Guard Your Card

Guard your card like you would the key to your home. Sign the back of your card immediately. Keep it—and any duplicate cards—in a secure place where you would know if it was missing. Don’t leave it with someone as a ”security deposit“ or as identification. Never lend it out. And if you’re expecting to receive a new or replacement card, keep a sharp eye on the mail.

1. personal information - how to keep it that way
2. report lost or stolen cards.
3. are you liable? - know the legal limits

1. Keep personal information separate
   Your personal information should stay personal. With the exception of mail-order com-panies, Visa merchants should never require your address or telephone number to complete a transaction.
   AVOID USING YOUR VISA CARD AS PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION. Never let someone put your card number on a check or any other document not associated with a purchase on your account. (In some states, it is actually against the law for merchants to do so.) Instead, use your driver’s license or school ID for identification.
    
   Your card is the key to your account
   A thief doesn’t need your actual card to make unauthorized purchases on your account. All he needs is your account number and your card’s expiration date. That’s why it’s a good idea to TAKE ALL RECEIPTS AND CARBONS HOME WITH YOU, especially from places like automated teller machines, supermarkets, and self-sevice gasoline pumps. When it’s time to destroy purchase documents or old statements, avoid disposing of them in public trash containers. NEVER GIVE OUT YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER to someone calling you on the phone, even if the caller says it will be used to claim a valuable prize or award.
   If your account has a personal identification number (PIN) for use at ATM locations, don’t write it down. Memorize it instead. And it’s a good idea not to pick an obvious PIN, like your address, phone number, or date of birth.
    
   Review your statements carefully
   Mistakes happen. So it’s important to save your charge receipts and your credit slips, and compare them to your monthly statements. File your statements in a secure place for future reference. If you don’t keep your statements, destroy them before throwing them away.
   IF YOU DISCOVER AN ERROR on your statement (like an unauthorized charge or purchase), WRITE TO YOUR CARD ISSUER IMMEDIATELY. (Remember: A phone call may not guarantee your rights, and it is always more difficult to challenge a charge once it has been paid.) Be sure to state that it is an unauthorized charge, which is handled differently than a dispute with a merchant.
    
2. Report lost or stolen card
   If your card is lost or stolen, report it immediately. It’s a good idea to keep a list of your account numbers in a safe place along with the corresponding customer service phone numbers. If you can’t find the number of the organization that issues your card, CALL VISA INTERNATIONAL TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-336-3386. Outside of the U.S.A., call (410) 581-9994 collect.
    
3. Know your legal liability
   If your card is used before you report it lost or stolen, your maximum liability for unauthorized charges is $50 per card. If you REPORT YOUR CARD LOST OR STOLEN BEFORE SOMEONE USES IT, your liability is reduced.
   If a member of your immediate family (spouse, child, parent) borrows your credit card—with or without your knowledge—to make a purchase, you may be liable for that purchase.
    
   Don’t forget to notify your card issuer if you and your spouse become separated or divorced. Otherwise, you could be liable for charges on your joint account.
    
   Most unauthorized charges are considered fraud—a serious crime with serious consequences. Protect yourself and remove the temptation to others by keeping your card and account number secure.