9 July 2007
People jetting off on their holidays this summer should ensure they are fully equipped with all their credit card details should the unexpected occur.
According to APACS, when packing for holiday many people fail to prepare for the loss or theft of their credit cards and inevitably end up with problems made all the more difficult when in a foreign country.
The UK trade association advised people travelling abroad to make a note of their credit card companies' 24-hour helplines prior to their departure.
It also warned travellers to ensure this number is with them at all times, so they can quickly and efficiently deal with any problems as soon as they arise.
A spokesperson for APACS said it was easy to protect oneself against credit card theft: "Only take with you the cards that you're going to use. This doesn't mean you should take one; it's probably useful to have a spare.
"I think if you've got a lot of store cards or five credit cards then you don't need to take all of them," she added.
"Minimise your chances of fraud. Look after them. Frighteningly, people don't."
According to figures from APACS, Britons spent 23.0 billion abroad on UK-issued cards last year.
What's more, in 2006 fraud committed abroad on UK cards amounted to 118.2 million - up on the figure for 2005 (82.8 million) but smaller than 2001 and 2002, when losses stood at 138.4 million and 130.2 million respectively.
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