Lessons Leaned When Traveling
In a recent business conference, one of my colleagues lost her wallet. She kindly passes along some of the things she learned first hand or by talking with the banks.
I’m sure some of these things are common sense but just a reminder to all us us:
- Don’t keep your Social Security Card in your wallet. Leave it at home.
- Don’t take all of your credit cards, club cards, etc when you travel. Just take what you need.
- Don’t keep your room key in your wallet. If it gets lost, you may have a really hard time with the hotel if you don’t have id.
- Keep a copy of your id somewhere separate from your wallet when you travel.
She did learn from Wells Fargo that when you swipe your debit or credit card, swipe another non credit card (club card, something) after you’re done. I surprisingly learned that people are able to use a device to swipe after you which can pick up all of your information and then start using your account. This seems to happen mostly at gas stations. - If you do lose your wallet while on travel, you can fly. You just need to file a police report that it was lost. They’ll give you a piece of paper to take to the airport. Of course, the airport will do a full search of you and your luggage but you can fly.
- Most banks will not wire transfer money to you and most will take 2 business days to get you a replacement debit card. The exception to this rule was American Express. They will wire money to the closest Western Union and you can give them anyone’s name (as long as they have id) to send it to.
All Credit Card companies can overnight a replacement card to you.
If you have a mobile device (hopefully it does not get stolen with your wallet) please get an electronic wallet such eWallet, CodeWallet, etc..to store your encrypted info’s!
Thanks Jodi N. for sharing!
Update from Credit Score & Advice
The Credit Score Tips & Advice weblog points out 8 steps you should take in the event that your identity is stolen.
Identity theft is certainly a terrifying prospect – one that no one really wants to think about – but in the unfortunate event that your identity is stolen, these 8 steps look like a good starting point to getting your life back. As several of this post’s commenters point out, nothing you do guarantees you can get everything back to normal if your identity is stolen. However, these 8 tips will at least give you a good place to start.
Check out this site, Consumerist, for another first hand account of identity theft fixing. If you want to do all you can to protect yourself against identity theft, we’ve covered that territory, too.
8 Things You Must Do If Your Identity Is Stolen [Credit Score Tips & Advice]
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