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| Lost Wallet Or Purse |
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Business Travel 911 August 2005 • Vol.3 Issue 8 |
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Lost Wallet Or Purse |
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 Losing a purse or wallet is a frustrating experience, and if your pocket is picked while you’re on a business trip many miles away from home, the distance only seems to accentuate that frustration. Whether it is pictures of family and friends or business cards of colleagues, you probably carry tidbits of your life in your wallet or pocketbook. Although losing these things may seem bad enough, you still have to worry about your personal financial information, as well. Driver’s licenses; credit, debit, and ATM cards; and social security cards can give thieves hints to accessing the nest egg, not to mention the financial identity, you’ve spent most of your adult life building. We’re going to take a look at what you can do to stay safe if your purse or wallet is ever lost or stolen. Here are a few tips for replacing critical items, as well as a few tips on damage control and how to minimize the negative effects of losing personal documents.  Cell Phones A cell phone that ends up in the wrong hands can end up costing you some serious cash. Not only could you be held responsible for paying for the calls someone else makes on your phone, but you also are out an expensive handset in addition to all the numbers you store in your phone’s phonebook. We often underestimate the importance of our cell phones until we no longer have them. If you lose your cell phone, you need to inform your cell phone service provider. Karen Smith, PR Manager for Verizon Wireless, says, “Immediately call and suspend your service as you are liable for calls made up until we hear from you.” In the chance that someone would steal your phone or it becomes lost while you are on your trip, there are a few things you can do before you leave to ensure your contacts aren’t lost down the road. If you area frequent traveler, check with your provider about buying insurance for your cell phone. Generally, your provider can tack this insurance onto your monthly bill. Rates for insuring your phone will vary by phone, but you can plan to pay an extra $3 to $5 per month with a $35 to $50 deductible. Sprint, for instance, has a plan that will replace the lost phone with a new, warranty-included handset, for $5 per month. Also, many cell phone providers offer a service that lets you back up your contacts list. For instance, Verizon offers the Backup Assistant, a feature of its Get It Now application that costs $1.99 per month. Smith explains, “Backup Assistant creates a copy of your cell phone’s contacts list on a secure, password-protected Web site.” This way if you lose your phone, you won’t lose all of your contacts’ phone numbers. Credit/Debit Cards Credit card theft is one of the biggest worries among travelers who lose their purses or wallets. If you misplace either of the items, or if someone steals them, you not only have to worry about someone potentially charging thousands of dollars to your card, but you also may worry about identity theft. However, contrary to popular belief, a thief cannot steal your identity if the only thing he has is your credit card. Jessica Antle, a spokesperson for MasterCard, says, “You cannot have your identity stolen if someone steals your credit card. . . . You need to have other information like a date of birth, social security number, or mailing address.”
If you suspect you’re a victim of identity theft, follow the advice on the FTC’s ID Theft Web page (www.consumer.gov/idtheft) and begin recovering by contacting the fraud departments of any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file. Next, you will want to close any accounts you fear the thief might tamper with using information he obtained from items in your wallet or purse. You should also contact your local police and file a report of theft and send a copy of the report to your creditors. In addition to all these other things, you will want to file a complaint with the FTC. Upon your return home, obtain a credit report to make sure no new or unusual charges appear on your existing accounts and that there are no new accounts that show up without your knowledge. Check with the company that issues your credit card to learn its policy on fraudulent purchases someone makes using your card. Most credit card companies have implemented policies absolving you of the obligation of paying for purchases that you didn’t make. Driver’s License One thing just about all of us carry with us in wallets or pocketbooks is our driver’s licenses. This little laminated card is a license to freedom, but without it anyone can feel restricted and helpless. What can you do if you someone swipes your ticket to drive? Most states offer you the ability to get a replacement fairly easily. For example, Georgia (www.georgia.gov) offers temporary licenses for those citizens who are out of state. Connecticut is similar in that it offers replacement licenses to drivers who have misplaced their drivers' licenses and who are temporarily away from their home state. A downside to this, though, is the process involves waiting for the state DMV (Department Of Motor Vehicles) to mail out a new license, which could leave you sitting on your thumbs for the better part of a week-long business trip. As you prepare for your trip, you may want to check out your state’s replacement license policy and jot down the phone number of your local DMV. Social Security Card We strongly recommend memorizing your social security number and storing the original card someplace safe. However, if someone does get a hold of your card, there are options for replacing the card. According to the Social Security Online Web site (www.socialsecurity.gov), to apply for a replacement card you need to fill out Form SS-5. You also need to provide proof of your identity. Documents you can use to prove this include your driver’s license, marriage or divorce records, life insurance policy, or passport. Although this will get you a new card, you won’t get a new social security number. Social Security doesn’t take special action to monitor accounts of the people who have recently replaced a card. If you fear someone might be stealing your identity, you should file a report, online or by phone, with the Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov) immediately. Traveling Abroad If you’re planning to travel anywhere outside of the United States, there is some key information you should obtain before leaving. Track down the phone number of the closest U.S. Embassy to where you’re staying, and then jot it down in a few different places. You may want to write that number down on a few slips of paper, as well, and put them in the pockets of your suit jackets so you always have the number on you. If you lose your wallet or purse, or if you happen to get robbed while you are on a trip, the embassy is the first place you should contact, even before the local police. The embassy can help you get the information you need to replace your lost identification, as well as assist you in filing a police report with the local authorities. If you lose your passport, the embassy also can provide you with the proper forms and paperwork to get you back home. Visit the U.S. Department of State’s Web site (www.travel.state.gov) and you can register your trip and find contact information for the embassy in your country. Make The Best Of It Losing your wallet or purse while on the road is a stressful situation to say the least. However, if you follow this simple guide, you may be able to save some time and frustration and make the best out of a rotten situation.  by Sam Evans
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