![\"Man](\"https:\/\/nomoredebts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/man-checks-wallet-for-credit-cards_feature_blog.jpg\" "\\"Man")
A\u00a0range of credit card insurance<\/strong><\/a> options — ranging from credit card loss insurance to credit card balance protection insurance — are available to credit card holders, but having an\u00a0understanding of these types of insurance is essential to avoiding a potential credit card scam<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\nRecently, credit card loss insurance \u2013 sometimes called a credit card loss protection plan or credit card fraud protection insurance \u2013 has been marketed to consumers, claiming to protect them\u00a0from\u00a0financial losses in the event of a stolen or lost credit card.<\/p>\n
With this protection insurance<\/strong> in place, credit card holders won\u2019t have to pay a penny if they find themselves on the receiving end of credit card fraud. But this type of credit card insurance can cost you something to the tune of $200 – $400 a year, and could potentially be a credit card scam in disguise.<\/p>\n So before you splurge on something you may not need, here are some things you should do before you make a decision:<\/p>\n The Canadian government put some fraud protection<\/strong> measures in place to protect consumers from credit card fraud<\/strong>, which could make these credit card loss insurance packages unnecessary. According to the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, federal law limits your liability to $50 per card in the event of a stolen or lost credit card, or the fraudulent use of your credit card<\/a>.<\/p>\n That means if your credit card has been issued by a federally regulated financial institution and someone racks up thousands of dollars worth of unauthorized purchases on that\u00a0credit card, by law your out-of-pocket costs are limited to $50, and not a penny more.<\/p>\n When you apply for a credit card<\/strong>, read through the credit card agreement and make sure you understand the fine print. Most credit cards have a fraud protection policy, and many others also provide protection to cardholders beyond the maximum liability.<\/p>\n For example, Visa and MasterCard both have a \u201cZero Liability\u201d policy which means that if you report a lost credit card<\/strong>, you will not be responsible for any of the unauthorized purchases. There could be thousands of dollars in unauthorized purchases on your Visa or MasterCard, but with the \u201cZero Liability\u201d policy, you won\u2019t have to pay a penny of it.<\/p>\n Insurance companies that market credit card loss protection insurance<\/strong> claim to provide additional coverage for credit card holders if their card gets\u00a0stolen or compromised. Essentially, this type of insurance guarantees that credit card holders will be absolved from any unauthorized activity, and that without it, they will be liable for all charges on the card. Faced with the prospect of forcibly paying thousands of dollars in fraudulent charges, buying into this type of insurance may sound like a good idea.<\/p>\n Only, it isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n Given that federal law limits credit card fraud liability and that most credit cards offer a \u201cZero Liability\u201d policy, credit card loss protection insurance doesn\u2019t offer any additional benefits. Not only is it unnecessary, it\u2019s also a waste of money. Why pay extra for something that\u2019s already been provided for you?<\/p>\n If the thought of losing your credit cards sends you into a panic, you can give yourself some peace of mind without buying into an expensive credit card loss protection plan. And the best part is, it\u2019ll come at no additional cost to you.<\/p>\n Write down all your credit card numbers — \u00a0in addition to the toll-free numbers at the back of the cards \u2013 and keep this information in a safe place, separate from your credit cards. So if your credit card or wallet \u00a0goes missing, you can have all the information you need to report your missing card.<\/p>\n Once you discover that your wallet or credit card are no longer where you left them, call your credit card company immediately. With that one phone call, your credit card issuer will put a hold on your card, preventing further unauthorized activity from taking place. Once the credit card company has been alerted, you won\u2019t be held liable for any fraudulent activity that takes place on your credit card from the moment you report it missing.<\/p>\n If you get a phone call or an email asking you to disclose your personal information \u2013 such as your credit card or bank account number \u2013 for \u201csecurity purposes,\u201d don\u2019t take the bait. The more personal information you reveal, the more susceptible you\u2019ll be to identity theft<\/a>. With a stolen identity, someone may be able to access your bank account or obtain credit cards or loans under your name without your knowledge.<\/p>\n It’s also important to keep in mind that you aren\u2019t liable if you haven\u2019t authorized a transaction. To that effect, a merchant needs to be able to produce your signature on a credit card slip or demonstrate that your pin was used for an in-person purchase in order for a transaction to be valid.<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to get lost in the different types of credit card insurance<\/strong> options available to consumers, and it\u2019s even easier to fall prey to a credit card insurance scam<\/strong>. So before you sign up for any sort of credit card insurance, do your due diligence on the insurance so you\u2019ll get a better understanding of what the insurance covers and whether or not you\u2019ll actually need it.<\/p>\n Related:<\/p>\n Do You Need Credit Balance Insurance?\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n New Credit Cards Can Be Vulnerable to Identity Theft \u00a0<\/a><\/p>\nFamiliarize Yourself with Your Fraud Protection Rights<\/h2>\n
Know the Terms When You Apply For a Credit Card<\/h2>\n
Understand What the Loss Protection Insurance Claims to Cover,\u00a0Because You May Not Need It!<\/h2>\n
Give Yourself Extra Insurance, at No Additional Cost<\/h2>\n
Write Down Your Credit Card Numbers<\/h3>\n
Call Your Credit Card Company the Moment Your Card Goes Missing<\/h3>\n
![\"Credit](\"https:\/\/nomoredebts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/credit-card-chip.jpg\" "\\"Credit")
<\/h3>\nDon\u2019t Disclose Your Personal Information<\/h3>\n