Search our Site:

We all lose things from time to time; but what should you do if you lose your credit card?

With credit card fraud and banking violations dominating the news headlines at least once every month, consumers are becoming increasingly worried that their credit cards might be abused or stolen; worse yet, many consumers do not know what immediate steps to take if their credit card is lost of stolen.

With credit card fraud and banking violations dominating the news headlines at least once every month, consumers are becoming increasingly worried that their credit cards might be abused or stolen; worse yet, many consumers do not know what immediate steps to take if their credit card is lost of stolen. In order to minimise the personal damage to consumers of lost or stolen credit cards, make sure you follow a particular set of practical steps.

It is important that as soon as you are aware of your credit card being lost, stolen or misused, you immediately report the matter to your credit card company by phone or in person. Consult the written credit card agreement that you were given when your card was first issues in order to find the name, address and phone number of the person you need to contact in the event of credit card loss or misuse. However, if this information isn’t clearly set out in this agreement, consumers will not be personally held liable for any misuse of the card. Further, once your credit card company is aware that your card has been lost or stolen, you will not be held liable for any misuse on the card after this. Often, credit card companies need oral confirmation of your credit card loss within seven days after you report it; and this should always be followed by a written notice in order to make the telephone notice more effective.

It is important to keep in mind that the extent of consumer liability for credit card loss or misuse varies widely, depending on the circumstance. For instance, if your credit card is misused by a person who had the credit card with your permission, or someone who is regularly authorised to use your card, you liability is unlimited. But if your card has been stolen and you report it missing immediately, the situation is slightly different; that is, if the card has been misused by the person who stole it to buy goods online, you will be liable for the full amount; but if they have used it to buy goods in a high street retail chain or department store, you'll be liable for a fraction of the amount they spent.

If you do lose your credit card or are aware that it has been misused, the stress inflicted on your financial and emotional state can make it difficult to take the right actions at the right time. However, make sure you keep a level head and follow the practical steps listed above in order to minimise the extent of damage. Many credit card companies have different ways of dealing with consumer loss or card misuse, so making credit card choices can be confusing; thankfully, many consumer credit card comparison sites, like Moneynet, exist to help you come to the best decision. Additionally, many reputable and established credit card providers, like Barclaycard, will provide you with a detailed agreement if you sign up for one of their credit cards - so you'll definitely know what steps to take if your card is lost, stolen or the subject of misuse.