What to do when your credit cards are stolen abroad
While touring El Alto in Bolivia last week, someone “borrowed my wallet”. As a rule, I never carry cash, only credit cards (benefits here). This is a comparison of how easy it was to get a replacement card sent abroad from Chase Sapphire Reserve and Capital One, as well as a duplicate driver’s license.
The 7 things to do when your card is stolen abroad
- Always carry cards in separate places. I carry some cards on my wallet, some on my PC bag, and some in my luggage. Thus, I had spare credit and debit cards and it wasn’t an issue.
2. Have new cards sent to you abroad, for free.
I called Chase Sapphire Reserve and Capital One, one after the other. The new cards arrived overseas 3 days later, free of charge.
3. Have a Google Hangouts or Skype account to be able to call back the US, for free.
4. Call Visa Global Assistance (collect at +1–303–967–1096). They have Global Toll-Free Numbers. They will place a request for an Emergency Card through your bank and send it to you, for free (pictured).
5. Call your bank. The call to Chase Sapphire Reserve (800–436–7970, or collect 614–776–7050) took less than 15 minutes. A well-trained representative sent a replacement card which arrived abroad 3 days later. At Capital One (1–800–227–4825, or collect 1–804–934–2001) the representative provided incorrect information. She said that cards could only be shipped within the US. When I asked her about the Visa Global Assistance program, she was not aware of it. Capital One did send a card overseas when I reached out through Visa Global Assistance.
6. File a claim with Purchase Security online here. (or call 1–800–882–8057). They will provide a refund for most items paid with a Visa credit card. I am curious about whether they will also cover the cost of my driver’s license.
7. Help someone. I live in NYC, and every day when I walk from Penn Station to the office, I see at least 10 people making bogus claims. Thus, I don’t pay attention to them. When I was trying to get down from El Alto, my cable card ticket had also been stolen. A young couple with a baby paid for my ticket. Thus, I owe someone. I’ll go out of my way to help someone else.
II. Problems & Solutions when reporting your card stolen abroad
There are no payphones or fixed lines anymore. Even if banks provide call collect numbers, there are no pay-phones one can use anymore. Many hotels charge to access toll-free numbers. Tmobile charges for the use of Hangouts overseas. Solution: use Skype (calls to 800 numbers are free), Hangouts (either from your PC or on a phone without a Tmobile card) or use Tmobile’s free Wifi calling.
Visa Global Assistance issues
Because their service is global and free to all Visa cardmembers, I wish I could give them a good review. I can’t. But here is how to sort out the problems I encountered with them:
Plan the call will take over an hour. You are reaching a call center. Be respectful, polite and firm in your request (see below why).
Visa Global Assistance sends automated messages, likely to be incorrect. Their first message said I would receive the card the next day. I knew that was likely to be incorrect. I called them back. The email was sent by error.
“The local address provided is not in the DHL system”. When the representative stated that, I insisted that it was the correct address. They used Google Maps to check the address and that caused further delays.
Expect you will have to call back. Even though it’s hard to call back from overseas, they are unwilling to help by email (emergencyservices@visa.com). You will have to call them.
Ask for a supervisor. The delays were solved once I asked to speak to a supervisor. He was quite helpful and nice.
Police report issues
While you won’t need a police report to report your card as stolen, the Purchase Protection plan does require one.
In some places, an issue of jurisdiction may arise. The police may require that you file the report in the neighborhood where the incident happened. I explained at the police station I visited that in the neighborhood where it happened an officer had told me that I couldn’t file it there because it was a Sunday and they didn’t have many officers on duty because it was a high crime area… The police at that station recommended that I filed the report at the Central Station instead. They were quite helpful at FELC (well done USAid) in La Paz, Bolivia (pictured). They were willing to take the report despite the fact I didn’t have an ID with me (they called me on my mobile to verify my identity instead).
Keep copies of all your receipts. I keep a copy of all my receipts on my phone. This makes it easy to then file a report with any insurance company.
III. Getting a duplicate driver’s license sent abroad
In my opinion, the best driver’s license is the Swiss one, because it never expires. That’s a backup I use as needed. DHL, UPS, and USPS provide quick delivery of such documents abroad (at very expensive rates, see below). I once got it sent from NYC to Sydney, Australia, in 3 days.
Florida: a benefit to residents of Florida is that they will mail a duplicate license. Many years ago, when I tried it, it was quite easy. Currently, the rule is as follows:
“If you are out of state temporarily and need a replacement license to be mailed to you, you can order one online or by mail here”.
Unfortunately, that service is now not available to everyone (immigrants are now excluded).
IV. Cost to send a document abroad: UPS, DHL, USPS & FedEx
Cost and times it takes from New York to Buenos Aires (flat envelope)
Carrier, Days, Cost
UPS: 2 days, $ 60.62
DHL: 2 days, $ 86.74
USPS: 4 days, $ 61.85
FedEx: 3 days, $ 101.88
Note: Prices shown include all discounts available to anyone as of 1/20/2020. Corporate discounts will significantly reduce the cost.
V. Should you worry about fraudulent charges?
No, you shouldn’t. The reason why I have always used US-issued credit cards, even when I lived in Europe and Asia, is that I know that as a consumer I will not be liable for any fraudulent charges. Even if it takes me up to 59 days to report it. To note, this is the only aspect where Capital One beat the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. I was able to lock my Capital One on my iPhone, but not the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Conclusion
Travel. Bolivia is one of the 193 countries I have visited. Even if something wrong happens, it’s easy to solve it. Use debit and credit cards instead of cash. Meet people. See places. It’s fun.