Have you ever had your wallet stolen, lost your purse, or just misplaced a credit card? While I can't make it painless, a few simple steps can make sure that you lessen the chances of long-lasting trouble. Here's what I suggest:
- Be prepared: Know the telephone numbers to report your credit cards stolen. Keep them in your cell phone, and keep a hard copy accessible. You might want to keep a copy in your glove box - you usually aren't at home when things are lost or stolen. Don't carry unnecessary credit cards with you, especially when you travel.
- Act fast: Don't waste valuable time looking for your things. You can always call the companies back if you find your wallet. Call your creditors as soon as you suspect a possible loss.
- If you are married, maintain separate credit card accounts. I explain why here in The Case for Separate Credit Cards.
- Consider if you want to put a credit freeze on your credit bureau accounts. Last time my husband's wallet was stolen, we took a long time to decide whether to use a credit freeze. At that time, we decided not to, but it was a hard decision. I'm still trying to learn more so that I know what to do next time.
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Here's a short video clip from USAA that talks about stolen wallets:
