by Alison Storm | 11/22/11

You may feel like you're losing a lot of money during the holiday season with all of the presents and decorations there are to buy. But a large increase of cardholders actually misplace their cards this time of year. According to PNC Bank, the number of reports of stolen or lost credit card and debit cards jump an average of 19 percent in November and December compared to the rest of the year.

This could be because we're whipping them out of our wallets a lot more, according to experts. "Holiday shopping can be a hectic experience," said Mark Ford, consumer credit and debit card expert in a news release. "Losing a credit or debit card, whether by theft or by accident, is often a preventable problem." Plus if you've ever been to a mall around the holidays you know that it can be packed and a bit chaotic. If you do lose some of your plastic, there are important steps to take:

• Call your bank and alert them to the fact that your card is missing.


• File a report with the police if you believe it has been stolen. Keep a copy of the police report for your records.


• Change you PIN, and password right away. This may limit a thief's ability to use your card or do any additional damage.