What to Do If Your Credit Card is Lost or Stolen

A major concern: A credit card appears to be missing

First, when you realize that your credit card is missing and appears to be either lost or stolen, do not panic. 

Try not to run around looking for it frantically, as that may create serious problems for you and your family.

Getting into a panic situation could cause you to have an accident or to be injured, which could further complicate the problems that may be pending. 

Credit card loss is a major concern, but use common sense as you check to ascertain as to whether your missing credit card is lost or stolen.

Do the following:

Make notes of the exact time and place, when and where you realized that the credit card was missing. 

Carefully check your pockets, wallet or purse, to see if you have accidentally put it somewhere that you would not normally place your credit card. Check your home, car and driveway, to see if it has been dropped, somewhere. Look in the glove compartment and the trunk of your car. You may just find it.

Make a note as to whether or not other credit cards are missing. Check to see if there are any missing checks in your wallet or if there appears to be cash missing, particularly when you are certain that your credit card was in your wallet or purse.

Have you just used the credit card? Note where and when you last used it. What kind of a transaction was it used for? How much was the transaction? Check any receipts or documents from the last known use of the credit card. You may have left your credit card in among these receipts or other papers.

Contact the place where you have just used your card. Ask the people at the store or wherever you have just been, to take a good look and see if they can find your credit card. Advise them that you may have left it there. It could be on a checkout counter or it may have fallen on the floor. (Many people are   good about returning credit cards, if they find them. Expect to receive a call in that respect and be gracious to them, if they do call to advise you that they have found your card.)

Check everywhere that you have been since you last saw the credit card. Draw a mental map or an actual map to re-trace your route.

Make notes of anything that appears to be unusual in your home or car. Was there an unlocked door or an open window? Was a screen cut? Did you find muddy foot prints?

Alert family members to the fact that the credit card appears to be missing and may have been either lost or stolen, as you cannot know for certain what has happened at this time. A family member may have borrowed it without telling you.

Alert the credit card company when you are certain that it is missing, possibly lost or stolen. It is wise to do this, as soon as possible, in order to prevent any further transactions from happening on the credit card. A series of transactions can take place very quickly if someone has found your credit card or stolen it. They may use it for immediate activity or for gas purchases and then run with it.

Once you are certain that the credit card is actually missing, lost or stolen, ask the credit card company to block all further transactions on your current credit card number and to change your credit card number immediately. Find out whether or not you have credit card insurance. This may be something that you have taken out and are not aware of at this time. You may be covered for sustained losses, if the card is used by someone else.

Alert the police if there is other theft, damage or other loss that is evident in your home or car.

Check your credit card transactions, as soon as possible. The credit card company will be able to give you a list of all your most recent transactions, as well as any other transactions by someone else.

Alert the police immediately if there is any suspicious activity on your credit card statement, when it comes in.

If you do all of these things, you can rest assured knowing that you have done the right thing.