What is a principal debit?

Lost my debit card in Canada and I'm American; what do I do?

• Hi. I seem to have lost my debit card here in Canada (as I am visiting with my Canadian fiance), and am a little more than stressed about it. Here are some important details to remember: 1. I bank with Bank of America in the states. I called the one in Toronto; it's the corporate office, and the woman who answers the phones is extremely snotty and rude. 2. My fiance had my card in his wallet when he went skateboarding in Burlington; apparently, he hasn't seen his wallet since. (This was 2 days ago) 3. I called the BoA lost and stolen number, and reported my debit card lost. They turned it off so that no one else can use it, if indeed they have gotten a hold of it. ---After my phone call to the Lost & Stolen department--- 4. The man on the phone told me that they would send out my new replacement debit card immediately, but could only do so to my home address (Which is in Buffalo). 5. He mentioned something about a temporary card being issued, and how it would work just like my card; in any ATM machine, but did not tell me how to get one. --Another little problem-- 6. Greyhound does not accept Visa; they only accept cash. That being said, without a debit/credit card (which I no longer have now), I cannot go to an ATM and withdraw cash. If cash = required to go home, and I am without said cash or ability to do so; I am officially trapped in Canada. Now, I have a perfectly clean record, and would not like to be fined, or even go to jail over this little incident. What do I do from here?

• Answer:

  Your boyfriend lost his wallet (along with your card), so that means he probably does not have any way of "lending" you cash to get back to USA to pick up your new card. But essentially, you have done the right thing to protect YOU. You called BOA and reported the card lost. They deactivated it. That's done. Ignore the lady in Toronto. Maybe she was having a bad day, or maybe you said something to her (while you were stressing out about the lost card) that she found rude or snotty and so she answered the same way. Whatever the reason, it doesn't help you now so put it out of your mind. BOA in USA is correct...they typically cannot send your card to any place but your home address, for security reasons (identity theft issues). So a replacement card will be shipped to your home address. The problem now is how to get the card to you, or how to get you to the card. If you have family or friends back in Buffalo, you could have them check your mailbox, open any letters that they think contains the new card, and get them to Fedex you the card and paperwork to where you are staying in Canada. If that's not possible, someone can wire you cash (using any Canadian bank, or Western Union office) to pay for your ticket back home. And if you don't have anyone back at home that can help, you always have the option of calling or going to the US Embassy in Toronto. You explain your situation, that you need emergency funds, and they may be able to offer to pay your bus ticket back to Buffalo. However, from what I heard, they require you to sign a form stating you will pay back the costs of transportation along with a fee once you get back to USA and have access to your money again. There are almost always ways to address this issue. For example, the man at BOA USA suggested a temporary card, but you did not understand how or where you get this card. Simple...call them back and get the missing details. Did you use a credit card for any part of your trip, such as buying the Greyhound ticket originally? If so, you may be automatically entitled to travel insurance. Maybe contact them. Heck, even if you had to borrow $20 from someone, buy a GO ticket to Niagara Falls or Fort Erie, then walk across the border into Buffalo, there is always a way. Just some are not as convenient or comfortable as others.