What happens if my wallet is lost or stolen while abroad?
I am planning a trip to eastern/northern Europe - this will be my first time traveling outside of the United States. My plan was to have a set amount of USD converted to foreign currency, then put most of my expenses on a credit card that does not charge foreign transaction fees, then just pay the expenses when I return home. It will be a backpacking style trip, so I won't be staying at one hostel/hotel any more than a couple of days.
A thought came to my head when a coworker was mentioning pickpockets in a certain city. What if my wallet is lost or stolen while abroad with all of my currency in it? What are my options in order to obtain a replacement credit card while traveling? What steps should I take to prevent losing all of my money & cards at once?
Best Answer
Where are you traveling? The 'good' thing is getting pickpocketed in most developed or developing areas is the same as getting pickpocketed at home...you lose the wallet and whatever is in it.
So, the same rules apply:
- Be careful
- Don't carry more than you need
- Report any cards stolen immediately
- Keep a spare in a secure location
- Don't carry any travel docs unless absolutely necessary
- Don't risk getting hurt over any amount or money
if you have alternate cards, it may not be worth trying to get a replacement while traveling.
Pictures about "What happens if my wallet is lost or stolen while abroad?"
What if you lose your wallet in a foreign country?
If abroad, approach your national consulate or embassy They can help you communicate with the police, get in touch with your emergency contacts back home, and arrange for temporary travel documents that will allow you to move about freely in the visiting country.Can I travel if I lost my wallet?
This may not be an option for all travelers, but if you lose your wallet before leaving your home airport, then you should consider putting travel on hold until you're able to replace your documents\u2014you should always travel with at least a debit or credit card.What to do if your wallet is stolen at the airport?
If you've determined that you've lost your wallet or that it's been stolen, the first thing you need to do is notify your bank and credit card companies. Call the 24-hour emergency number for your bank and credit card company.What to do if you know who stole your wallet?
Lost or Stolen Wallet? Here's What to DoWhat to do if your passport is stolen overseas
More answers regarding what happens if my wallet is lost or stolen while abroad?
Answer 2
Others have already addressed how to avoid loss of all cards and handle replacements of ones you do need to replace, but one really important ingredient is what you do in the mean time while you have no money. Having a purely electronic way to make payment can help with that part of the problem, at least when you're in a location where you can find places to use it. This could include:
- having a PayPal account and knowing your password to it (but be careful not to access it from sketchy computers or change the password ASAP after you do).
- having memorized the number for a credit card you did not carry with you and did not lose (i.e. one you didn't call to cancel after the loss/theft), so you can let merchants who are willing to trust you a bit enter it manually or use it online.
Answer 3
Never carry all eggs in one basket. If you have all money and credit card in one wallet, in case of lost, you're out of financial means. In that case you should contact your embassy/consulate, they could lend you emergency funds that would enable you to return home.
The best option is never to have all money in your place. Put a part of your money in wallet, a part in another wallet in your belt etc. At best you should have enough money to return home in your backup location.
Unless your bank has its agencies in Europe, it might be unrealistic to get credit card replacement. If they have, it should be possible to pay out money without credit card, so you won't be left out of money. But better be safe then sorry.
As a general rule, when travelling, never assume you will be able to use your credit card or ATM card. Use it for paying for extras which you don't need, but always have enough money to cover your necessities, like transport and hotel.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Rachel Claire, Ann H, Andrew Neel, Jens Johnsson