How do you report a lost or stolen credit card?

Question

ClearValue Editorial Team · Accepted Answer

Call the number on the back of your card — or your issuer's 24/7 fraud line — immediately. The issuer freezes the account, cancels the card, and mails a replacement. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act your liability for unauthorized charges is capped at $50, and most issuers offer $0 liability. Act fast — every hour of delay is an opening for fraudulent charges. If you don't have the card, use the issuer's app (most have an instant freeze-card button), the number on your statement, or the fraud hotline on the issuer's website. Ask that the card be frozen and canceled so no new charges post, and request a replacement (typically 3-7 business days, with expedited options). Have the representative walk through recent transactions and flag anything unauthorized on the spot, which starts the dispute process at the same time. After the new card arrives, update any autopay or subscription billing tied to the old number so services aren't interrupted, and consider a credit freeze if the card data may have been exposed in a broader breach.