Some people will refer to the wallet that is in their back pocket or purse as "their brains", and there is good reasoning behind this reference. The wallet of both sexes is usually full of all sorts of information, including but not limited to credit card numbers, drivers license, military identification cards, personal identification codes, telephone numbers, and AAA membership and shopping club cards.

Most people never think about what would happen if the wallet was stolen, and trying to remember the exact credit cards that were inside will prove to be a problem if you are experiencing a great deal of stress. Getting organized by copying the contents of the wallet is a good way to get on the road to recovering a good credit rating.

Making a list of the pertinent information contained in a wallet is vital to protecting a credit rating and removing any pin numbers that are stored and forgotten about is a good idea. This information can be stored in a bank vault or other location where important papers belong.

Why should a thief have access to more information than the owner of the wallet. Information is power, and the list you create will give you enough power to notify credit card agencies of the loss and get them to dispatch new credit cards that have different account numbers. Change the way the name appears on the front of the credit card at the same time, and consider changing the mailing address it will be sent to.

The list you prepare will also provide you with a ready reference to all credit reporting agencies, and banking institutions where you conduct your personal and business affairs. What accounts are not cancelled and restarted, can be flagged for possible fraudulent activity due to theft. The notifications that are sent out will become part of your permanent credit file when all three credit reporting agencies are notified of the theft of property.

Create sheets of information that contain the account numbers for all credit cards, checking accounts and department store charge accounts. A copy should be made of the driver's license, social security card, shot records, and passports. The telephone numbers for each of the agencies should be researched and verified so that they can be contacted as soon after the theft occurs as is humanly possible.

The response time is crucial when credit card theft is involved. There are so many opportunities on the internet that a thief can go to and buy anything that they want using the credit cards in your wallet. Overnight shipping is one way for thieves to get the items that were purchased illegally because the turn-around time on those purchases is so short.

Some routes taken for getting items purchased illegally with stolen credit card only require walking in a door. Some thieves will choose the debit card feature on a credit card because the PIN number was found inside the wallet. Clerks rarely ask for some form of identification with a debit card, but if they move quickly enough before the theft is reported, they could walk out of a rental center with several laptops, televisions, and a washer and dryer in tow behind them.

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