Here at My Mélange, we welcome comments and contributions. Especially when it comes to Travel Tips!
Today, I am lucky enough to have Travel Tips from a legal standpoint, courtesy of Michelle at Bleeding Espresso. She is a good friend, a fellow Italophile and it just so happens, a lawyer as well.
Here is what Michelle has to say about crime, as it relates to travel:
Crime Happens.
Even with the best precautions by the most conscientious travelers, crime happens. The most common is probably one of the oldest in the world – that of the pickpocket. It’s called petty crime in legal lingo, but when you’re far from home, it sure can feel like a big deal.
Here are tips regarding stolen credit cards, passport, or other valuables:
1. Stolen Credit Cards
Having your credit cards stolen while on vacation just may be your number one fear, with visions of thousands of dollars being charged before you even realize your card was missing. So, before you depart:
*Write down your credit card numbers, pin numbers, and phone numbers to call in case your card is lost or stolen.
*Keep this information separate from your cards.
*Knowing your Social Security Number may help you get through the reporting process more quickly.
2. Stolen Passport
Having your passport stolen or lost in a foreign country can be a frightening experience, but first,
*Report your passport missing. Notify local authorities as well as your country’s embassy.
*Before you leave for your trip, prepare a passport recovery kit:
-a few passport-sized photos;
-a notarized copy of your birth certificate;
-an additional photo identification;
-the fee for replacement; and
-a photocopy of your passport page containing your photo, name, passport number, place of issue, and expiration date, your Social Security Number.
3. Stolen Valuables
If you have been relieved of other valuables while traveling,
*Register the loss with the local police even if you think there is no chance of recovering your things, you will need this record for a later claim with your insurance company.
Hopefully you’ll never need to put this advice into practice, but taking the time to prepare for potential mishaps while on vacation may save you a lot of worries, and money, later.