Losing your credit card is always a stressful experience, especially if it‘s a card you rely on frequently for purchases like an Amazon Rewards Visa or Amazon Prime Rewards Visa. As an avid Amazon shopper myself, I know how convenient it is to have a dedicated card that racks up points on the site. So when my Amazon credit card went missing recently, I did some in-depth research on the replacement process.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll walk you through everything you need to know as an Amazon cardholder to quickly report a lost or stolen card, request a replacement, and get back to earning rewards on your Amazon purchases. I‘ll also share some tips I learned to help prevent future lost cards. Let‘s dive in!
Quick Overview of Amazon Credit Card & Financing Options
Before we get into the nitty gritty of replacing a lost card, it‘s helpful to review the different types of credit cards and financing Amazon offers:
Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card
This is a regular credit card issued in partnership with Chase bank. It earns 3% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market, 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases. It has no annual fee and comes with a signup bonus for new cardholders.
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
Open to Prime members only, this Chase card is very similar to the Amazon Rewards Visa but with enhanced rewards for Prime subscribers. It earns a whopping 5% back on Amazon.com and Whole Foods purchases, as well as the 2% and 1% categories. It also has no annual fee (besides your Prime membership).
Amazon.com Store Card
This is a closed-loop card only good for Amazon.com purchases. It‘s issued by Synchrony Bank rather than Chase. The main benefit is that it offers special financing options on larger Amazon purchases if you prefer to pay over time rather than earn rewards. It can only be used at Amazon.
Knowing which Amazon card you have is important, as it impacts which bank you‘ll need to contact about a replacement. With Chase-issued cards, you‘ll go through their regular credit card replacement channels. But with the Synchrony-issued Amazon store card, you‘ll follow a different process that we‘ll outline below.
How to Report a Lost or Stolen Amazon Credit Card & Request a Replacement
As soon as you realize your Amazon card is missing, it‘s crucial to act fast to prevent fraudulent charges. Thankfully, all the major card issuers have systems in place to quickly cancel a lost card and send a replacement. Here are the steps to take:
For Amazon Rewards Visa or Prime Rewards Visa Cards (issued by Chase):
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Call the Chase bank customer service line designated for lost or stolen cards at 1-800-432-3117. This number is available 24/7 so don‘t hesitate to call as soon as you notice an issue, even if it‘s outside business hours.
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Inform the phone representative that your card was lost or stolen. They will immediately close the account to prevent any unauthorized use. You‘re not liable for fraudulent purchases but it‘s best to act quickly.
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Chase will confirm your mailing address and send a replacement card free of charge. New cards typically arrive within 3-5 business days.
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Follow the instructions to activate your new card once it arrives either online or by phone. Your old card number will no longer work.
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Update any recurring payments or subscriptions tied to the old card number with your new account info.
For Amazon.com Store Cards (issued by Synchrony Bank):
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Call Synchrony Bank‘s lost/stolen card line at 1-866-634-8379, also accessible 24/7.
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Notify them that you‘ve lost your card or believe it was stolen so they can shut down the account immediately. Like with the Chase cards, you have zero fraud liability so you won‘t owe money for unauthorized charges.
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Synchrony will close the compromised account and open a new store card account in its place. Confirm they have your correct mailing address.
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Your replacement store card should arrive in 3-5 business days. Activate the new card by calling the number on the sticker or logging into your Synchrony online account.
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As with the Chase cards, make sure to update any pre-set payments with the new store card number.
The key is to contact your card issuer right away when you notice your card missing, as you don‘t want to risk a thief racking up Amazon purchases on your account. The reassuring news is that all these banks are well-equipped to handle lost cards and you won‘t be on the hook for fraudulent charges. Replacements arrive quickly too.
What About Replacing Lost Amazon Gift Cards?
In addition to credit cards, you might be wondering what happens if you misplace an Amazon gift card. The good news is that Amazon will replace lost gift cards in certain scenarios:
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If you were sent an electronic Amazon gift card by email, you can request to have the claim code re-sent from Your Orders in your account.
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For physical Amazon gift cards you bought yourself from Amazon, contact customer service. If the gift card wasn‘t marked as redeemed, they can cancel it and send a replacement.
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If you received a physical Amazon gift card from someone else, you unfortunately may be out of luck, as Amazon typically can‘t reissue gift cards gifted by third parties. That‘s why it‘s always smart to save gift card info somewhere secure or redeem the balance to your account right away.
Tips to Prevent Losing Your Amazon Card (or Any Credit Card) Again
While dealing with a lost card is a hassle, it doesn‘t have to be a disaster as long as you report it promptly. That said, we‘d all prefer to avoid losing our cards in the first place! Here are some of my top tips to keep your Amazon card safe:
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Keep your card in a designated spot in your wallet. Don‘t absentmindedly stuff it in a pocket or throw it in your bag after making a purchase. Always return it to the same card slot.
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Only bring the card with you when you actually need it. If you‘re not planning to shop at Amazon or Whole Foods, consider leaving it at home so there‘s no chance of losing it while out.
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Make a photocopy of the front and back of your card, or take a photo with your phone. Having quick access to the card number and contact info will speed up the replacement process.
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Set up digital wallet apps like Apple Pay or Google Pay and use them for Amazon purchases when possible rather than the physical card. This protects you if your actual card goes missing.
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Consider signing up for a credit monitoring service that will alert you if your card number is found on suspicious websites or unusual purchases occur, signaling possible theft.
Of course, even the most careful of us can still misplace a card now and then. The most important thing is to regularly check that you still have your card and report it missing to your issuer ASAP if it‘s lost. The faster you act, the less likely you are to deal with unauthorized charges.
How Does a Lost Card Impact My Credit? Are There Long-Term Consequences?
If you‘re worried that losing your Amazon credit card will damage your credit score, breathe a sigh of relief. Simply reporting your card lost or stolen will not hurt your credit at all.
The account will be closed and a new one opened, but it will still be considered the same account on your credit report in terms of history length and payment track record. Hard inquiries also aren‘t typically made for lost card replacements.
The one exception would be if a thief did use your card to rack up a large balance before you reported it missing, as high utilization does impact credit scores. But as long as you report unauthorized charges to your issuer promptly, you won‘t be liable and they should be removed from your statement.
The key things that DO affect your credit in regards to the Amazon cards are:
- Making on-time payments each month
- Keeping your overall balance relatively low compared to the total credit limit
So even if you lose a card, as long as you stay on top of your monthly bill and don‘t regularly max out the card, your credit will be just fine. Losing the card itself isn‘t a credit risk.
How Does Amazon‘s Credit Card Replacement Policy Compare to Other Retailers?
Amazon‘s policy on replacing lost credit cards is fairly standard and in line with other major retailers that have co-branded cards. Companies like Target, Walmart, Macy‘s, and Costco all have very similar processes:
- If your store card is lost or stolen, contact the card issuer right away. The account will be closed to prevent fraud.
- A replacement card will be mailed to you, usually free of charge and arriving within 3-5 business days. Some even offer free expedited shipping.
- Activate the new card and update any saved payment info in your online shopping accounts or for bills.
- For lost store-only gift cards, contact customer service. Replacement policies vary but most will at least replace online gift card orders.
The main differences lie in which bank issues each retailer‘s cards and if they offer special financing vs cash back rewards. But overall, you as the consumer are well protected from the consequences of a missing card and replacements are provided quickly.
The Bottom Line on Replacing a Lost Amazon Card & Protecting Your Account
Losing a credit card is never fun, but it‘s reassuring to know that Amazon and its card-issuing partners Chase and Synchrony have policies in place to rectify the situation fast. By promptly reporting your Amazon Rewards Visa, Prime Rewards Visa, or Amazon.com Store Card as lost or stolen, you can shut down the missing card, receive a replacement in a few short days, and prevent any fraudulent charges.
Better yet, a lost card alone won‘t leave a negative mark on your credit report, so there‘s no need to panic about long-term damage if your Amazon card goes MIA. With a few simple precautions like keeping your card in a safe place and signing up for digital wallet payments, you can reduce the odds of future lost card fiascos too.
If you do find yourself in need of additional assistance with a missing Amazon card, don‘t hesitate to contact Amazon‘s customer support team. Their reps are available 24/7 and well-versed in guiding shoppers through the card replacement process as quickly and painlessly as possible, so you can get back to earning rewards on your Amazon purchases.
Here‘s to keeping our Amazon cards safe, sound, and ready to earn cash back or special financing on all those essential purchases and impulse buys alike! Happy shopping!
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