gardengrl

I seem to read over and over again to make a photo copy of both the front & back of your credit cards and pack a copy your other copies of travel documents and also leave a copy at home.

Why a copy? Why not just your number, security # and phone numbers for your bank if you have to cancel your account written down someplace separate from your cards (and copy at home with a trusted person)?

I had this discussion with two people today and they both insisted you need to make copies, but neither could tell me why an actual copy is needed vs. just having the card number and issuer phone number.

Can anyone tell me what the advantage is of the copy? Thanks!

abram

I can't--we've never made copies.

Seamus

Cannot imagine why you would need the copy. As long as you have the info (acct # and CVV code, number to call if lost including non-800 # that will work from abroad) you should be fine.

DebitNM

I lay all my cards on the xerox copier glass and do them all in one fell swope. Then I do the backs, copying them back to back. Everything on 1 page. Easy to do.

LSky

I don't think I'd be comfortable making copies of my cc. Why?

If I loose my card, it would be easy enough to get a hold of VISA. I know all of my personal information.

My husband and I split up our cards. I carry one cc, he another. Same with ATMs.

gardengrl

L Sky, do you write down the numbers in case you need to cancel them?

MarnieWDC

I never make copies of CCs, but note down, as Seamus suggested, the numbers and contact #s.

I do make a copy of my Passport to carry in foreign cities - while I leave the Passport itself locked in the hotel room/or safe or in the apartment we rent.

LSky

Not at all. Little pieces of paper can escape and I don't want that falling into the hands of someone who wants to fly 1st class on my economy dime :0

hetismij2

I have all essential numbers in an e-mail to myself of g-mail. That way I can always access it. It does include a copy of my passport, but not of my cards.

I never make copies of anything to take with me, certainly not of my CC. The one time I needed to cancel everything I just phoned with my name, they asked a security question and cancelled, without me needing the number. Same with my bank passes, which though with different banks could all be cancelled with a single phone call.

hetismij2

Oh and you should never keep the cvc with the card number. As Lsky suggests that way a thief has enough information to book things online for instance, or even cancel your card and have the new one sent to a different address!

LSky

An even worse scenerio htismij, to cancel the cc.

abram

Although I have trouble remembering my SS#, my cc# is memorized--so I don't have to worry about copies.

suze

I have never made copies of my credit cards. There is no reason it is any better than having the information written down, to answer your question.

I do have CC numbers written in the back of my address book. And in a separate location the security code and the number to call in from outside the U.S.

MissGreen

I have never made copies of my credit cards and I have never been in a situation where I needed the copies.

nyer

Like DebitNM says it;s purely for convenience. Why copy down all that information (and potentially get a digit wrong somewhere) when all you have to do is lay the cards on the copy machine. Many home printers have copiers so no risk of leaving your cards or the copy somewhere.

There are so many different credit card companies and bank divisions to deal with, who would know what phone number to call? Having your account information definitely makes the process of reporting a lost or stoien card faster.

You don't need to keep the copy with you, but leave it with a trusted person and/or your traveling companion . You can take the copy with you when traveling and guard it as you would the original cards or spare cash--maybe keep in hotel safe)

There's no reason to be so scared of making the copies as long as you guard it. If you can carry around the original cards which have CVV code, and you could lose or have those stolen, why is everyone more afraid of losing the paper?

MissGreen

You don't need your card details to phone the bank and cancel them if stole. Why have a second copy of info you need to "guard" like an original card.

ShelliDawn

nyer,

I would notice right away that my credit card was missing and cancel it immediately. I might not notice that the copy is missing and while I'm unaware rack up all sorts of charges against my card. And by not having copies, that one less thing to have to keep track of.

nyer

ShelliDawn, Miss Green, I thnk it's fine not to make the copies. This thread after all was started to answer the question of "is it required" and I think the consensus is "of course not"

I like to make the copies and find it very convenient. It's fine if other people have a different opinion and solution that works better for them. I was just surprised that some people seemed to me more worried about the "dangers" (my word) of making copies. To me it is no more worrisome than carrying the original cards, that's all I meant.