You reach into your purse or wallet for your credit card and it’s not there. Your heart sinks. Now what are you supposed to do?
Fortunately, federal law and card issuer zero liability benefits can protect you from unauthorized purchases if your card is stolen. However, it’s important to quickly take steps, such as reporting your lost credit card, to minimize your overall risk and hassle.
The first thing to do if you’ve misplaced your credit card is to lock or freeze it. This will help prevent someone from using your card if there’s any unauthorized access.
Many credit card mobile apps let you manage your card straight from your phone, including the option to lock your card if needed. You can typically lock and unlock your card for free whenever you want.
Here’s how this feature looks in the Chase mobile app if I were to lock my Chase Freedom Unlimited®
card.
Note that card locks don’t always block every type of transaction, including charges made from digital wallets, so it’s essential to continue taking more steps to protect yourself from fraud. Any recurring charges, such as subscription or bill payments, you already set up may still go through. Card locks also won’t stop interest from accruing on unpaid balances.
After locking your card, take some time to retrace your steps and think about where your card might be. Best case scenario, you find your card, unlock it, and move on with your life, no sweat. If you don’t find your card, it’s time to move on to the next step.
If you haven’t found your card, give your credit card issuer a call and report it lost. Alternatively, some financial institutions let you report a lost card through your online account.
A representative can quickly invalidate your existing card number so it can’t be used for purchases. This is similar to locking your card, except you can’t undo this process. That’s why it makes sense to lock your card and see if you can find it before calling in to report it lost.
Related: Here are the 3 steps you need to take if your issuer shuts down your credit card
After your existing card is invalidated, make sure you request a replacement card. You can do this over the phone if you’re already talking to a customer service representative. It’s also possible to request a replacement card online with some financial institutions.
Your replacement card will have a new credit card number and arrive by mail to your address on file. It typically takes at least a few business days to arrive, but this could vary by credit card issuer.
If your old credit card was being used to make recurring payments, you will likely need to update that information with your new card number, security code, and expiration date. That could include any accounts set up with autopay, such as utility bills, insurance, or streaming services.
At this point, you shouldn’t see any unauthorized transactions on your statement for your old card. However, it’s worth monitoring your credit card activity and recent transactions throughout this process and after, just to be sure you’ve avoided becoming a victim of credit card fraud.
Many credit card companies will automatically send you alerts of any suspicious activity if you opt in. If you don’t have alerts set up, you can usually add and customize them in your online account.
Protecting yourself from credit card fraud is important if you frequently use credit cards, especially if you’ve recently reported a lost or stolen card. Here are some additional identity theft protection techniques you can use to help avoid becoming a victim of fraud.
Placing a fraud alert with Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion ensures lenders take additional steps to verify your identity during credit applications. This can help stop identity thieves from opening new accounts in your name.
Fraud alerts are free and typically last for one year. You can request an extended fraud alert that lasts for seven years if you have proof that you’re a victim of identity theft. That means having a police report or Federal Trade Commission (FTC) identity theft report as evidence. You don’t need this proof for an initial fraud alert that lasts a year.
You can place a fraud alert with one of the three major credit bureaus and they will notify the others so that you don’t have to contact each one. You can do this online, by phone, or by mail.
Freezing your credit report restricts access to your credit report for the purpose of credit applications. That means you or anyone else wouldn’t be able to open a new credit card or similar account in your name while your credit report is frozen.
You have to freeze each credit report separately if you want your credit information frozen with all three major credit bureaus. If you want to apply for a new credit account, you can unfreeze the applicable credit report, submit your application, and then freeze your credit again.
This is a secure way to ensure you’re the only person applying for credit in your name. Note that credit freezes are free and can be initiated online, by phone, or by mail.
Credit monitoring is a way to track changes to your credit report. Many reputable companies, including Chase, Discover, and Experian, offer free credit monitoring services to help you stay on top of any changes to your credit reports. That could include alerts for new credit inquiries or new credit accounts opened in your name.
Consider filing a police report if you’ve lost a credit card and start seeing fraudulent charges on your credit card statement. This is a vital step in combating identity theft because you might need a copy of a police report to submit to lenders or credit bureaus as evidence of identity theft. You can also report identity theft with the FTC through the identitytheft.gov website.
Call your credit card company’s customer service phone number to report a lost or stolen credit card and request a replacement card. Be sure to monitor your credit card account to see if any unauthorized transactions have already been made. If they have, consider filing a police report and continue monitoring your account.
You can contact your credit card issuer to replace your credit card if it’s been lost, stolen, or damaged. If your card has been lost or stolen, your card issuer will send a replacement card with a new number, expiration date, and security code. If you still have your card but it’s damaged, your issuer can send a replacement card with the same number.
Reporting a lost credit card won’t hurt your credit score. Requesting a replacement card also does not affect your credit score.
Closing your credit card account could negatively impact your credit score because it could lower the average age of your accounts. Unauthorized charges on your card could affect your credit score because of high credit utilization, but only if you don’t catch these charges quickly.
Read more: How to check your credit score for free
It typically takes up to seven business days to receive a replacement credit card with standard shipping. Expedited shipping typically takes up to three business days. Shipping times can vary by financial institution.
This article was edited by Rebecca McCracken
Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn’t include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
