Minimise the pain of a stolen or lost credit card by following our guide on who you need to inform, what you need to do, and how to make sure you don't end up footing the bill for fraudsters. We'll also run you through what you need to do if you lose your entire bag and the insurance you should consider getting to protect yourself in future.
As soon as you know that your card has been lost or stolen you must call your credit card provider. The sooner you call the better because until you've informed them the card is gone, you could be liable for any losses. Once your card provider knows the card is no longer in your possession your legal status changes, meaning that you should be refunded in full for any future transactions that take place. The majority of companies have 24-hour telephone lines for such emergencies. You can find the number for your card provider here.
Since the date and time that you reported the loss of theft of your card is important when claiming back for any unauthorised expenditure, it’s best to follow up this telephone call in writing. In either a letter or an e-mail you should include your account number, the date, time and place that you first noticed your card was missing and when you first reported it was missing. On top of this, keep records of any further transactions for future reference.
You should always check your credit card statement for mistakes, but be particularly vigilent after losing your credit card or having it stolen. Report any transactions you don't recall making to your credit card provider immediately along with any information (eg. if you were in a different country at the time of the purchase) that proves you couldn't have made the transaction. You will also have to fill in forms detailing any transactions on your account that were not made by you. Also keep a close eye on your credit report for any signs someone is using your identity fraudulently with details obtained from your credit card. You can find out more about your credit report and how to check it with our guide to improving your credit rating.
So long as you haven't been negligent you are only liable for the first £50 of unauthorised withdrawals or transactions on your card after it is lost or stolen. But, if your card provider can prove you were negligent you could be landed with a much bigger bill. What counts as negligent? There is no precise definition but these points give you the general idea:
Storing your pin number with your card. Eg. Having it written on your card or on a piece of paper in your wallet.
Telling anyone your pin.
Changing your pin to something ridiculously easy to guess. Eg. 1111 or 1234.
However, if your provider thinks that you have been grossly negligent or fraudulent then it’s up to them to prove it.
If your card provider suspects foul play or negligence and refuses to pay out, you should ask for your dispute to be escalated through the internal complaints process of the card provider. However, if that doesn't work you should take your dispute to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). REMEMBER – They must prove that you have been fraudulent or negligent. The decision of the FOS is binding upon your provider but not you. If you still dispute their decision and think you still have a strong case you can take your claim to court.
The chances are you haven't just lost your credit card. Here are some tips on what to do about other things you may have lost:
Debit cards - You need to act fast and in the same way as for your credit card. Call your provider and report your card lost or stolen, then follow this up in writing. As with credit cards, until you've reported your debit card lost you are liable for any transactions made on it.
Driver’s licence - You need one to drive so get on and order a new one quickly. It costs £20 to get a new one and you'll need to provide proof of ID and three years of address details. You can order a new licence here.
Reward/Membership Cards - Contact the relevant company to request a new card. If it is a card that builds up loyalty points, make sure your old balance is carried over.
Keys - If you've got a spare set you may be inclined to just use those, but if there is any chance your address was printed on anything that was lost at the same time as your keys (for example, your driving licence) you need to get your locks changed. Otherwise, thieves could just let themselves in to your home.
Passport - As soon as your passport is lost or stolen it needs to be reported to the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) and (if in the UK) your nearest police station. To get a new passport you then need to follow the standard passport renewal process, plus you'll have to send a completed LS01 form with your application (if you haven’t already reported it as stolen).
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Card Name | Telephone Number | If Overseas | Out of Hours |
AA | 0800 917 4466 | +44 1244 672 111 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Abbey | 0845 602 1582 | +44 1512 648 725 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Accucard | 0800 096 9779 | +44 1702 278 270 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Alliance & Leicester | 0800 068 6464 | +44 1512 648 725 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Allied Irish Bank Credit Card | 028 9023 6644 | Numbers open 24 hours | |
Amazon MasterCard | 0800 917 5235 | +44 1244 675 989 | Numbers open 24 hours |
American Express | 01273 696 933 | +44 1273 696 933 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Aqua | 0845 601 0436 | +44 113 244 8986 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Argos store card | 0845 640 0700 | +44 845 640 0700 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Asda | 0800 783 5881 | +44 (0) 800 783 5881 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Bank of Cyprus | 0845 850 5555 | +44 2082 677 343 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Bank of Ireland | 1890 706 706 | +353 56 7757007 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Bank of Scotland | 0845 3000 0344 | +44 (0)131 454 1605 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Barclaycard | 0844 811 9111 | +44 (0)1604 230230 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Beneficial | 0870 010 0453 | +44 (0) 870 010 0453 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Breakthrough Breast cancer | 0800 062 062 | +44 1244 659 005 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Britannia BS | 0845 7283 848 | Numbers open 24 hours | |
British Airways American Express | 0845 604 2532 | +44 1273 696 933 | Numbers open 24 hours |
British Heart Foundation | 0800 062 062 | +44 1244 659 005 | Numbers open 24 hours |
BT Credit Card | 0808 100 2255 | +44 1904 544 622 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Burton store card | 0871 522 5454 | +44 (0)20 8181 0000 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Cahoot | 0844 9000 900 | +44 1908 937 222 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Cancer Research | 08457 20 30 99 | +44 113 242 2229 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Capital One Bank | 0800 952 5267 | +44 115 993 8002 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Clydesdale Bank | 0800 731 6444 | +44 (0)844 736 7361 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Co-Operative Bank | 0844 8758 755 | +44 (0) 844 8758 755 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Coutts & Co | 020 7309 0045 | +44 20 7309 0045 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Create Card | 0800 096 9779 | +44 1702 278270 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Danske Bank (was Northern Bank N.I) | 0870 850 2481 | +44 0 2890 049201 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Debenhams Credit, Gold & Store card | 0871 522 5050 | +44 871 522 5050 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Diners Club Card (New Card) | 0800 460 800 | +44 1244 470910 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Diners Club Card (Old Card) | 0870 1900 011 | +44 1 252 513 500 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Dorothy Perkins store credit card | 020 8181 0000 | +44 (0)20 8181 0000 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Dunfermline BS | 0800 062 062 | +44 800 062 062 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| easyMoney | 0845 606 2174 | +44 845 606 2174 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Egg Card (now Barclaycard) | 0844 811 9141 | +44 1604 230 230 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Evans store card | 0871 522 5500 | +44 871 522 5500 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| First Direct | 08456 100 100 | +44 113 234 5678 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| First Trust (N.I) | 028 9033 0099 | +44 28 9033 0099 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Fluid | 0800 062 062 | +44 (0)1244 672 111 (reverse the charges) | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Flybe | 0800 783 5881 | +44 (0)121 712 6952 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| GE Money | 0800 316 1625 | +44 (0) 1923 426 426 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| GM | 0800 072 2242 | +44(0)800 072 2242 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Goldfish Bank | 01604 230 230 | +44 1604 230 230 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Greenpeace | 0844 875 8755 | +44 845 600 6000 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Halifax | 0845 720 3099 | +44 131 339 2573 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Help the Aged (Age Uk) | 0844 875 8755 | +44 845 600 6000 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| HFC Bank | 0870 010 0453 | +44 (0)870 010 0453 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Hilton Honors | 0844 251 1000 | +44 1604 269 9017 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Homebase card | 0845 077 8888 | +44 845 640 0710 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| House of Fraser store card | 0871 552 5827 | +44 871 552 5827 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| HSBC | 08456 007 010 | +44 1442 422 929 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| ICICI | 0808 131 4151 | +44 (0)20 3106 7160 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Ikea store card | 0844 856 5770 | +44 844 856 5770 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Intelligent Finance | 0845 720 3099 | +44 845 720 3099 reverse the charges | Numbers open 24 hours |
| John Lewis Partnership | 0800 015 0914 | +44 121 214 5732 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Karen Millen store card | 0844 856 5744 | +44 844 856 5744 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Laiki Bank | 020 8920 1021 | +44 20 8492 2090 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Laura Ashley store card | 0871 522 5272 | +44 208 181 0000 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Lloyds TSB | 0800 096 9779 | +44 1702 278 270 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Lombard Direct | 0870 606 0606 | +44 870 606 0606 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Marbles | 0845 602 7795 | +44 (29) 20 818079 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Marks & Spencer Money | 0845 900 0900 | +44 (0)1244 879 080 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Marriott Rewards | 020 7012 7312 | +44 (0)20 7012 7312 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| MBNA Europe Bank | 0800 062 062 | +44 (0) 1244 672 111 | Numbers open 24 hours |
| Metro Bank | 0345 08 08 500 | +44 20 3402 8312 | Numbers open 24 hours |
MINT | 0870 6000 459 | +44 1268 500 813 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Miss Selfridge store card | 0871 522 5322 | +44 (0)20 7012 7312 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Morgan Stanley | 020 7425 8000 | +44 1604 230 230 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Mothercare Mastercard | 0871 522 5192 | +44 (0)20 7012 7312 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Mothercare store card | 0871 522 5000 | +44 (0)20 7012 7312 | Numbers open 24 hours |
National Trust | 0800 062 062 | +44 1244 659 005 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Nationwide BS | 08457 99 22 22 | +44 2476 438 996 | Numbers open 24 hours |
NatWest | 0870 600 0459 | +44 1268 500 813 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Nectar (American Express) | 01273 696933 | +44 (0)1273 696 933 | Numbers open 24 hours |
New Look store card | 0844 856 5744 | +44 (0)115 850 3000 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Northern Rock | 0800 015 0306 | +44 800 015 0306 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Norwich & Peterborough BS | 01733 372374 | +44 1733 372 374 | Numbers open 24 hours |
NSPCC | 08457 20 30 99 | +44 113 242 2229 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Oasis store card | 0844 856 5744 | +44 844 856 5744 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Opus | 020 7871 0464 | +44 (0)20 7871 0464 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Orange Credit Card | 0844 556 0603 | +44 1604 54 9764 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Orange Marbles | 0845 602 7795 | +44 2920 818 079 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Oxfam | 0844 875 8755 | +44 845 600 6000 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Paypal Access Mastercard | 020 8181 0000 | +44 (0)20 8181 0000 | Numbers open 24 hours |
PDSA Credit Card | 0800 062 062 | +44 1244 659 005 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Play.com | 0800 062 062 | +44 1244 659 005 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Post Office | 0800 169 2646 | +44 117 373 3865 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Priority Club Visa | 0844 251 0304 | +44 1604 26 9016 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Royal Bank of Scotland | 0870 600 0459 | +44 1268 500 813 | Numbers open 24 hours |
RSPB | 0845 600 6000 | +44 845 600 6000 | Numbers open 24 hours |
RSPCA | 0800 062 062 | +44 1244 659 005 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Saga | 0845 603 5473 | +44 2890 328641 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Sainsbury’s Bank | 0845 300 0344 | +44 845 300 0344 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Santander | 0845 602 1582 | +44 1512 648 725 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Save the Children | 0845 600 6000 | +44 845 600 6000 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Shell | 0845 900 6008 | +44 845 900 6008 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Shelter | 0845 600 6000 | +44 845 600 6000 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Sky | 0160 423 0230 | +44 1604 230 230 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Smile | 0844 875 8755 | +44 8448 44 88 44 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Tesco Credit Card | 0845 300 42 78 | +44 1268 50 80 27 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Thomas Cook | 0844 251 0058 | +44 1604 54 9239 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Topshop/Topman store card | 0871 522 5252 | +44 (0)20 8181 0000 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Ulster Bank (N.I) | 0870 600 0459 | +44 (0)1268 500 813 | Numbers open 24 hours |
United Airlines (Mileage Plus) | 0845 8444 777 | +44 (0)845 844 4777 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Vanquis | 0800 783 9003 | +44 161 444 4495 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Virgin Atlantic | 0800 056 7686 | +44 800 056 7686 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Virgin Money | 0800 015 0306 | Numbers open 24 hours | |
Wallis store card | 0871 522 5321 | +44 (0)20 8181 0000 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Warehouse store card | 0871 781 3055 | +44 871 781 3055 | Numbers open 24 hours |
WWF | 0800 062 062 | +44 (0)1244 659 005 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Yorkshire Bank | 08447 368 368 | +44 141 951 7315 | Numbers open 24 hours |
Yorkshire Building Society | 0845 910 1112 | +44 (0)845 9 10 11 12 | Numbers open 24 hours |