Are you looking for a bank card in all your pockets, but has it disappeared somewhere? We are figuring out how to proceed so that the loss of the card does not result in financial losses.
First of all, make sure that the card is actually lost. Perhaps you forgot it in a different jacket or left it at the checkout of the store you just left.
Situation 1: there is no doubt that the card was lost or someone stole it.
In this case, you need to urgently block the card. After all, there is a high probability that fraudsters can pay off with it or withdraw cash at any moment. You can block a bank card in different ways:
The operator of the support service will ask you to name your passport data, a code word or an SMS code that will be sent to your phone. After that, he will block the card.
Immediately after blocking the card, you can leave a request to issue a new one.
Situation 2: it seems that the card was left at home
If you are still hoping to find a card and are almost sure that it is somewhere at home or at work, then other options may work for you:
The card was never found. Can you restore it?
If you still have not found the card, but intend to continue using the account to which it is linked, the card must be reissued. It takes from 1 to 10 days in different banks.
You can apply for a reissue at a bank branch or through an online bank.
Some banks charge a fee for early reissue - from $ 1 and more, depending on the type of card.
The new card will be linked to the previous account, but its number and PIN will be new.
If you do not want to use the old account, then simply withdraw money from it at the branch and close it.
Today it is not necessary to carry a card with you to pay with it. Services like Apple Pay and Android Pay allow you to pay with your smartphone. They use biometric identification, which is considered more reliable than a PIN or SMS code.
If you have lost a credit card on which you are in debt, it is best to reissue it. After all, you still need to make payments on the loan, even if the card has disappeared. While you are waiting for a new card, you will have to pay off the debt at the bank branch through the cashier or in another way, which is specified in your loan agreement.
What if the fraudsters have already managed to steal money from the card before I blocked it?
If you act quickly, you have a great chance to get the stolen back. You can object to a card transaction made by fraudsters. But this must be done no later than the next day after you receive a notification from the bank about the operation.
If you meet this deadline, the bank will return the money. True, before that, he will have to make sure that you have not violated the safety rules when using the card. For example, that you yourself did not provide the criminals with your card details or did not write the PIN code directly on the card. Detailed instructions can be found in the text What to do if money is stolen from a bank card.
How to control all card transactions?
To prevent fraudsters from stealing your money, carefully monitor all card transactions. The bank is obliged to notify you of all payments - your agreement specifies how it should do this.
It is best to connect SMS notifications. Then you will immediately notice the debits that someone else made for you, and you can promptly call the bank. Many banks charge a fee for SMS notification, but it is worth assessing all the risks and deciding which is more important.
The standard and usually free option is transaction emails. But he requires discipline from you - you will have to carefully check letters from the bank at least once a day.
Some banks are also offering a new service - push notifications via a mobile app. It is also free and convenient - such notifications do not clog up the phone memory and mail. But to receive them, the Internet must be constantly connected on the phone.
You can also track card transactions through a mobile application or online bank. You can always get an account statement at a bank branch and sometimes through an ATM. If your card has been stolen, it makes sense to double-check all the latest payments.
First of all, make sure that the card is actually lost. Perhaps you forgot it in a different jacket or left it at the checkout of the store you just left.
Situation 1: there is no doubt that the card was lost or someone stole it.
In this case, you need to urgently block the card. After all, there is a high probability that fraudsters can pay off with it or withdraw cash at any moment. You can block a bank card in different ways:
- Call the hotline. A universal way. The emergency number is always indicated on the official website of the bank.
The operator of the support service will ask you to name your passport data, a code word or an SMS code that will be sent to your phone. After that, he will block the card.
- Via a mobile application. The fastest way, if you have access to the Internet, the application is already installed on your phone and it has an option to block the card.
- Online banking. It is convenient if you have Internet banking connected and have a computer, tablet or smartphone with Internet access nearby. In the personal account on the bank's website, there is usually an option "Block card". Your decision will need to be confirmed with a code from an SMS, which the bank will send to your number.
- By SMS. Some banks use an SMS command system. A code word must be sent to the bank's short number (for example, “blocking”). In response, you will receive a code that must be sent back to the bank number to confirm the action. But it is better to clarify in advance whether your bank offers such a service and what code words you need to use.
- At the bank branch. If you are near a bank office or have lost your phone along with the card, write a statement about blocking the card at the branch. But for this you need a passport.
Immediately after blocking the card, you can leave a request to issue a new one.
Situation 2: it seems that the card was left at home
If you are still hoping to find a card and are almost sure that it is somewhere at home or at work, then other options may work for you:
- Temporary blocking of the card. Some banks offer a temporary blocking service: if a card is found, you can unblock it and you do not have to waste time re-issuing a new card. If the card is really lost, then it can be closed. The temporary blocking service can be accessed through a mobile app, online bank or through a hotline operator.
- Zero limit on any transactions. This is an alternative option: the card seems to be active, but it cannot pay anything or transfer money to another account. Usually, you can set a zero limit on transactions through a mobile application, online bank or through a hotline operator. And after that, continue to calmly search for a map.
The card was never found. Can you restore it?
If you still have not found the card, but intend to continue using the account to which it is linked, the card must be reissued. It takes from 1 to 10 days in different banks.
You can apply for a reissue at a bank branch or through an online bank.
Some banks charge a fee for early reissue - from $ 1 and more, depending on the type of card.
The new card will be linked to the previous account, but its number and PIN will be new.
If you do not want to use the old account, then simply withdraw money from it at the branch and close it.
Today it is not necessary to carry a card with you to pay with it. Services like Apple Pay and Android Pay allow you to pay with your smartphone. They use biometric identification, which is considered more reliable than a PIN or SMS code.
If you have lost a credit card on which you are in debt, it is best to reissue it. After all, you still need to make payments on the loan, even if the card has disappeared. While you are waiting for a new card, you will have to pay off the debt at the bank branch through the cashier or in another way, which is specified in your loan agreement.
What if the fraudsters have already managed to steal money from the card before I blocked it?
If you act quickly, you have a great chance to get the stolen back. You can object to a card transaction made by fraudsters. But this must be done no later than the next day after you receive a notification from the bank about the operation.
If you meet this deadline, the bank will return the money. True, before that, he will have to make sure that you have not violated the safety rules when using the card. For example, that you yourself did not provide the criminals with your card details or did not write the PIN code directly on the card. Detailed instructions can be found in the text What to do if money is stolen from a bank card.
How to control all card transactions?
To prevent fraudsters from stealing your money, carefully monitor all card transactions. The bank is obliged to notify you of all payments - your agreement specifies how it should do this.
It is best to connect SMS notifications. Then you will immediately notice the debits that someone else made for you, and you can promptly call the bank. Many banks charge a fee for SMS notification, but it is worth assessing all the risks and deciding which is more important.
The standard and usually free option is transaction emails. But he requires discipline from you - you will have to carefully check letters from the bank at least once a day.
Some banks are also offering a new service - push notifications via a mobile app. It is also free and convenient - such notifications do not clog up the phone memory and mail. But to receive them, the Internet must be constantly connected on the phone.
You can also track card transactions through a mobile application or online bank. You can always get an account statement at a bank branch and sometimes through an ATM. If your card has been stolen, it makes sense to double-check all the latest payments.
