Recently I got a call from my attorney that you really don’t want to get. No, I didn’t lose a law suit. Instead, his office was broken into, and part of the records stolen include my credit card info.
So the question is, how to deal with this – and how to prepare for the next time this happens. (If you assume your credit card info will never be stolen, you are taking a risky gamble. I’m rather careful with my personal data and still have to cancel my cards about once every five years).
First, calm down. While it’s annoying, you’re not on the hook for large amounts of money. Federal law limits your liability to $50. Still, it’s a good idea to notify your credit card company immediately. Usually, they cancel your card the moment they receive your call, but if you want to be safe, follow up with a letter.
However, that’s when the fun starts. You’ll likely have several services that get charged to your credit card on a monthly basis. And the card companies take their sweet time to get a new card to you – up to 10 business days. In my case, I started getting lots of e-mails reminding me that my card was invalid – and Vonage was nice enough to cut my international phone services. (Understandable, but rather annoying)
So here’s the list of steps I’m now taking to be prepared:
- Keep a list of all your credit cards complete with the number to contact in case of loss.
- Keep a list of all services that are charged to your card on a recurring basis, complete with contact info.
- And finally, have an alternate card that you can switch over to.
That way, you’ll be able to minimize your hassles once the inevitable happens.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my blog. Bummer your credit card info was stolen…what a pain. You pointed out some great steps to take to prepare yourself in case it happens. Great post.