What happens if you accidentally wash your Sberbank card in an automatic washing machine?
Many people have had situations where they accidentally washed some items along with their laundry. It could be money, keys, key fobs.
Some encountered a problem when a Sberbank plastic card got into the drum of the machine along with the laundry.
Many people are wondering whether it will work normally after this. It all depends on a number of conditions and the type of card.
We will discuss in more detail what will happen if you accidentally washed a Sberbank card in an automatic washing machine in the article.
Content
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%.
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:
- malfunction due to mechanical damage;
- demagnetization of a banking product;
- deformation in case of washing at high temperatures and in the “Boiling” mode;
- full preservation of functionality.
Possible consequences of washing a card with a chip can be:
- impossibility of further use due to mechanical damage to the chip;
- malfunction of the product due to melting of the chip on it due to exposure to hot water;
- erasing the chip;
- maintaining performance.
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.
Machine and hand washing of a card - is there a difference in the harm caused?
Much depends on how the card was washed. If it is washed by hand, the plastic will suffer less.
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.
Factors that increase the likelihood of magnetic tape damage
The banking product and its elements may be severely damaged under the following conditions:
- When washing, the magnetic tape was scratched by buttons and zippers from shirts or trousers;
- a Sberbank card was accidentally washed in hot water and boiled at the same time;
- the product came into contact with the drum of the machine during washing;
- the card was washed with a lot of laundry.
In the latter case, the object is greatly deformed and bent. In the future, such a banking product cannot be used for its intended purpose.
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. A scratch anywhere on the card and on the magnetic stripe is considered serious damage to the card.. It is recommended to check such a card for serviceability by inserting it into the terminal.
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.
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.
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.
Conclusion
Accidental washing of a Sberbank plastic card usually does not cause its operation to stop. The overall risk of damage is 30%. However, it increases if the holder uses a product equipped with a chip.
The plate is often damaged if washed at high temperatures. When processing clothes manually, cards deteriorate less often, since this washing option is more gentle.
Just wipe the card dry and let it dry. After this, the functionality of the product must be checked through the terminal. If the card is severely damaged, it must be replaced by contacting Sberbank.
