| More and more holiday makers are taking their | | | | deposit box if it has one or if not, ask to use a |
| credit cards on holiday with them to pay for | | | | safe in the hotel itself. Always keep your plastic |
| goods rather than carrying large amounts of | | | | cards on your person while travelling to and from |
| foreign currency. Of course this offers great | | | | your holiday destination. Rucksacks or suitcases |
| convenience and at times added security but | | | | are not safe places to store your cards. |
| there important steps you should take to ensure | | | | When in crowds, keep your bag either strapped |
| that using your credit card abroad is not too | | | | across your body or held firmly. Turn the clasp |
| costly and of course safe. | | | | towards you, making it even harder for a |
| Before you go on your holiday contact your | | | | pickpocket to get at. A concealed money belt is |
| credit card issuer to ensure that you will be able | | | | an ideal way to carry your cards and valuables. |
| to use your card where you are going. Also take | | | | If you are driving whilst on holiday, keep handbags |
| this opportunity to enquire about any charges or | | | | and wallets out of sight of opportunist thieves - |
| fees you may be charged when using your card | | | | especially in slow moving traffic and at traffic |
| in order to avoid any nasty shocks when your | | | | lights or junctions. Always remove plastic cards |
| statement arrives. You should check several | | | | and other valuables from parked cars. In addition, |
| weeks before you go away that all the cards you | | | | the hot weather means less clothing, which can |
| are taking are current (ie. not going to expire | | | | also mean that personal items such as wallets in |
| whilst you are away), that the signature is clear | | | | back pockets are more visible. Take extra care |
| on the back of the card and that you know all | | | | to ensure that valuables are safely concealed. |
| relevant PIN (personal identification number) | | | | Most importantly, keep an eye on plastic cards |
| numbers. | | | | when paying in shops and restaurants. Check your |
| The UK banking industry claims that losses from | | | | statement carefully when you return home. And |
| credit and debit cards, issued in Britain and then | | | | make sure you have a note of the emergency |
| used by fraudsters overseas, total almost 140 | | | | 24-hour telephone numbers for your cards before |
| million pounds each year, and that much of this | | | | you travel, so that you can report any theft/loss |
| loss occurs because people have their cards | | | | immediately. You will find these on your last |
| stolen whilst they're on holiday. | | | | statement or in the telephone directory, or on the |
| The following simple precautions should go some | | | | back of your cards. Keep a note of this number |
| way in preventing yourself having your credit | | | | somewhere away from your cards incase your |
| cards stolen whilst on holiday. Firstly, always treat | | | | wallet is stolen. You could always leave the |
| your credit and debit cards as carefully as you | | | | number with someone back home who you could |
| would cash and don't keep your cheque book with | | | | contact in the event of an emergency. |
| your cards. Never leave plastic cards and other | | | | Finally, don't tell anyone your PIN, even if they |
| valuables unattended anywhere at all, not even | | | | claim to be from the police or your bank, and |
| your hotel room. Use your hotel room's safety | | | | don't write it down anywhere at all. |