Losing a corporate card can be stressful, but acting quickly and following the right steps will protect the company from fraud and ensure you can continue making business-related purchases without disruption. This guide outlines exactly what you should do.
1. Stay Calm and Act Immediately
The sooner you report a lost card, the easier it is to prevent unauthorised transactions. Don’t wait until you’re “sure” it’s missing—assume it’s lost after a reasonable search and notify the right teams.
2. Retrace Your Steps
Before you raise an alert, quickly check the most common places where corporate cards go missing:
Wallet, bag, laptop sleeve
Hotel room, rental car, conference venue
Your desk or company locker
Recently visited restaurants or stores
If you still can’t locate it, move to the next steps.
3. Report the Loss to Your Corporate Card Administrator
Notify your company’s finance or expense management team immediately. Provide:
Your full name
Card type/program
Approximate time or place you believe it was lost
Any recent transactions that look suspicious
Finance teams typically freeze the card instantly to prevent misuse.
4. Contact the Card Issuer (If Required)
Depending on company policy, you may also need to notify the card provider—such as Amex, Visa, Mastercard, or your bank.
Most issuers can:
Cancel the card
Reissue a replacement quickly
Monitor for fraudulent activity
Some companies prefer the finance team to contact the issuer for you, so check your internal process.
5. Check for Unauthorised Transactions
Review your recent expenses in your expense management system or banking app. Flag anything you don’t recognise to:
Your finance team
The card issuer (if requested)
Quick reporting helps ensure you’re not held responsible for fraudulent activity.
6. Update Upcoming Bookings or Payments
If your corporate card was used for:
Hotel reservations
Car hire
Subscriptions or recurring business tools
Conference registrations
You may need to update the payment method once the replacement card is issued.
7. Follow Internal Documentation Requirements
Your company may require:
A lost card report
A short written explanation
Manager approval for a replacement
Submit any forms promptly so the reissue process isn’t delayed.
8. Secure Your Replacement Card
When your new card arrives:
Sign it if required
Store it in a secure location
Update any saved payments
Follow company guidelines on card use and storage
Consider using digital wallet storage (where allowed) to reduce the risk of physical loss.
9. Learn From the Experience
To avoid future issues:
Keep the card in a consistent place
Use a dedicated card holder
Avoid storing the card loose in bags or pockets
Enable transaction alerts if available
Small habits go a long way toward preventing card loss.
Summary
If you lose your corporate card, the key steps are: act quickly, notify your finance team, report the card to the issuer if required, check for suspicious charges, and update any affected bookings or payments. The process is usually straightforward—and designed to protect both you and the business.
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