Damaged Credit Card? How To Replace It Quickly and Keep Life Moving

They’re the little rectangles of plastic or metal that take us around the world, feed us, clothe us, and send our kids to school. And yet, in the end, they’re still just that: little bits of plastic or metal.

So with all that use, you can’t act too surprised when your credit cards start to lose their straight-out-of-the-box shine, chip at the edges, or crack. Though credit cards are remarkably resilient pieces of technology, they have their limits. If you want to keep your cards working for you for as long as possible, you’ve got to take care of them.

We spoke to an expert on credit card care — Phillip Parker, founder of CardPaymentOptions.com, Inc. — about how to keep your credit card from getting beaten up and what to do if it does.

What Causes Damage to Credit Cards?

Anything that bends or breaks plastic or a thin metal sheet could damage or destroy your card material to the point of unusability. That means deep cuts, bending it more than a little, too much heat or cold, and substantial electromagnetic interference could ruin your credit card.

But there’s a specific part of the card that you need to look after.

The key component in modern credit cards is the EMV chip. “EMV” stands for “EuroPay, Mastercard, and Visa,” referring to the companies that banded together to create the EMV chip and EMV standard. EMV cards are sometimes also called chip and PIN cards, and, despite the “EMV” acronym, aren’t used exclusively by Europay, Mastercard, and Visa — American Express, for example, issues cards with EMV chips embedded in them.

Though EMV chips are remarkably robust, considering the amount of sophisticated technology that goes into them, they’re still vulnerable to damage if you don’t take care of them.

“Significant physical force, like bending it too much or getting deep scratches on its surface, can make the chip stop working,” Parker said. “Cracking the plastic around the chip is another risk. Long exposure to very hot or very cold temperatures can also damage its internal connections.“

Your friend who gets crazy at parties may holler and threaten to “erase” your credit card by holding an Abita bottle cap fridge magnet to it, but the reality is that he can’t ruin your EMV chip that way.

“While less frequent now, strong static electricity or powerful magnetic fields could also potentially cause problems, though modern chips are designed to withstand most everyday exposure to these,” Parker said.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you should put your credit card in an MRI machine and expect it to come out unscathed.

Parker said you should care for your fancy metal cards the same way you care for your plastic cards. Whether your card is metal or plastic, it’s always a good idea to check it occasionally for signs of wear and tear that are more than usual. You don’t want to be caught in the middle of a month-long trip to an exotic destination you’ve been planning for years, only to find you’re stuck with a card that’s physically incapable of doing the one job it’s meant for.

What Are the Most Common Ways People Damage Their Cards?

Credit cards can take a lot if they’re used the way they’re meant to, like for buying things. But if you use them in ways they were never meant to, you can’t expect your credit card to hold up for long. So, no, using your credit card to slip open the lock on an old-fashioned door isn’t a good idea. Neither is using it as a miniature tennis racquet or sticking it in the spokes of your bicycle.

“Using your card for things it’s not meant for, like scraping ice, or repeatedly bending it, can break it,” Parker said. “Leaving it in a very hot car is also bad for it.”

Hot Tip:

Though we’re talking about the physical care of your card, it’s also essential that you maintain strict security over your card details. After all, you can easily get a replacement card, but if you let a ne’er-do-well get access to your credit card account, undoing fraud damage may not be as easy.

Common but serious security mistakes Parker said he’s seen include:
– Writing the card PIN on the card itself (yes, people do this!) or on something you keep in the same place as your card
– Sharing card details too freely
– Not reporting a lost or stolen card right away

How Do You Care for Cards With Magnetic Stripes?

Though credit cards with magnetic stripes are being phased out for the more secure EMV chips, you can still find them in circulation. If you have one of these cards with a magnetic stripe, the general care for the card is the same as for a credit card with an EMV chip. Still, you have to be extra wary of the kinds of strong electromagnetic forces that can damage or scramble the data contained in the magnetic stripe, and also avoid the types of physical effects or contaminants that can scrape off parts of the magnetic stripe or prevent it from working.

“If your card has a magnetic stripe, keep it safe from 2 main things: strong magnets and physical damage,” Parker said. “Magnets, like those on some purse clasps or near store security tag removers, can erase the data on the stripe. Also, try not to scratch the stripe or let dirt build up on it, as this can make it hard for card readers to work. Keeping it in its own slot in your wallet helps protect it from keys or coins.”

RFID Card Sleeves

You can keep your credit cards safe and free from most damage simply by keeping them in your wallet’s dedicated credit card slots, assuming you don’t use those slots for small, magnetized rocks or razor blades.

If you’re concerned about card skimming, keep your credit cards in a card sleeve specifically designed to block RFID technology, like these RFID-blocking card sleeves from Samsonite. They should provide reasonable physical protection from damage for your credit card while preventing the rare possibility of card skimmers trying to read your data. Card sleeves will probably make it harder to keep your credit cards in a regular wallet, though.

When Do You Know It’s Time To Get a Replacement Credit Card?

There comes a point when it’s time to retire a credit card from your lineup. And it’ll be pretty obvious.

“If the card is cracked, if the chip looks loose or damaged, or if the magnetic stripe is very worn, you need a new one,” Parker said. “Another clear sign is if your card often fails to work at payment terminals, even after you’ve checked that the stripe is clean. And, of course, when your card reaches its printed expiration date, it’s time for the new one your bank usually sends.”

Hot Tip:

Let’s try to make a mnemonic out of it: If the stripe doesn’t swipe, it’s time for a wipe. If the chip doesn’t dip, the card’s gotta skip.

How To Replace Your Damaged Card

Credit card companies and banks make replacing a damaged card easy. After all, they make money when you spend with their cards, so they want you out there making purchases on the card as soon as possible.

In most cases, it’s a simple matter of entering your online account and finding and clicking on or filling out the replacement card request. Every once in a while, you might need to call in and speak to an automated line or a human representative to get your new card sent out to you. If there’s no worry of theft, fraud, or a lost card, you will likely get a card with the same number and details. Sometimes, you may get a card with new numbers, especially if you’re due for a new card anyway.

Regardless of how closely your replacement card resembles your old, damaged card, you won’t to go through the tedious process of setting up automatic payments and so on all over again, since it’s just the physical card that’s being replaced and you’re not starting a whole new account.

Requesting a replacement card for a damaged card won’t affect your credit score.

If the credit card you’re replacing has a virtual counterpart already in your digital wallet, you can typically use that while you wait for the new card. The virtual card shouldn’t be affected by your physical card’s condition or replacement status.

Some credit card companies charge for requested replacement cards, while others don’t. If your bank or credit card company charges you a replacement card fee, it will probably be between $5 and $15.

If you need a replacement credit card not merely because it’s damaged but because it’s been lost or stolen, call your credit card company’s customer service immediately and let them know what’s happened. The credit card company needs to freeze your account to prevent someone from making illegal charges.

Here are the specific instructions a few major U.S. credit card issuers give clients requesting replacement credit cards for damaged ones:

American Express

According to American Express, “[t]here are multiple delivery options, including free next day shipping. You can order a replacement card for yourself or anyone on your account. If you are using your card for any recurring payments such as cell phone charges, or with online merchants where your card is on file like Amazon, there is no need to update them with your new card information unless you are specifically asked to do so. If you have already added your card to a digital wallet, you can continue to spend using your device at participating merchants and merchant apps while you wait for your new card.”

Bank of America

Bank of America asks that you make replacement card requests on the Bank of America website or mobile app.

Log in to Bank of America online banking on the website and hit the link that says “Order a new or replacement card.”

Via a mobile device, log in to the Bank of America mobile app, select your credit card account, scroll down to “Card Management,” and select “Replace Credit Card.” You can tap the Erica icon and tell it, “I need to replace my credit card,” or type in the message. It will then give you a series of instructions to follow.

Barclays

The Barclays website cheerily assures customers, “Whether you’ve snapped your card by accident or the chip’s worn away, you can order a new one in the app or online in just a few steps.”

Go to the mobile app or website home page, click on the appropriate card under “Your cards,” and then hit the link to report lost, stolen, or damaged cards. You’ll be presented with instructions for getting your replacement credit card issued.

Capital One

Capital One issues replacement credit cards free of charge for those “chipped, cracked, bent, or otherwise damaged.” Go to the Capital One mobile app or website support page and submit your request in the appropriate link.

Chase

Chase’s instructions for a replacement credit card are as follows: “To request a replacement card, sign in to Chase Online and follow the instructions. We’ll send you a replacement card that’ll arrive within 5 to 7 business days. If your card doesn’t arrive after 7 business days, sign in, choose ‘Didn’t receive card‘ under ‘Reason,’ and follow the instructions. You can also call the number on your statement.”

Citi

You can get a replacement Citi credit card by logging in to your Citi online account, using the Citi mobile app, or calling customer service at 800-950-5114.

U.S. Bank

You must use the U.S. Bank mobile app to receive a replacement credit card for a damaged U.S. Bank credit card. Log in to the mobile app, select the credit card in question, then pick “Manage” at the top of the screen. You should see the option “Order a new card” pop up. Pick that and confirm or follow any remaining instructions.

Wells Fargo

To replace a damaged Wells Fargo credit card, sign in to your Wells Fargo online account or go to the Wells Fargo replacement card page and follow the relevant instructions. Your new card should arrive in 5 to 7 days. In addition, “[i]f your current card was customized via the Card Design Studio service, your replacement card will have the same image.”

Hot Tip:

If you are replacing a metal credit card, the issuer will likely send you a postage-paid mailer to return it in to be destroyed. These are not meant to be put in a home shredding machine.

Final Thoughts

Credit cards may be the bulwarks of many of our financial lives, but they’re not indestructible. So be sure you know how to take care of them and when it’s time to retire your credit cards, at least physically. Luckily, credit card companies are more than happy to make sure you always have a working card — after all, they make money when you use their cards. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of their replacement services.