As soon as you realize your credit card is lost or stolen, contact the card issuer to report the loss. (Banks issue MasterCard and Visa cards; American Express issues American Express cards.) Then contact the fraud units of Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion and request that a “fraud alert” be placed in your file:
• Equifax: (800) 525-6285 or www.equifax.com
• Experian: (888) 397-3742 or www.experian.com
• TransUnion: (800) 680-7289 or www.transunion.com
Also ask each reporting agency for a free copy of your credit report to check for any fraudulent accounts opened in your name. Then call utility companies, the Social Security Administration, financial institutions, and other lenders to notify them of the fraud. Follow up each conversation with a letter. Finally, report the theft to law enforcement, and insist on receiving a copy of the police report.
Tip: Make a photocopy of the front and back of each credit card you carry in your wallet and file it in a secure location. The back of the card usually provides the telephone number of the card issuer to call in case the card is lost or stolen, but if you do not have the card, you will have to hunt for the telephone number. Your photocopy will be an excellent record of this information.
We would like your feedback on this Personal Finance Frequently Asked Question.
