Holidaying card holders should keep record of helplines

Credit card helplines provide essential customer protection against fraud, payments association Apacs said yesterday.

This advice especially applies to those intending to use credit cards on holiday this summer, with the trade association recommending that a copy of the helpline numbers always be to hand so that providers can be quickly notified if their card is stolen.

Holidaymakers were also advised to cut down the amount of cards taken with them to a minimum.

A spokesperson for Apacs said: “I think if you’ve got a lot of store cards or five credit cards then you don’t need to take all of them. So minimise your chances of fraud. Look after them. Frighteningly, people don’t.

“Before you go, make a note of the 24-hour helplines of the card companies. So if something does happen, you’re not then searching who to phone; you’ve always got that number with you.”

The spokesperson also noted that increasing numbers of tourists are using their cards in place of traveller’s cheques because of convenience, despite the inherent risk of fraud that comes with their use.

Tags: helpline, Frighteningly, Credit card, cheque, spokesperson, card holders, copy