It's common advice for travelers to photocopy their credit cards (sometimes the advice says to only photocopy the backs of them) and other documents such as IDs and passports, to leave one set of copies at home and bring the other set traveling. The photocopies can be left in the hotel safe (for example) so that in the event of street robbery, you've got contact info for your credit card issuers as well as information that could help you get your IDs and passport re-issued faster.
I think only some of this advice makes sense and would like to hear if there's something I'm missing in this.
Makes sense:
-Photocopy the backs of credit cards for contact info, NOT the fronts. Or, just write down the issuer phone number for each card.
-Photocopy IDs and passports, or, just write down ID numbers.
Doesn't make sense:
-Photocopying the fronts of credit cards. This is a security risk because the photocopies can be stolen, and the credit card number plus the security code on the back (which you also photocopied) are sufficient to make online purchases.
Initially I thought that having both the credit card number and security code might make sense so that you could make online purchases (for example train tickets or airfare to come home) after your plastic was stolen, but then I realized that you'd potentially have to tell your card issuer that certain charges were fraudulent except for the ones you made after the card was stolen, in which case you didn't inform them of the theft as soon as possible. Fail (and potentially, major financial liability!)
A more general question: what's the best way to ensure a supply of funds even if your cards are stolen in a street robbery or your hotel room or hostel is robbed? The obvious solution is to have more than one credit or bank card and leave one in your hotel (or hotel safe). That way, if you're robbed in some way you still have another card.
Is there anything better than that?
I think only some of this advice makes sense and would like to hear if there's something I'm missing in this.
Makes sense:
-Photocopy the backs of credit cards for contact info, NOT the fronts. Or, just write down the issuer phone number for each card.
-Photocopy IDs and passports, or, just write down ID numbers.
Doesn't make sense:
-Photocopying the fronts of credit cards. This is a security risk because the photocopies can be stolen, and the credit card number plus the security code on the back (which you also photocopied) are sufficient to make online purchases.
Initially I thought that having both the credit card number and security code might make sense so that you could make online purchases (for example train tickets or airfare to come home) after your plastic was stolen, but then I realized that you'd potentially have to tell your card issuer that certain charges were fraudulent except for the ones you made after the card was stolen, in which case you didn't inform them of the theft as soon as possible. Fail (and potentially, major financial liability!)
A more general question: what's the best way to ensure a supply of funds even if your cards are stolen in a street robbery or your hotel room or hostel is robbed? The obvious solution is to have more than one credit or bank card and leave one in your hotel (or hotel safe). That way, if you're robbed in some way you still have another card.
Is there anything better than that?