ROBBED!! How to get new credit card...?

v.e.r.b.a.l

Right, so 7 weeks into our travels and I was robbed!

Nothing too bad, mind you. I was on a crowded metrobus in Quito and some guy made a big deal about pushing past me to get off the bus and two seconds later my wallet was gone from my front pocket. I didn't feel a thing...

Lost my wallet with no money thankfully, my Laser card, my Visa card, my driver's licence and my phone. I did the usual: cancelled my cards and found out that the bugger had already tried to buy himself a fancy new computer!

So both cards cancelled, but now I have no way to access money! AIB are sending out new cards to my home address and I'm trying to figure out how to get them sent out to me securely and quickly. I'm sure this kind of thing has happened to backpackers before, but I really don't know how to do it.

I'm going to the Galapagos on Sunday and I'm not really sure of where I'll be staying after so I don't have a stable address, but if I knew a definite date of arrival for the cards then I could stay somewhere specific to collect them...

HELP! :eek:

BuffyBot

I'm surprised that they didn't try to arrange an emergency replacement (credit) card for you. Normally they can get it issued through Visa/Mastercard international if it's an emergency. The Laser/ATM card won't be replacable in such a way.

If cards are now being produced for you, maybe get someone at home to DHL the cards to you when you know were you'll be. It might cost a bit, but you'll normally have them within 24-48 hours anywhere in the world.

v.e.r.b.a.l

Thanks.

Yeah I was looking into it and I still don't know how much it'd cost to get it sent DHL and i'm gonna be in galapagos for the next week so that's off-limits, but i reckon getting it send for pickup at the nearest DHL station in Quito is an option. I'll let ye know how it works out for info for anyone else it might happen to...

For the record, AIB were brilliant in this situation. They did offer me emergency money (no mention of an emergency credit card though?) but I said I'd manage to live off my girlfirend for a bit instead.

NEVER TAKE A BUS!

S.M.B.

I lost mine last weekend too and I wasn't offered any emergency 24 hour replacement card when I was presuming I would be.

Luckily for me I've got a permanent address in Bangkok and still have my laser card.

RATM

Sorry to hear that Verbal, nothign worse that getting robbed on the road. Lucky for you that you have the girlfriend to rely on, I often travel alone and fear what would happen me in that situation.
Im surprised they didnt offer you an emergency card, I thought that was procedure. At least thats what happened me when I lost a Visa car years back whilst living in Sydney.

Anyway for anyone on the road Id always say you should have $200 of Amex Travellers Cheques on you as back up. Email the serial numbers of the cheques to yourself- that way if they are robbed you can still replace them. Its a good way of have a $200 emergency fund in case you are robbed.

v.e.r.b.a.l

Yeah that's a really good idea. An Australian guy we met told me he always does that too. But of course I only think of doing it after I get robbed!! :rolleyes:

But, how do I go about getting Amex traveller's cheques when on the road?

RATM

In Quito Banco Santander on Avenida 12 de Octobre sells Amex.
http://www.aetclocator.com/ca-en/

And this page is a blurb about the benefits of having some of them on you
http://www10.americanexpress.com/sif/cda/page/0,1641,13514,00.asp

They saved my ass once after being robbed on the road and since then 'I never leave home without 'em'!

watna

A friend of mine always keeps some money in his sock when travelling. He was in South America with another friend and they both got mugged at knife point. He says he was lucky they had the back-up cash to keep them going until the got everything sorted.

Not sure how secure this would really be but it worked for him!

v.e.r.b.a.l

Ha! Putting money in your sock reminds me of when we were younger going to League of Ireland soccer matches!!!

"Put your money in your socks lads, we're off to Terryland!"

dory

Looking into the South American Explorers Club. Pretty sure you have to be a member ($50) to get mail sent there but you can go in, chill out and ask for advise. Also ex travellers leave stuff there so you can pick up loads of things you might need for a dollar or so. They also have club houses in Lima, Cusco or BA so you could get your cards sent to any of those.

Sucks that you lost your cards. I really hate tellling you this after but I usually keep one card deep in my rucksack. But I travel alone so I really have to make sure I have access to money!

Ritchi

Book a hostel for when you're back from the Galapogas, email/ring them and let them know you'll have post arriving too. Get it sent there. There's no need to waste money on DHL, you can just get it registered and shouldn't cost too much. We got them sent to Sydney and only took about 5 working days.

Zoodlebop

I've found that the best method to keep all your stuff safe is to make a pouch out of a shirt or what ever, then safety pin it to the inside of your trousers/shorts. No thief can see it and it's next to impossible to pickpocket as the bloke would have to be wangling around in yer pants. Keep passport, emergeny cash and credit card in there and you're good to go.

v.e.r.b.a.l

Yeah, I have one of those geeky waistbands that goes inside your pants and I had stupidly stopped using it. Lesson learned! It's a good thing I guess to get you a little bit more secure, but it's made my girlfriend overly paranoid. It was great being in the Galapagos last week with no worries about how safe your stuff is for the first time in 8 weeks!!!

I think I'm gonna get it sent to my Inca Trail people, met a couple who did that - because when you're travelling you can never be fully sure where you're going to be on a specific date...

Zoodlebop

v.e.r.b.a.l wrote: »

Yeah, I have one of those geeky waistbands that goes inside your pants and I had stupidly stopped using it. Lesson learned! It's a good thing I guess to get you a little bit more secure, but it's made my girlfriend overly paranoid. It was great being in the Galapagos last week with no worries about how safe your stuff is for the first time in 8 weeks!!!

I think I'm gonna get it sent to my Inca Trail people, met a couple who did that - because when you're travelling you can never be fully sure where you're going to be on a specific date...

That's a good idea. We planned our whole trip around arriving on time for our Inca Trail. Ah, so jealous of you being there.

Try not to let the theft get to you or your girl. I honestly think it's not worth being terrified of everyone who walks past you. Enjoy. How long are ye out there?

v.e.r.b.a.l

ah no. I make a point of not letting stupid things like that get to me. it's just a bit frustrating at times. a week in the galapagos sure calmed me down - what an amazing place! i still really like ecuador and wouldn't let theft hinder my view of a country - it can happen anywhere!

out for a year in total, South America for another 4.5 months (but might extend that because there's just too many amazing things to see!)... 8 days to travel Quito to Cotopaxi to Banos to Tumbes to Lima to Cusco for the Inca Trail... I must say I am quite excited.

For the record: Anyone considering going to the Galapagos (we nearly scrapped it in the end cos it was expensive), GO FOR IT! It's the best and most unique place I've ever seen and I wish I had more time there!!!

BuffyBot

Galapagos discussion moved to http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055561828

v.e.r.b.a.l

Fair enough!

v.e.r.b.a.l

For the record (in case it happens to anyone else and they don't know how to get new credit / atm cards sent out) here's what I ended up doing...

Didn't really know for sure anywhere I'd be staying and didn't really trust too many hostels for important post. DHL cost WAY too much so I got them sent by registered an post to my Inca Trail people. The first parcel had only arrived by the time I'd finished the trail... An Post assured us that it'd have arrived about 15-20 days BEFORE that! The second parcel arrived in Cusco, but by then I was already in Puno (couldn't afford Cusco anymore!)... Was going to get it shipped by bus Cruz Del Sur to Puno and pay for the cost, but the guy who worked there happened to be going on holiday to Puno, so brought it on the bus and came and delivered it to me in person. What a hero!

Advice for others: Send to a reputable source VERY FAR AHEAD, like maybe an embassy that you contact beforehand or a tour company you can trust. But give yourself TOO much time, unless you can afford DHL!!