credit card copies
 

I keep searching past posts for checklist of things to bring for my trip to Italy next week, and i keep seeing bring copies of cc's. Is this not a security risk if the copies get lost? if you only copy the back of the card then you have the #s to call, but not the card numbers to report lost, hmmm?! Any suggestions or is this overkill?

When I travel, I want to be sure I have a record of the credit card number and the phone number to call if lost or stolen. Whether I do this by photocopying the card or writing the info in my journal, I've got the information. I also have a copy of the inside cover of my passport stored in my suitcase. Thankfully, I have never needed any of this while traveling but I like knowing that I can quickly get it.

Now, maybe THIS is overkill - but I leave of copy of this information with someone at home who could fax it to me if needed. Peace of mind for me.

We have 6 different credit or ATM cards that we both can use. I keep 3 in my wallet, and my wife keeps 3 different ones in her purse. Her purse has a double zipper & a strap, and I keep my wallet in my front pocket.

We put together a spreadsheet listing the CC number, who has it, what number to call if lost, the customer service number, and any other pertinent info. We made 2 copies and laminated each one. I keep one in my shoe under the liner at all times, and my wife keeps one in her shoe.

We make copies of our passports, but that's all.

Stu Dudley

I used to be more cautious than I am now. I used to make a list to take with us of all the credit card numbers along with the numbers to call.
But if the CC # was
1234-5678-9012-3456 (16 digits) I'd write it as 9012-3456-1234-5678
In other words I'd use the second set of 8 digits first, then the first set of 8 digits. Sounds harder than it is.

Also, many places in France still print your full CC number on the receipt.

Stu Dudley

I jot down the info in a page of my small, special for travel, address book.

Find a way to keep the numbers of the CC secure on your travels. My wife lost her pocketbook with all her credit cards and passport - and having copies of all made it easier to stop felonius charges and get replacements as well as get passport replacement. We did go to the police to report the theft. But that is another story as this happen in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.

I don't carry copies, just extra paperwork. All you need is the CC number (and the phone number for customer svc which I have in my address book, anyway).

I admit I write them in my address book with a cryptic heading in an area away from the phone number for the company. I don't encode the number, that seems enough for me for my security concerns. This is a very small address book I keep in my purse (about the size of a credit card and maybe 1/4 inch thick). This is secure enough for me.

Any thief would probably be able to find the phone numbers for company easily enough, I wouldn't worry for that reason, though, just carrying around extra copies of cards seems overkill to me.

Make a copy of your driver's license also

I had my wallet picked from my buttoned front shirt pocket in the Metro in Rome last October. She(only person it could have possibly been) took the cash (only 50 euros, Metrebus Lazio weekly pass, and my credit cards) I got the credit cards cancelled.

I was not able to rent a car that evening because I had left the International Drivers License (from AAA) in the villa south of Rome (My brother in law rented the car)

Incidentally, you are allowed to drive with a police report stating you wallet has been stolen but EuropeCar wanted a driver's license with a picture on it before they would let me have the car.

Also, a lady from Texas found the wallet discarded in the Metro and I eventually got it back.

Someone mentioned the copy of the passport. Definitely, definitely have copies of your passport and ID. Having had a passport stolen in London (don't ask, stupid college kid thing - me being the stupid college kid, but that was many years ago) it is very helpful to have all that stuff with you if you need to trek to the embassy for a replacement. Figure out a system for putting down your credit card numbers and the number to call if they get stolen (that I didn't do, and it was a pain to track down the right place, although the manager of the club in which the theft occurred was most helpful - would say where it was and share their goodwill if I remembered, but I don't and that's another story).

Try using a password protected flash drive to store numbers in. Pop it into any USB port and you've got all the info, but nobody else can get it if you lose the flash drive.

You could encrypt all this information to a USB flash memory key. If you have problems, go to a cyber cafe and get the needed data. These come in all shapes. I have a 128mb, it is about as thick as a pencil and as long as your index finger, & light.
Blessings
T

Having had a wallet stolen in Venice, we always carry different credit cards and split our cash between us. We keep details of cards coded in mobiles.

Or you can scan the cards and e-mail to yourself. There are very few places without computer access.