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