What to do when your credit card is lost or stolen while traveling overseas

You’re traveling abroad when the unexpected happens: You go to check your wallet, and your credit card is no longer in its trusty slot. Or you’ve lost your purse altogether. Or the ATM swallowed your debit card completely, and you’re standing there in disbelief.

What happens next is a blur – maybe you have the wherewithal to call and notify your credit card company. Maybe you file a report with the police or contact the bank that owns the ATM that ate your card.

In the end, you’re still left with a non-working (or non-existent) card in a foreign country.

It happened to a CreditCards.com reader who was traveling in Africa. “An ATM malfunctioned and did not pay out the amount withdrawn,” the reader explained. “The bank canceled my debit card … I will now need to pay $50 for the emergency replacement of a card because of a machine malfunction.”

Here are some steps you can take before traveling to minimize the damage of losing your card on your trip, what to do if and when your card is lost – including how to order a replacement card – and what you should do when you return home.

Before you travel

As a responsible cardholder, assume that if anything can go wrong, it will.

So, how can you minimize the damage?

• First, record your credit card information as part of your normal packing routine.
• Take a photo of the fronts and backs of your credit cards, or copy down the information on a sheet of paper or in a secure online document.

“Make copies of not only your credit card, but your passport and travel itinerary as well,” says frequent traveler Robin Lee Allen, managing partner at Esperance. “Keep these on you inside a travel security pouch; not in your luggage or hotel safe.”

Allen also suggests to know and search the location of U.S. embassies and consulates where you are traveling. And register your itinerary with your country’s consular service before you leave.

• Take the step of looking up the international contact number for your credit cards; some have local numbers based on the countries where you’ll be traveling.
• Finally, make sure to take along a few different payment options – and keep one of them, such as a prepaid card affiliated with Mastercard or Visa, in a reserved hiding spot. Think of this as your emergency cash.

“We don’t think people should travel with just one card,” says Linda Sherry, representative for Consumer Action. “We even advise people to maybe buy some of the local currency before you leave. Another thing people can do is get a prepaid card as a backup. Put $500 on it. You can typically use them overseas to make purchases.”

• Memorize or record in a secure place any PINs associated with your credit cards that would allow you to get a cash advance if you needed it.
• Withdrawing cash from an ATM using a credit card will likely incur a cash-advance fee – usually, 5% of the amount withdrawn – plus a high interest rate that is charged from the moment the cash is withdrawn.
• However, when you are in a bind in a foreign country, a cash advance might actually come in handy.

You may also wish to link your card(s) to a mobile payment app on your smartphone, such as Apple Pay.

When your card is lost or stolen

The first thing to do when you realize your credit card is lost or stolen is call your card issuer.

• If you’ve done your due diligence, you’ll have this number at the ready – otherwise, look it up online.
• If your cellphone doesn’t work internationally, you might have to get creative and use Skype or similar internet-based phone services.

“Call the number that was listed on the card to report it lost or stolen ASAP,” says Allen. “Also request emergency card replacement and cash if your bank offers these services.”

Most major credit cards offer zero liability for fraudulent charges.

• According to the Fair Credit Billing Act and Electronic Fund Transfer Act, if you report a stolen credit card before any charges are made, you’re not responsible for those charges.
• If you wait two billing cycles before reporting a lost or stolen credit card, you could be liable for up to $50 in charges.
• Lost or stolen debit cards need to be reported within two business days, during which you are only legally liable for up to $50 for any fraudulent charges. From two to 60 days, your liability could be up to $500.

Do you have a backup source of payment or cash? If so, you can continue with your trip as normal, and skip to the section “What to do upon your return.” If not, read on.