Lost or Stolen Cards

Credit and debit cards can be very convenient. But what do you do if you lose a card or a thief steals it from you?

Limit Your Financial Loss If Your Credit Card Or Debit Card Is Lost Or Stolen

Report the loss or theft to the card issuers as quickly as possible. Many companies have toll-free numbers and 24-hour services to deal with such emergencies.
Follow up your phone calls with a letter. Include your account number, when you noticed your card was missing and the date you first reported the loss. Send the letter to the address provided for billing errors and keep a copy for your records.
If charges or debits that aren’t yours show up on your statement, report them to the card issuer as quickly as possible.
Review your next billing statements carefully. If they show any unauthorized charges, send a letter to the card issuer describing each questionable charge and reminding them when your card was reported lost or stolen.

If you report the loss of a credit card before it’s used, you cannot be held responsible for any unauthorized charges. If a thief uses your card before you report it missing, the most you’ll owe for unauthorized charges is $50 per card.
If you report a debit card missing before it’s used without your permission, you cannot be held responsible for any unauthorized withdrawals.
If a thief uses your ATM card or debit card before you’ve reported it lost or stolen, the amount you can be held liable for depends upon how quickly you report it.
If you report the loss of a debit card within two business days after you realize it’s missing, you won’t be responsible for more than $50 for unauthorized use. If you wait more than two business days, you could lose up to $500.
If you don’t report an unauthorized withdrawal within 60 days after your bank statement is mailed to you, you risk losing all the money in your account and the unused portion of your line of credit.

Know where your cards are at all times and keep them secure.
Sign your credit cards as soon as you receive them.
Memorize your Personal Identification Number (PIN) and keep it a secret. Don’t use your address, birth date, phone or social security number as your PIN.
Destroy any cards you don’t use.