What to Do When Your Wallet Is Lost or Stolen

 

I was disappointed.  I lost my wallet at a store and I returned the next day to check customer service with a secret hope that I would find it but doubt in my heart.  No one had turned it in, someone had taken it.  Or aliens came down from outer space and it had been beamed up above.   

 

I realized my wallet was missing after (and I’m sure this is one of the cashier’s favorite moments) all of my groceries had almost been scanned and bagged.  I rummaged through my bag and emptied it into the cart but my wallet was missing.  I apologized to the perturbed looking cashier trying her hardest not to roll her eyes as I slinked away with my six-year old asking lots of loud questions and my toddler screaming to get down.  My mind was whirling with where my wallet was as I returned to my car.  Then it dawned on me.  I had just purchased two drinks at the coffee shop in the same store before putting groceries in my cart. 

 

I returned to the coffee counter about an hour after I had bought the drinks to find nothing.  The workers said they had cleaned up as soon as I’d left and they did not see my wallet.  One of them suggested (which I’m sure he wished he kept his mouth shut) that maybe I could have thrown it away.  So he went to the back and searched the trash for it, then returned saying it wasn’t there.  The only other option was: I had placed it on the counter and someone had taken it, it had fallen or been tossed out of the cart by my toddler.  So I proceeded to check around the store for my wallet asking workers if they had seen it.  I left after checking customer service and giving them my information.  While at customer service I called my bank and canceled the only card I had in my wallet. 

 

In a world with identities being stolen my mind was racing with all of the information I had left in my wallet for a thief:  my driver’s license, recreation card, work out cards, zoo pass, health card and several small gift cards.  I went home and searched what to do if you lose or have your wallet stolen.  This is what I found out and what I did.  I hope this helps you should you ever find yourself in the same situation.

 

1. About an hour after my wallet was lost I contacted my bank to report my debit card stolen and found out to my relief that I was the last one to use it.  Although perhaps I was lucky that someone didn’t go on an immediate shopping spree and I should have canceled it much sooner.  As soon as you realize your card is missing and not resurfacing you should cancel it.  You will receive new cards in about a week.  Keep the contact numbers for your bank and credit cards in the car for easy retrieval.  With credit cards if a thief does get a hold of them before you cancel them you are only liable for $50.00 but with debit cards it gets more complicated with bank fees.

 

1. Make a police report even if you wallet or purse is just lost because it could be in the wrong hands and this will give you a safety net later with creditors and if you ever need it to prosecute.  Contact the police station in the place where it was stolen.  I called an automated service which takes a report for all sorts of different things.  Once I completed the report the police emailed a copy of it with a case number.  If you need an official copy you can send for one with the information given on the automated service.

 

1. My local recreation center said they really couldn’t do anything.  There is no information on the card and I had to pay a small fee to replace it.  This seems to be the case with small cards they can’t really do anything so someone could go use the gym for free or the Zoo.

 

1. When I visited my library I was told I should cancel my card because I would be liable for anything that was taken or be held responsible for any fees.  This is a small annoyance since I have my library card memorized but I did get to choose from an array of snazzy new prints and I now have one for my key chain too.

 

1.   You will of course immediately need to replace your driver’s license at the DMV.  I contacted them and they said to bring in my social security card, birth certificate, passport and they would issue a replacement.  I read that some offices will put an alert on your license.  When I arrived at the DMV I was told that I could not put an alert on my license only purchase a new one for $19.50 and of course the extra dollar for the charity that they always ask about and always say yes, it’s just one less part of a Starbucks coffee that I don’t need.

 

1. If you had checks in your wallet you will want to contact your bank for advice on what to do.  You may have to open a new checking account.    

 

1. You may want to place a temporary alert on your credit through the three big credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union.  If you had your social security number in your wallet, contact the Social Security Administration fraud line.  It was a task getting through the automated services to get advice as to weather I should file a report.  The first person I spoke to was at Trans Union.  The customer service representative took my information and created a file number for me and then I called the fraud assistance line.  I spoke to a representative who said, I would not have any problems if I placed a temporary alert on my credit.  He also said that I could call with my file number and cancel the alert at any time.  The alert is good for 90 days and if you feel its necessary you can extend the alert to seven years if you have filed a police report.  Next I contacted Experian and listened to the information about filing a report which stated many difficulties for me such as: Timely approval for a new loan, credit, insurance, mortgage, rental housing, investments, license, cell phone, extension of credit at a retail store, and applications for credit insurance, employment, using an internet credit card.  With this new information I was a bit annoyed with the Trans Union representative who gave me what seems false or incorrect information.  It would affect me to place a hold on my credit.  So I guess you need to consider if you are planning on opening any credit with in the next 90 days.  If you feel that your credit was truly stolen you probably want to place a temporary fraud alert.

 

1. A few weeks after you have placed a temporary fraud alert on your credit you will want to send for the three free credit reports and look for any suspicious transactions.  You should continue to monitor your credit by reading your bank statements and every six months send for a free credit report at the three national credit agencies (Experian, Trans Union, and Equifax).

 

If a wallet or purse goes missing out side of your home most of the time you’re left to forever wonder if it was lost, stolen, or aliens from outer space did take it but I do have a conclusion to my story.  Just yesterday we received a package with no note or return name.  Only what I guess is a generic address (or perhaps a huge office) and everything seemed to be in my wallet.  I was still nervous.  Why would someone send it (pay $5.00) to mail it to me from a post office not more than a mile away? 

 

I had several theories: one some had stolen it with bad intentions and changed their mind, two a kid picked it up and their parents sent it on, or three someone found it didn’t trust the customer service people or forgot and left the store with it and sent it to me.  I wondered if someone had stolen my information and then sent it back to me to avert suspicions.  I called my bank to see if anyone had attempted to use my card and no one had.  I placed two temporary fraud alerts and am carefully monitoring my credit.  I wish you all the best and hope that your credit/debit cards and personal information is safe. 

 

 

 

 

Information for side bar:

 

Credit Bureaus:

 

 

Experian

 

Experian: 

Click on Contact Us at the top of the screen; scroll down for the fraud department.

www.experian.com

 

Phone (option 4 for security a freeze).

 

1- 888- 397- 3742

 

Address for a security freeze on your credit:

 

Experian

PO Box 9554

Allen, TX

75013

 

 

Equifax

 

http://www.equifax.com/

 

Phone:

 

1-888-766-0008

 

Mailing Address:

Equifax Credit Information
Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA30374

 

 

Place one online at:

 

https://www.alerts.equifax.com/AutoFraud_Online/jsp/fraudAlert.jsp

 

 

 

Trans Union

 

http://www.transunion.com/

 

Address and phone number for fraud report or to remove:

TransUnion Fraud Victim Assistance Department
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA92834

        1-800-680-7289

 

Social Security Fraud Line

Online reporting form and more information:

http://www.ssa.gov/oig/guidelin.htm

Social Security Fraud Hotline

PO Box 17768

Baltimore, Maryland21235

Phone: 1-800-269-0271 (10am -4 pm Eastern Standard time)

Free annual credit report:

www.annualcreditreport.com