Tip 2: Debit cards expire in Australian time, so make sure you have a backup plan
It was my last day in Helsinki and I was sitting in a bookshop flicking through a book while I waited for it to be time to head to the airport for my flight to Copenhagen. I go to buy the book and my card gets declined. I try again; declined. A third time; declined. Strange. I was sure I had plenty of money on there. Thinking that it might just be the machine, I duck out to the ATM and try there. Declined, declined, declined. I examine the card for answers and finally, it clicks. The card expires on the 1st of June and while it's still the 31st of May in Finland, it has just switched over to the 1st in Australia. A simple mistake, but a costly one.
Before panic could set in, I try to think logically through what needs to happen. First, I need to get from Helsinki Central Station to the airport. Then when I'm in Copenhagen, I need to get the train from Copenhagen to Malmo. Then I face the biggest problem; while I have a reservation at the hotel, I have not yet paid for it.
First things first. I know that I threw a few Euros into the front pocket of my bag earlier; if I'm lucky it will be enough for the train ticket. Eventually, I dig out just enough but then I'm faced with enough problem- the ticket machines only take card. I grab a ticket to talk to someone at the counter and sit down to wait. And wait. And wait. An hour goes by before I get to talk to someone and now I'm in serious danger of missing my flight. I run for a train and jump on. At the airport I rush through security and make it in time for my flight.
Now in Copenhagen its time for problem number two. Luckily, I have enough Danish krone to buy the train ticket. Fron the train station in Malmo, I head to my hotel. I have no real plan for this part of the problem. I follow the directions on my phone with a growing sense of dread. I am fully prepared to sleep in the lobby of the hotel until I can work out how to get some extra money.
It turns out I was once again lucky. It's about 10:30 at night by the time I arrive at the hotel, and the girl behind reception is by herself. It also happens to be her very first overnight shift. I explain my problem and persuade her to keep my passport in their safe until I can pay off the room, and she lets me in for the night.
The next morning I use what little Swedish kroner I have to buy lunch, and by mid afternoon by mum was after to transfer money onto my travel card from back in Australia. Everything worked out alright in the end, but the moral of this story is always check the expiry dates on your cards, and make sure you have at least one backup.
Once again, here are some photos from my journey:
No comments:
Post a Comment