Help -- wallet stolen, no cash, no credits cards
Dec 8th, 2015, 06:54 AM
#1
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Help -- wallet stolen, no cash, no credits cards
I'm in a bad situation, and any help or suggestions are welcome.
My wallet was stolen while I was getting on the train from Lyon to CDG today. So, I am at a hotel in CDG, no money, no credit cards. I do have my passport, and fortunately was able to check in. I am scheduled to fly to Hong Kong tomorrow morning.
I have notified the banks about the various cards, but I am at a loss how to deal with Hong Kong. Any practical tips would be extremely welcome.
p.s.: while I am sure that suggestions about how to avoid such situations are well-intended, they're not my primary focus right now. Thx,
(cross-posted in Asia)
My e-mail is in my profile if anyone wants tpo contact directly
My wallet was stolen while I was getting on the train from Lyon to CDG today. So, I am at a hotel in CDG, no money, no credit cards. I do have my passport, and fortunately was able to check in. I am scheduled to fly to Hong Kong tomorrow morning.
I have notified the banks about the various cards, but I am at a loss how to deal with Hong Kong. Any practical tips would be extremely welcome.
p.s.: while I am sure that suggestions about how to avoid such situations are well-intended, they're not my primary focus right now. Thx,
(cross-posted in Asia)
My e-mail is in my profile if anyone wants tpo contact directly
Dec 8th, 2015, 07:08 AM
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Some credit card companies are said to express ship cards overseas. I have never done it: http://www.creditcards.com/credit-ca...survey1267.php
Amex is supposed to be able to issue a replacement at their oversea locations, but alas, they are difficult to use except at high end places. http://www.creditcards.com/credit-ca...ement-1267.php
Amex is supposed to be able to issue a replacement at their oversea locations, but alas, they are difficult to use except at high end places. http://www.creditcards.com/credit-ca...ement-1267.php
Dec 8th, 2015, 07:11 AM
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Sounds like a nightmare. What I would do:
1. Contact your credit card organization and ask them how you get an ersatz card.
2. Contact your home bank and ask them what they can offer. At least they can transfer money to Western Union or Moneygram or another transaction manager. They have offices at airports and in the city centres. A solution might be a money transfer to your hotel which may give you some cash (at least to pay the taxi driver!), but I am afraid this works with luxury hotels only.
1. Contact your credit card organization and ask them how you get an ersatz card.
2. Contact your home bank and ask them what they can offer. At least they can transfer money to Western Union or Moneygram or another transaction manager. They have offices at airports and in the city centres. A solution might be a money transfer to your hotel which may give you some cash (at least to pay the taxi driver!), but I am afraid this works with luxury hotels only.
Dec 8th, 2015, 07:25 AM
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[email protected] 1-888-407-4747 (From the United States and Canada) +1-202-501-4444 (From all other countries)
I can only recommend a call to the Embassy for advice in addition to those recs above. Thought you were still in Lyon hence the contact for the consulate I included in the Asia post. Good luck, Don.... Damn!
Stu
I can only recommend a call to the Embassy for advice in addition to those recs above. Thought you were still in Lyon hence the contact for the consulate I included in the Asia post. Good luck, Don.... Damn!
Stu
Dec 8th, 2015, 07:29 AM
#5
If arriving in HKG a day or 2 later isn't a big problem, I'd have a word with your airline regarding a change.
Speak to each card-issuing entity regarding a new card, same day or overnight.
If you have an American Express card: " Need Emergency Services? –When you travel more than 100 miles from home, you have 24/7 access to medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services including medical and legal referrals, assistance with cash wires, passport replacement, missing luggage and more."
Call your bank. They may very well have a relationship with a bank where you can pickup cash.
Speak to each card-issuing entity regarding a new card, same day or overnight.
If you have an American Express card: " Need Emergency Services? –When you travel more than 100 miles from home, you have 24/7 access to medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services including medical and legal referrals, assistance with cash wires, passport replacement, missing luggage and more."
Call your bank. They may very well have a relationship with a bank where you can pickup cash.
Dec 8th, 2015, 07:40 AM
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Calling your bank and asking for assistance ?
HAving money wired to your hotel and then given to you ?
(sorry no experience, just throwing ideas that you probably had).
Offereing you my moral support, it must be a PITA....
HAving money wired to your hotel and then given to you ?
(sorry no experience, just throwing ideas that you probably had).
Offereing you my moral support, it must be a PITA....
Dec 8th, 2015, 07:55 AM
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Several years ago this happened to me in London just before leaving for Dubrovnik. I called credit card company and a new card was waiting for me when I arrived at my hotel in Dubrovnik the next day. All done over a holiday too. Can't promise you your credit card company will do do this, but they certainly have the ability to do so. Insist!
My husband was with me so not the same immediate emergency as yours but have been loyal to that card company since then. Also lost a Wells Fargo card at same time. Call to them was a huge waste of time. No help at all. I think the person you talk to is important. If they don't seem willing to help you, call again or ask to speak to someone else. When I got home, I cancelled that card and my account.
My husband was with me so not the same immediate emergency as yours but have been loyal to that card company since then. Also lost a Wells Fargo card at same time. Call to them was a huge waste of time. No help at all. I think the person you talk to is important. If they don't seem willing to help you, call again or ask to speak to someone else. When I got home, I cancelled that card and my account.
Dec 8th, 2015, 08:07 AM
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Many years ago something like this happened to me in Paris. Did you go to the police station and file a report? I called home and got someone to send some cash to the nearest Western Union office, could you do the same and collect at Hong Kong airport?
Dec 8th, 2015, 10:53 AM
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Resolved (apparently).
Mme Perdu has the winning answer. It would take 3-4 days for AmEx to get me a new card in Hong Kong (supposed to fly there tom'w), but, as Mme Perdu says, AmEx has an emergency/crisis department. They're arranging to wire me a bunch of cash, plus they'll contact my hotels in Hong Kong to see if the hotels will charge my AmEx card directly.
Meanwhile, thumbs up for the Citizen M hotel at CDG. Helpful and friendly staff (my God, in Paris??) who have gone out of their way to help out.
Mme Perdu has the winning answer. It would take 3-4 days for AmEx to get me a new card in Hong Kong (supposed to fly there tom'w), but, as Mme Perdu says, AmEx has an emergency/crisis department. They're arranging to wire me a bunch of cash, plus they'll contact my hotels in Hong Kong to see if the hotels will charge my AmEx card directly.
Meanwhile, thumbs up for the Citizen M hotel at CDG. Helpful and friendly staff (my God, in Paris??) who have gone out of their way to help out.
Dec 8th, 2015, 11:16 AM
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Tss Don, I know some people in Paris who are nice.
BTW, glad that you solved it and thanks - I just put away 3 of my cards that I don't often use, they can be used as back-up should I lose my wallet...
Mvg.
BTW, glad that you solved it and thanks - I just put away 3 of my cards that I don't often use, they can be used as back-up should I lose my wallet...
Mvg.
Dec 8th, 2015, 12:15 PM
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What a scary moment of panic that must have been when you realized all your resources were gone. Kuddos for having the good sense to post here for help. I'm glad everything was solvable. (Most problems are, but sometimes it doesn't seem that way!)
Enjoy the rest of your vacay!
Enjoy the rest of your vacay!
Dec 8th, 2015, 12:46 PM
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Yes, glad it worked out. For all readers of this post and future travelers, dotheboyshall has excellent advice. Also a good idea to check with your credit card company before departure to see what emergency opts they provide.
My credit card was not American Express, but the results were the same. Simply amazing to me that credit card was waiting at my hotel when I arrived 24 hours later.
My credit card was not American Express, but the results were the same. Simply amazing to me that credit card was waiting at my hotel when I arrived 24 hours later.
