My husband's cards have been lost but he can't report it
EnsFinch
Forumite 5 Posts
in Credit cards
My husband was diagnsed a while ago with a malignant brain tumour, and was having (palliative) treatment for it. 3 weeks ago (while I was away on business) he collapsed in our house early one morning, was (luckily) found by the decorator, and was taken to hospital. He went overnight from full time work, fully independent to being totally confused, not lucid and unable to remember his own name or address.
This is dire in every way you can imagine, but one particular small thing is worrying me: I cannot find his wallet, keys and mobile phone. He was wearing a shirt and pyjama bottoms and the hospital say he came with nothing other than his clothes. The people who found him are our kitchen refurbishers and a next door neighbour, they didn't see anything (and they looked for the car keys because the ambulance men wanted the car moved).
I have searched multiple times throughout the house. I cannot imagine where they are - he would normally have left them in his suit by the bed, which had his office keys in but nothing else. I phoned the phone but it was turned off (which is normal) and he has never turned on 'find my phone'. By now of course the battery has run out anyway.
Two of the credit cards I know have not been used (one is a joint account which I have online access to, and the other has just sent a statement showing no transactions) but I can't help but worry. We also have only two car keys, so are now down to exactly one. Same for the house.
What do I do? Apart from one joint credit card account, everything (including the car) is in his sole name, so how do I even report them lost if I decide to go that way? Should I change the locks? How could I do anything about the car if I wanted to?
Just to clarify - fortunately I do not have money problems - I also work and have my own bank account - but I worry what has happened to his things as they seem to have disappeared. Long term if he doesn't recover there will be more problems as most of the utilities are in his name as well but I'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
This is dire in every way you can imagine, but one particular small thing is worrying me: I cannot find his wallet, keys and mobile phone. He was wearing a shirt and pyjama bottoms and the hospital say he came with nothing other than his clothes. The people who found him are our kitchen refurbishers and a next door neighbour, they didn't see anything (and they looked for the car keys because the ambulance men wanted the car moved).
I have searched multiple times throughout the house. I cannot imagine where they are - he would normally have left them in his suit by the bed, which had his office keys in but nothing else. I phoned the phone but it was turned off (which is normal) and he has never turned on 'find my phone'. By now of course the battery has run out anyway.
Two of the credit cards I know have not been used (one is a joint account which I have online access to, and the other has just sent a statement showing no transactions) but I can't help but worry. We also have only two car keys, so are now down to exactly one. Same for the house.
What do I do? Apart from one joint credit card account, everything (including the car) is in his sole name, so how do I even report them lost if I decide to go that way? Should I change the locks? How could I do anything about the car if I wanted to?
Just to clarify - fortunately I do not have money problems - I also work and have my own bank account - but I worry what has happened to his things as they seem to have disappeared. Long term if he doesn't recover there will be more problems as most of the utilities are in his name as well but I'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
0
Latest MSE News and Guides
Childcare budget boost
More support for children from nine months and those on Universal Credit
MSE News
Replies
I would change the locks
I just wanted to say that I agree with what marcia_ says above. I also once found someone's debit card and when I contacted the bank they told me to destroy it and said that they would be in touch with the owner.
I'd also get the locks changed.
If you have a spare car key you could take it somewhere like Timpsons (if there's one near you) or contact the car manufacturer or a dealer (although they may be more expensive). I once took a car key to *Timpsons and they cut me a new one in no time at all. I did have to prove that the vehicle was mine but it shouldn't be a problem if you have the car documents - they'll probably tell you what you need. *Not that I'm trying to advertise, you understand - Timpsons isn't the only keycutter but it's the only one I've used - obviously others are available.
Most other things can be sorted out so as you say, you can cross those bridges later.
I hope your husband is feeling a bit better soon.
You can please some of the people some of the time, all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time but you can never please all of the people all of the time
- I cancelled my then husband's cards when he lost them, and his wages, on a night out.
Change the door locks.
Check the car insurance policy and any breakdown cover as sometimes lost keys are included.
Call the phone provider.
Hope your husband has a good recovery, make sure you have support too.
If you contact the card providers they will stop, but not replace the cards. Anyone who finds a card can do this. Till your husband contacts them to ask for new ones..
Locks. Contact house insurance. Many have cover for just this.
Car keys, unless you need it moved, for now concentrate on the important things for now. Odds on they will turn up at some point.
House and motor insurance should be able to help with the keys. But as others have said a place like Timpsons are very good at providing an extra copy - normally at a fraction of the price of a car dealership - I needed a Lexus key cut and put into one of those plastic alarm cases. The dealership could do it for something like £300 and Timpson's for £25. House key might just be £10 but changing the locks might be a good idea. And either getting a spare to leave with a trusted neighbour or get a key safe for outside the door - this has helped a couple of times I've managed to lock myself out.
If you have any difficulties with the banks ask to talk to their vulnerable customers team - they all have one somewhere. They're the ones that knows how best to help out at difficult times.
2023 £1 a day £54.26/365
If he was already suffering from a tumour it's possible that just prior to his collapse he may have varied how he dealt with things and may well have put his wallet and keys "someplace safe". Now obviously this could be anywhere but friends who have lost things have been surprised to find the items somewhere not unusual like the sock drawer and completely bizarre - freezer, microwave, china cabinet. If you are able to conjour up his pre collapse logic you might be able to visualise where his "someplace safe" might be.
As for the utilities - they won't care as long as they continue to get paid. Only issue may come up if he need to ring them to discuss DDs or something. That said I've found them normally quite helpful when things are challenging a named account holder.
2023 £1 a day £54.26/365