Every once in a while, I stumble onto a post that makes me go “wow, why didn’t I think of that?” I guarantee this one will make you think the same thing! You know how all your credit/debit cards have that all-important phone number to contact in case your card is missing or stolen? Well, how do you know what number to call when you’ve actually lost credit cards?!
Yes, that is the basic premise of Get Rich Slowly’s post regarding “Wallet Garden.” In the post, J.D. outlines the basic workings of this free, simple web application:
- You enter the phone number on the back of the card.
- You enter a friendly name for that particular card (i.e. “Visa Debit Card”, “MasterCard”, etc).
- You refer to the catalog of phone numbers you’ve created on the site if you ever notice one or more lost credit cards.
It’s pretty much easy-enough for a zombie. However, if you prefer to keep your important stuff in as few places as possible, here are a few alternatives:
- If you have a Gmail account, consider creating a spreadsheet of these numbers in Google Docs. It’s always available and accessible from anywhere you have Internet connectivity.
- Consider writing the phone numbers in an area that you generally keep protected or locked up for safe-keeping, such as inside a checkbook or in a notepad stored in a safe/safety-deposit box.
- Email the list of phone numbers to yourself, that way you can retrieve them later by searching your inbox/etc.
This is just a few ideas to get you started. However, it’s fun to see that someone has taken the initiative to solve this interesting little problem in a nerd-ish way. After all, there is less chance for disruption the sooner you report your missing cards to your financial institution. Plus, I’m a fan of being able to find this important information in a “one-stop-shop.”
One side note: As I wrote in my article about Identity Thefts, you can make some small changes that significantly reduce your chance of becoming a victim of Identity Theft. Unfortunately, the service provided by Wallet Garden are only useful if you KNOW your identity has been stolen or you’ve lost credit cards . In general, I always recommend that folks look into LifeLock or FICO® Quarterly Monitoring
if they’re looking for a little extra peace of mind.
So is it just me, or is Wallet Garden a mind-numbingly simple solution to a problem just waiting to happen? Have any of you had the foresight to copy all those phone numbers down and keep that information in a safe place in case of lost credit cards? Leave a comment and let us know. I’m definitely curious! Personally, I’ve built my list of important phone numbers in Google Docs but may just check out Wallet Garden as a backup plan.
Related posts:
- Identity Thefts: Simple Steps to Prevent Complex Problems (Part 2 of 2)
- Identity Thefts: Simple Steps to Prevent Complex Problems (Part 1 of 2)
- How to Easily Secure and Remember All Your Passwords with Password Safe (eHow)
- GMail Enables Default HTTPS: The Good and Bad
- Quicken 2010 Reviews and Thoughts
