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The Daily Insight Hub

Who is responsible for a stolen credit card?

Author

Sarah Martinez

Updated on January 24, 2026

Financial Institution Liability for Stolen Debit Cards If the customer reports the debit card as lost or stolen before charges appear on the account, you are liable for all unauthorized charges. If the customer reports the card as lost or stolen within two days, you are liable for all charges over $50.

How much is a person liable if their credit card is stolen?

Credit Card Loss or Fraudulent Charges Under the FCBA, your liability for unauthorized use of your credit card tops out at $50. However, if you report the loss before your credit card is used, the FCBA says you are not responsible for any charges you didn’t authorize.

What happens if someone steals your credit card and uses it?

In the event of the theft or unauthorized use of your credit card, federal law states that you’re liable for a maximum of $50 in fraudulent charges. If you report the card’s theft before any fraudulent use occurs, you’ll bear zero liability.

Do credit cards have zero liability?

Credit and debit card companies offer zero liability for every eligible cardholder.

Who is liable if a credit card Number is stolen?

In today’s world of electronic fraud, if just the credit card account number itself is stolen, federal law guarantees that the cardholder has a zero liability to the issuer. Numerous credit card companies have also adopted a zero liability policy, which means the consumer is not held responsible for any fraudulent charges at all.

Who is responsible for unauthorized charges if my credit card is lost?

Am I responsible for unauthorized charges if my credit cards are lost or stolen? If you report a lost or stolen credit card before it is used, the card company cannot hold you responsible for any unauthorized charges.

What happens if someone steals my credit card?

The FCBA limits your liability to $50, which means that’s the maximum amount you could owe the bank if someone steals your card and uses it without your permission before you’ve reported the card stolen. If you report the card stolen before any charges are made you will not be responsible for any of the charges.

What happens if your debit card is lost or stolen?

If your credit, ATM, or debit card is lost or stolen, federal law limits your liability for unauthorized charges. Your protection against unauthorized charges depends on the type of card-and when you report the loss.