What to Do If You Lose Your Credit Card
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With summer vacation coming up, it's good to prepare yourself for possible emergencies. Learn what you need to do if you lose your credit card on your trip.
Lost Credit Card
On a recent trip I was picking up the restaurant tab and realized there was an empty spot in my wallet where my preferred credit card is stored.
Thinking it was in my purse somewhere I wasn’t too concerned. Twenty minutes later I was starting to panic.
Without my credit card, I didn’t have the number to report it lost. Being out of town meant I didn’t have previous billing statements either.
Here’s what I learned about dealing with a lost credit card.
Recall Last Use
I retraced my steps that weekend to remember when I had used the card. The last time I used it was to pay the checked luggage fee at the airport.
This enabled me to check the purse and carry-on I had in my hands at the the time. Unfortunately, the card wasn't there.
Call Business Where You Last Used Card
I can’t imagine how hard it would be to get through to the airline counter at the airport and didn’t even try.
However, we have had success with this step in the past when my husband left his credit card at a restaurant.
Report Lost Card
Contact the credit card issuer as soon as possible. I ended up using the bank's website to locate the 24 hour customer service phone number.
Another option if you don't have internet access is to call information.
Even better would have been to have a list of contact numbers for every credit card normally carried.
Ironically, the bank was taking advantage of the holiday weekend to upgrade their computer systems and asked me to call back at noon.
Travel with a Spare Credit Card
If that had been my only credit card, it would have been an embarrassing moment at the restaurant. Instead I used my secondary credit card and avoided asking someone else to pay.
This story has a happy ending as I found the credit card in the pocket of my jacket later that morning.
Thoughts on Losing Credit Cards
This experience taught me a couple of lessons. The first? I had to learn what to do if I had lost my card.
I also learned to take the time to protect myself and put the card in the right place.
Have you ever had a credit card lost or stolen and did you learn any other tips?
I have never lost my card, however my credit card number was stolen several times. It is very similar to losing a card. Very annoying and inconvenient. One of my tricks to make sure I get my card back is to keep my wallet in my hand until I receive my card back. It works very well for me!
I have lost my credit card a few times!
Like your husband, I forgot it at a few restaurants, but when I would call they have always had it.
I guess my problems stem from the fact that my credit card is mostly black, and so is the tray that the waiter brings back…
Still I hate the panic feeling!
@Krantcents, my sister recently had her credit card number stolen and they made two iTunes purchases. Her card is still in her wallet but of course had to get cancelled.
@Money Reasons, my husband’s card is black and that must be why he leaves it from time to time. It also seems like we’re in a hurry when it’s time to go.
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Yikes! There’s never a good time to lose a credit card but I would definitely hate to lose it while traveling. I misplaced my debit card earlier and since I barely ever use it (just grocery shopping at Aldi and occasionally when I need cash) I didn’t pay it much mind. I check my bank account every day so I knew no one had stolen it) but I was starting to get concerned when after a couple weeks it hadn’t turned up. Turns out I put it in my wallet backwards and didn’t recognize it!
Once my credit card number was stolen, but my bank called me as soon as the fraudulent charge hit my card. I didn’t have time to worry because they automatically canceled it. (The charge was in Mexico, I, unfortunately, was not.)