Many people have probably reached into their pockets only to find that their wallet, smartphone or car keys are missing. Most of the time, you quickly remember where you left the item in question. If this is not the case, or you have even been robbed, it is important to react quickly.
Smartphone gone: The most important steps, before and after the loss
If you don’t know where your smartphone is, you can usually find it via the device settings, provided location sharing is active. If you can’t find the device or even suspect that it has been stolen, you should quickly block the SIM card. You can reach the emergency emergency number on 116 116. If you try to reach the service from abroad, you must dial 0049 for Germany. According to the information on their website, the emergency call doesn’t just help with blocking SIM cards. If your checking or credit card or ID card is missing, the blocking emergency call can also help.
Consumer protection explains that in such a case you should have your own mobile phone number, SIM card number and customer number from the relevant provider handy. It is also useful to know the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI). This is a 15-digit number that can be used to uniquely identify the smartphone worldwide. If you want to report your device as stolen to the police, this number will help the officers.
Once the device is lost, the loss of photos, videos and personal text messages hurts the most for some people. It therefore makes sense to make regular backups, i.e. to secure the data. If you save all your memories in a cloud service, you can still view the data regardless of the device. In addition, many operating systems offer the option of remotely deleting the data on the device. So if you have been stolen and have saved your data in a cloud anyway, you can ensure that the lost device is free of personal data.
That’s why it’s important to use additional security measures for your smartphone in advance. Most devices today offer the ability to use biometric data such as fingerprints or facial scans for unlocking, making access more difficult for unauthorized people. It is also advisable to set up a screen lock with a strong password to add another layer of protection.
Lost your ID, bank card, driving license etc.? Block and report
If you have lost your wallet, this usually triggers a whole series of worries. The lost ID, bank card, driver’s license, membership cards and cash. The blocking emergency number 116 116 also helps in this case. It is advisable to have the number to hand in order to be able to react quickly in an emergency and to minimize further inconveniences. ntv explains that you can have all cards blocked directly via the service. It is important not only to report debit and credit cards, but also to block the online identification function of the ID card.
You then have to inform the relevant clubs and authorities about the loss. If the ID card is missing, the loss must be reported to the responsible citizens’ office. At that point at the latest, the online ID function would be blocked and the police would be informed, explained t online. Reporting the loss of ID documents is free of charge, but there are costs involved when applying for a new one. The ID card for those aged 24 and over costs 37 euros; if you are under 24, the application costs 22.80 euros. A temporary ID card, if you are in a hurry for some reason, costs 10 euros.
If you lose your identification documents abroad, you should report the incident to the local police. According to t-online, you can then contact the embassy or consulate with a copy of the ad. In situations like these, the benefit of pre-created digital copies of important documents such as ID cards or passports becomes apparent. These digital copies not only speed up the identification process, but are also extremely helpful in the event of loss. They enable faster communication with embassy or consulate staff and help shorten the time it takes to reissue documents.
If you have lost your driving license, the General German Automobile Club (ADAC) recommends acting quickly and applying for a new one immediately. If something is lost abroad, the police should also be informed. According to the ADAC on its website, if you do not have your driving license with you when driving, you will have to pay a fine of 10 euros.
To apply you need a valid identification document and a passport photo. But it can happen, explains the ADAC, that the authorities would like an affidavit about the loss of the driving license. If you got your driving license somewhere else, you may also need a certificate of your driving license details from the driving license authority where you are registered.
Overall, it is essential to act promptly after losing an ID card or other important documents to minimize the potential negative consequences. Reporting to the relevant authorities and paying attention to the associated fees are essential steps to make the reissue process as smooth as possible.
Lost car and house keys – what’s important now
If you find that the car key is missing, you should definitely inform your car insurance company. The step is to protect yourself, explains the website bussgeldkatalog.org, as insurance companies usually require the original keys if the vehicle is stolen. If you are also sure that you have been robbed, you should report the incident to the police as quickly as possible.
Ideally, you still have access to the car’s spare key. If this is the case, you can drive the vehicle to the workshop to request a duplicate key because of the electronic immobilizer. The bussgeldkatalog.de website adds that this is the only way to reprogram the existing key.
If you have lost your house key, explains ntv, then your building and private liability insurance must be informed immediately. If the loss of someone else’s key is also insured, private liability protection takes over. However, if you lose the key to your own property, i.e. if you do not live in a tenancy, then private liability insurance often does not cover it.
The situation becomes particularly delicate if both the key and the ID card are lost, as emphasized by Stiftung Warentest. In this situation there is increased risk as the document potentially allows conclusions to be drawn about the home address. If this is the case, it is imperative to report the loss to local law enforcement to minimize potential risks to personal safety and privacy.
Kim Hingley, editorial team at finanzen.net
Image sources: Farknot Architect / Shutterstock.com, Alexander Raths / Shutterstock.com
