Steps to Take If You Can’t Find Your Wallet
We’ve all been there. We’ve patted our pockets, looked in our bags, and searched where we last put our keys – only to realize that we’ve lost our wallet. Naturally, when you can’t find your wallet, you panic. Whether you’ve misplaced it or think it’s been stolen, it’s important to keep calm so that you can move through the steps to find it or replace it. Check out these tips on how to minimize the damage if it has been stolen and how to handle losing your wallet.
Retrace your steps
You may have already done this three or four times, but enlist the help of someone you trust to look for your wallet with you in the last place that you can remember having it. A fresh pair of eyes may help you find it. If not…
Call the issuer of your debit card
Thieves can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time. Call your bank or financial institution and let them know that your card may have been stolen. Your bank will immediately cancel your debit card and issue you a replacement with a new account number.
Call your credit card companies
Call the companies of all of your credit cards to cancel those cards. You won’t be responsible for any fraudulent purchases on your credit card as long as you report your card stolen before a thief starts using it. If they do manage to use it before you report it stolen, you may be responsible for up to $50 of unauthorized purchases.
Set up fraud alerts with the national credit bureaus
The last thing you want is for thieves stealing your identity and using it to open new credit cards or loans in your name. Get in contact with one of the three national credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax or TransUnion) and request that they place a fraud alert on your credit report.
File a police report
Filing a police report is a key step in protecting your identity. If you’re a victim of identity theft, you should have paperwork that reports this crime. You may also need a police report to get a new driver’s license or Social Security card.
Make a list of what else was in your wallet
Driver’s license, Social Security card, library cards, gym membership cards… Write down anything else that you had in your wallet so that you can address each card and receive replacements.
To protect your wallet, always keep it out of sight and avoid carrying too many cards in your wallet. Another great way to safeguard your finances is to secure the right insurance. The team at Hoffman Brown Company can help. For assistance with insurance policy reviews and recommendations, contact us today.
