Reporting ATM Theft - Reporting Stolen ATM Cards

Report the loss or theft of your credit cards and your ATM or debit cards to the card issuers as quickly as possible. Many companies have toll-free numbers and 24-hour service to deal with such emergencies. It's a good idea to follow up your phone calls with a letter. Include your account number, when you noticed your card was missing, and the date you first reported the loss.

You also may want to check your homeowner's insurance policy to see if it covers your liability for card thefts. If not, some insurance companies will allow you to change your policy to include this protection.

Credit Card Loss or Fraudulent Charges (FCBA). Your maximum liability under federal law for unauthorized use of your credit card is $50. If you report the loss before your credit cards are used, the FCBA says the card issuer cannot hold you responsible for any unauthorized charges. If a thief uses your cards before you report them missing, the most you will owe for unauthorized charges is $50 per card. Also, if the loss involves your credit card number, but not the card itself, you have no liability for unauthorized use.

After the loss, review your billing statements carefully. If they show any unauthorized charges, it's best to send a letter to the card issuer describing each questionable charge. Again, tell the card issuer the date your card was lost or stolen, or when you first noticed unauthorized charges, and when you first reported the problem to them. Be sure to send the letter to the address provided for billing errors. Do not send it with a payment or to the address where you send your payments unless you are directed to do so.

ATM or Debit Card Loss or Fraudulent Transfers (EFTA). Your liability under federal law for unauthorized use of your ATM or debit card depends on how quickly you report the loss. If you report an ATM or debit card missing before it's used without your permission, the EFTA says the card issuer cannot hold you responsible for any unauthorized transfers. If unauthorized use occurs before you report it, your liability under federal law depends on how quickly you report the loss.

For example, if you report the loss within two business days after you realize your card is missing, you will not be responsible for more than $50 for unauthorized use. However, if you don't report the loss within two business days after you discover the loss, you could lose up to $500 because of an unauthorized transfer. You also risk unlimited loss if you fail to report an unauthorized transfer within 60 days after your bank statement containing unauthorized use is mailed to you. That means you could lose all the money in your bank account and the unused portion of your line of credit established for overdrafts. However, for unauthorized transfers involving only your debit card number (not the loss of the card), you are liable only for transfers that occur after 60 days following the mailing of your bank statement containing the unauthorized use and before you report the loss.

If unauthorized transfers show up on your bank statement, report them to the card issuer as quickly as possible. Once you've reported the loss of your ATM or debit card, you cannot be held liable for additional unauthorized transfers that occur after that time.

Source: FTC

Visit our Shopping Guides and Credit Card Fraud sections for useful information.

INSIDE . . .

Counterfeit Handbags - "Counterfeits abound in the world of handbags and luxury goods. The World Customs Organization estimates the trade in fakes at about 7 percent of world trade."

Online Wines - "High quality fruit, carefully cultivated and hand picked at precisely the right time is just the beginning" Says Bruce Kaler of Simpatico Wine Company.

Children's Development Toys - "No matter how good a toy looks, the way it performs �under stress� is often very different." Says Brian Gordon of eBeanStalk.

Shopping for Purses "What�s happening now at a great speed is manufacturers overseas will see the latest �it� bag and then duplicate the bag... Price is primarily why people would buy a knock-off purse as opposed to the real thing.." Kitsch Purses Q & A

Workers' Compensation Info "The huge benefit of the Internet is time and expense savings. The only other way to get all of this information other than the Internet is at your local law library." FAQ with WorkCompCentral

Eating Disorder Treatment - In this FAQ Monte Nido explains how you can find the right treatment center online.

Merchant Accounts In this FAQ InfoMerchant answers some questions about merchant account services, "The bottom line is that there are ISO's or processing banks who handle most of today's merchant account marketplace."

Auto Insurance Quotes In this FAQ GMAC explains why you should shop around, "Each company is different so you should always check several companies to find the best rates."

Understanding Motorcycle Electrical Parts In our interview with ElectroSport Industries we discussed some of the ins-and-outs of motorcycle electrical parts and making a dirt bike street legal.

Great Benefits from Energy Star Homes Rick David, a writer for Consumer-Guides said that "Energy Star homes lower monthly utility bills by at least 30 percent. Energy Star homes also have a higher resale value."

How to Evaluate Land Development Software Systems "The three most important words in real estate are Location, Location, Location. The next four equally important words are Money, Returns, Accuracy and Speed." So says Ted Stearns, President of Real Pro-Jections, Inc., a popular Real Estate Analysis software provider in Carlsbad, CA.

Hiring an Investment Lawyer In our interview with Investment veteran Paul Thomas he said "if the lawyer is willing to take the case on a contingency basis then the investor has confidence that the lawyer believes he has a good case, because if the lawyer doesn't win then the lawyer's not going to get paid."

On-Hold Hell Businesses spend billions of dollars every year to make their phones ring and then put their potential new customers on �ignore.� When the phones start jangling away, they say �please hold� and mash down the hold button sending callers into �hold hell.�

WiFi in the Neighborhood Whether it be the airport, a hotel, the local bookstore, or even Starbuck's, it's not hard to notice that WiFi is getting more and more popular. We asked Jim at WANned Technologies, Inc. a few of the in's-and-out's of Wireless Networking.

Buying Tickets Online "That game you want to go to is sold out (Superbowl, World Series), your favorite artist is coming to town and you want great seats�.these are some of the reasons people buy through an online ticket service or broker." Chico at Platinum Tickets answers faqs.

Watching Movies Online MovieFlix.com answers some frequently asked questions.

TIPS . . .

Family Fun online provides lots of ideas. Download free crafts, recipes, watch videos and get ideas for gifts and parties... AND don't forget the Holidays, now's the time to plan a fun homemade gift.

NEWS . . .

New Google Checkout - Google launches their new Google Checkout, try it for yourself and let us know if it truly is the "fastest, safest, and most convenient way to shop online."

Merchant America San Diego - Merchant America has a public directory for merchants in San Diego, California. This will allow merchants in the greater San Diego area to gain exposure in their specific industries. It will also help consumers to find out more about the merchants in their local area. Montana Directory is now Live!

Shopping Online

� 2007 InfoFAQ - Shopping Guides and Consumer Information Online

Home | Contact | Sitemap | Add Website