Lost or Stolen Debit Card

Banking, Personal Finance, Budgeting, Tracking Purchase History, Money Management

In This Guide:

The realization of a lost or stolen debit card can easily and quickly result in a sudden panic attack. This is a common occurence among teens and young adults, with immediate concerns such as "what do I do?" and "am I going to lose all of my money?" and "I need to contact my bank right away." When someone you care about is stressing over a lost or stolen debit card, follow this eGuide to help ease their concerns and encourage them through a constructive course of action.

He or She Might Be Thinking About...

How could I let this happen?
Did I lose my debit card?
Was my card stolen?
Where is the last place I had my card?
I feel like I'm losing my mind.
I can't believe this.
What do I do?
My online bank account shows several recent transactions. How do I dispute those charges?
Can I get refunded for unauthorized charges on my card?
How long does it take for my refund to be delivered to my account?
Will my bank charge me for a new card?
How do I make purchases until I get a new banking card?
How long will it take for a new debit card to arrive?
Am I at risk for identity theft?
Will this have a negative impact on my credit score?
Do I need to transfer my money out of that account?
What am I going to tell my spouse/parents?

Words That Might Be Encouraging

The most important thing to do is call your bank right away.
Don't panic, we will figure this out together.
It's a good thing you discovered it was missing quickly.
I'm sure your bank will helpyou get everything taken care of.
These sort of things happen all of the time. Don't beat yourself up about it, accidents happen.
What can I do to help? Can I call anyone for you?
Your bank will understand and be forgiving.
Take a deep breath.
Maybe someone will find your card and turn it in.
Have faith that a good, honest person will find it.