Travel: China - Hong Kong

[mambobb]

Here is the real case from my colleague just came back from hkg


He went on the 31 Dec 2011 to HKG and decided to travel to Guangzhou on the next day 1 Jan 2012. His hotel was at TST and decided to go for shopping, I think around HongKong island where countdown was held.

His shopping items were stuffed inside his backpack with his wallet inside too way below the top so that ppl can open and steal it. :siam:

But who knows, during his way where the most of the ppl hanging around, someone slashed opened his backpack and took his wallet and went off without him noticing. By the time he picked up all his stuff, his wallet has gone missing.

He left no :moneyflies: .. no credit cards.. nothing with him.. He has to call up all the ppl he can find to help him to transfer $$ to him so that he can buy prepaid card and settle the police report without any $$ on him too until 2 days later the bank can transfer $$ to him due to all the paper work and clarification.

He has to beg and ask around for food.. :scared: really very scary. He did not have any hotel stay too. He has to go to Mac 24hrs to sleep there. At least some of the ppl there are kind enough to give him burger and coffee to eat.

Those ppl stealing other ppl things and kidnapping children, they should be :lightrod: and :spank: and :heresmyfish: and :wrongmove:

[auntieM]

:yikes: sounds like a first time traveller de.. ..

Why did he bring the whole wallet/passport out? If there isn't any safe in his hotel then wear his important stuff on traveller's pouch under his baju..
:?

[tankee]

I thought credit cards advertised about their officers reaching the card owner wherever the card owner are to give them the replacement card?

[mambobb]

He still has his passport, only his wallet was stolen. That’s one thing to relieve, passport still around.

[mambobb]

tankee:

I thought credit cards advertised about their officers reaching the card owner wherever the card owner are to give them the replacement card?

I have asked that qn too and I think its only meant for AMEX?? he also mentioned all the banks closed on the 1st Jan and need to wait till 2nd Jan then opened.. sigh..

[tankee]

mambobb:

tankee:

I thought credit cards advertised about their officers reaching the card owner wherever the card owner are to give them the replacement card?

I have asked that qn too and I think its only meant for AMEX?? he also mentioned all the banks closed on the 1st Jan and need to wait till 2nd Jan then opened.. sigh..

not true

VISA global customer assistance operates 24hrs x 7days a week.

All banks credit cards customer hotlines are also 24hrs x 7days a week.

your friend should have called them

[mambobb]

tankee:

mambobb:

[quote=\"tankee\"]I thought credit cards advertised about their officers reaching the card owner wherever the card owner are to give them the replacement card?

I have asked that qn too and I think its only meant for AMEX?? he also mentioned all the banks closed on the 1st Jan and need to wait till 2nd Jan then opened.. sigh..

not true

VISA global customer assistance operates 24hrs x 7days a week.

All banks credit cards customer hotlines are also 24hrs x 7days a week.

your friend should have called them[/quote]I think he doesnt have the credit card number with him and the hotline.

I think I should prepare one whole list of the customer hotlines and bring along with me too

[MMM]

There are some good learnings for everyone :

* Before you travel, have a ready list of credit card details eg. card no., expiry date and contact number. - keep in hotel.
* Have a photocopy of passport but make sure you keep this in hotel. - heard about dh’s colleague + family losing their passport during their holiday in Taiwan last year prompted me to think about this.

I have the habit of splitting my cash/ card into 2 wallets. I usually carry what I need with me. I will keep the spare cash and cards in the separate wallet in the hotel safe.

I tend to keep valuables at home. Eg. watch normal watches with no jewellery when I travel. Keep handbag to normal brands. Don’t want to invite unnecessary attention. When I travel, sling bag is a must and it must always be infront of me. My spare cash wallet and passports are always in the internal zipped compartment of my sling bag. My dh practise putting his wallet in his front pocket.

Remember don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

[cherrygal]

mambobb:

He has to beg and ask around for food.. :scared: really very scary. He did not have any hotel stay too. He has to go to Mac 24hrs to sleep there. At least some of the ppl there are kind enough to give him burger and coffee to eat.

Why he cannot return to hotel to stay leh? Can show police report and passport to hotel staff wat... they already swiped his credit card details upon check in so should have no problems with letting him stay more nights mah... :?

[auntieM]

cherrygal:

mambobb:

He has to beg and ask around for food.. :scared: really very scary. He did not have any hotel stay too. He has to go to Mac 24hrs to sleep there. At least some of the ppl there are kind enough to give him burger and coffee to eat.

Why he cannot return to hotel to stay leh? Can show police report and passport to hotel staff wat... they already swiped his credit card details upon check in so should have no problems with letting him stay more nights mah... :?

Exactly.. ...police never assist him, or give some decent advice meh :?