

 

[Former member 95219]

Not sure if stats support it but Barcelona is regarded as notorious for pickpockets!!

 

[chinacat]

@ranthr
I sew pockets into my trousers too
I’ve also been known to sew zips across the top of some of them.

I still remember being told by the nuns that ’offering temptation’ to a thief was not a good thing

 

[naplesdon]

Many years ago I started traveling with my wallet in my front pocket, after all who is going to go there.without my knowledge.
I would never trust one of of those over/around the neck thingies after hearing a story about a guy who got robbed in his sleep in an albergue in Ciizur Menor. He suspected it was a .......non pilgrim.
I also travel with an expired US Passport with as few dollars and Euros tucked inside in case I get held up. I can hand them the the goods they are looking for and walk away much safer and smarter knowing that perhaps a few blocks away they realize the error in their ways.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Great news you got it back!