Help! I Need to Report
A Stolen Credit Card

It's a complicated process to report a stolen credit card when you don't have your account number or the banks telephone number. Some people don't even know what bank their credit card is issued through. I'll provide a few tips here on how to keep track of this information and give you information on how to report a stolen credit card.

The easiest method is to just keep a list of your credit card numbers. Also, write down the name of the bank they are issued through and the banks phone number. Keep this list somewhere hidden in your household. Also, take it with you on trips just in case. It will save you time if your cards are lost or stolen.

Another method is a service such as Privacy Guard. Privacy guard is a credit card and document registration service. You provide them with all your credit card numbers. If your whole wallet becomes lost of stolen with all of your credit cards, it's simple to just call Privacy Guard at one number instead of each credit card issuer individually. Privacy Guard does all of the reporting for you and has new cards issued. While, of course, there is a fee for this service, it protects you in the event your wallet or cards are stolen or lost. The service not only protects your bills from being ran up, but also it protects you personally with the high rates of identity theft nowadays. Just check out Privacy Guard's website and see for yourself at www.privacyguard.com.

If all else fails and you don't have your bank's phone number, here's a list of a few. If you don't know what bank your credit card is through, but do have at least the first 6 digits of your account number, the credit card associations may help you locate what bank it is. Also, find their telephone numbers below.

One final tip. Most credit card issuers print a "long distance" phone number on the back of their cards. This phone number can be dialed from out of the country collect if you need to report a stolen credit card. Keep this number also on the list with your account numbers, it might come in handy.