Lost or Stolen Visa Credit and Debit Cards (2024)

FAQs

Lost or Stolen Visa Credit and Debit Cards? ›

If your card is lost, stolen, damaged or compromised, we will work with your financial institution to approve and expedite the delivery of an emergency card to you, usually within 1 to 3 days. For help, call us toll free (1-800-847-2911) or use one of our global toll-free-numbers from the dropdown menu above.

Call — or get on the mobile app — and report the loss or theft to the bank or credit union that issued the card as soon as possible. Federal law says you're not responsible to pay for charges or withdrawals made without your permission if they happen after you report the loss.

With our Zero Liability policy, you're covered if your card is ever lost, stolen or fraudulently used. Visa's Zero Liability Policy does not apply to certain commercial card and anonymous prepaid card transactions or transactions not processed by Visa.

If there is unauthorized use of your card before you report it missing, the most you will owe for unauthorized charges on the card is $50. Many cardholder agreements say you are not responsible for any charges in this circ*mstance.

The police can then investigate the matter and potentially file felony charges against the culprit. If the thief is found and convicted, the judge can order that the thief pay victim restitution; or. Filing a civil lawsuit. The victim can sue the thief for theft and fraud.

If your debit card or personal pin identification number (PIN) was lost or stolen, you must notify the bank within two business days after learning of the loss or theft. The bank cannot hold you responsible for more than the amount of any unauthorized transactions or $50, whichever is less.

Banks can only locate the merchant of the last transactions, not the card itself. Debit and credit cards don't have built-in tracking technology. In cases of lost or stolen debit cards, getting a new card is often a safer choice since the card's information may have become compromised.

In the United States, banks have 10 business days to investigate fraud after a customer makes a claim. If the bank hasn't made a determination by this point, they need to credit the customer while they continue to investigate temporarily.

If your card is compromised, you'll have to act fast to avoid losing money. If you report a loss within two days, the most you can lose is $50, according to federal law. But you risk losing up to $500 from your account if you wait up to 60 days — or the entire amount in your account if you wait longer.

Skimming. Identity thieves can retrieve account data from your card's magnetic strip using a device called a skimmer, which they can stash in ATMs and store card readers. They can then use that data to produce counterfeit cards. EMV chip cards, which are replacing magnetic strip cards, can reduce this risk.

What happens if someone steals your debit card and uses it? ›

What Happens If My Debit Card Is Used Fraudulently? Often, funds are withdrawn from your account unless your bank is set up to suspend suspicious transactions automatically. If it does happen, you can contact your bank or financial institution and work with them to get your money back.

Unfortunately, you can't directly access information about who used your card. However, you should report any unauthorized transactions immediately to your card issuer, who may investigate.

In fact, you're protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act, a federal law limiting your liability to $50 if anyone makes fraudulent credit card charges, if the card loss or theft is reported to the card issuer.

What should I do if my card is lost? Whether you are at home or abroad, if you believe that your card has been lost, you should contact your bank immediately to report it.

The Fair Credit Billing Act limits your liability if someone uses your card without your permission. If you contact the card issuer before someone uses your card, your liability is $0. If someone uses your card before you report it lost or stolen, your maximum responsibility is $50.

Contact your credit card issuer as soon as you realise your card is missing. Most issuers have 24/7 customer service lines specifically for reporting lost or stolen cards. Reporting the loss immediately helps prevent unauthorised transactions and limits your liability.