This Simple List Could Save You if Your Credit Cards Are Ever Stolen

Nobody ever wants to think about having their wallet lost or stolen, but it happens more often than you may realize  — and millions of Americans are among the victims.

According to the Nilson Report, card fraud losses worldwide reached $27.85 billion in 2018.

Credit Cards Stolen and Used Minutes Later

Many years ago, someone stole my credit cards out of a locked gym locker and went on a $2,000 shopping spree before my workout was over.

I remember it like it was yesterday: running to an employee at the front desk to have them call the police.

As I waited for the responding officer to take down my information, I got on the phone and started calling my credit card companies to report the stolen cards.

By that time, the thief had already used my cards at Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond and other retailers in the area.

Just thinking about that night brings back a lot of anxiety, so you can probably understand how it was difficult for me to recall the cards in my wallet off the top of my head.

My heart was beating so fast, I wasn’t quite sure if I was covering everything that was stolen.

Do You Have a Credit Card List? Here’s Why You Should

Determined to never put myself in that situation again, I jotted down a simple list of every single credit card account in my name, which I update and keep in a safe place.

The list includes the following information:

• Names of credit cards (not credit card numbers)
• Customer service phone numbers

I began my credit card list before smartphones came along, but I have since uploaded my credit card list to Google Drive for access on the go.

Because smartphones can be stolen as well, I still keep a hard copy at home.

Credit Card List 2.0

More recently, I’ve made another update to my credit card list after reading an article from one of my favorite bloggers, J. Money of BudgetsareSexy.com.

The key difference is that his list includes details about the recurring expenses that are linked to each credit card.

Let’s say your payment information is compromised in a data breach and you’re issued a new credit card with a new account number. Now you have to update all of your bills that are automatically paid.

To avoid any late fees or service interruptions, you need to address those accounts in a timely manner.

Sample Credit Card List:

What to Do if Your Wallet Is Lost or Stolen

Unless you have a bill due right away, that task can usually wait a day or two. However, here are three things Bank of America says you should do immediately if your wallet is lost or stolen:

1. Call your bank and credit card issuers to cancel or put an alert on each card
2. File a police report in case you become the victim of identity theft
3. Contact TransUnion, Equifax or Experian to put a fraud alert on your credit report

The third step is so crucial! The Federal Trade Commission says the initial fraud alert, which is free, can make it harder for an identity thief to open more accounts in your name.

Important note: You only have to call one credit reporting company — they’re required to tell the other two.

Once you’ve gotten the immediate steps out of the way, go ahead and request replacement credit cards and update account information for your automatic payments.

Money expert Clark Howard also recommends a credit freeze to protect yourself against identity theft. Here’s how to do it.

Limit Liability by Reporting Unauthorized Activity ASAP

Yes, having my credit cards stolen was a hassle, but it could have been much worse.

Even though the thief spent more than $2,000 using my credit cards, I was not held liable for any of the charges because I reported the incident promptly — a key reason why Clark prefers credit over debit.

“If your credit card is lost or stolen, you can’t lose more than $50,” according to the FTC. “If someone uses your ATM or debit card without your permission, you can lose much more.”

To learn more about the differences between debit and credit, see this guide from Team Clark.

In the meantime, we’ve provided a credit card list template to save yourself from future worry if your cards are ever compromised. Take 10 minutes and fill it out today!

Click here to download a PDF version of Clark’s credit card list.

More Credit Card Content From Clark.com:

• Clark Howard: My 7 Rules for Using Credit Cards
• Best Rewards Credit Cards: Team Clark’s Picks
• These Are the 4 Credit Cards in Clark Howard’s Wallet