Wallet stolen: what do I need to do?
You need to act quickly if your wallet is stolen. Comparis has created a checklist to follow for precisely this emergency.
17.10.2024
iStock/Ton Photograph
1. Wallet stolen: inform the police and make an official report
Have you lost your wallet or has it been stolen? Inform the police as soon as possible. Did the theft take place abroad? Contact the nearest police station at the destination.
If you only realize the theft once you get home, contact your local police station in Switzerland. You’ll need the official notice of loss from the police to apply for new documents.
2. Block your bank and credit cards
Get your cards blocked as soon as you notice the theft. There are two ways to do this:
Many banks let you block your cards online via e-banking.
You can also have your card blocked by phone. You can find the phone number on your bank’s website.
Blocking your card is usually free of charge. However, depending on the bank, you may have to pay for a new card.
3. Replacing your identity card, residence permit and driving licence
Identity card
Your ID card is blocked when you report its theft to the police. The card is then invalidated. You can’t use your ID card if you find it again. You must hand it in to your canton’s passport office.
New identity cards cost 70 francs for adults and 35 francs for children, including postage.
If your ID card is stolen abroad, you must report it to the local police. You must also inform the Swiss embassy or consulate in whichever country you are in. The embassy or consulate will then forward the information to the Swiss Federal Police.
If you urgently need a new ID card, you can have an emergency passport issued on site. This is true, for example, if you need the ID card in order to return to Switzerland. Here you can find an overview of Swiss representations abroad.
Residence permit
File a loss report with the police. They will give you an official notice of loss.
Take this document to your communal authority or the cantonal migration authority. There you can apply for a duplicate or a new residence permit. For this you need the following items:
The official notice of loss
Your passport
A passport photo
The cost of the new permit varies. If you find your old residence permit again, you must have it invalidated by the commune.
Driving licence
You must also report losing your driving licence. In order to continue driving until you receive your new licence, you can request the road traffic office to issue a duplicate. The cost of the duplicate varies from canton to canton.
Your old driving licence is no longer valid after declaring it lost. If you find it again, send it to the road traffic office with a short statement explaining the situation.
4. Swisspass
Replacing your Swisspass costs 30 francs. You can apply for a new Swisspass at the following locations:
5. Health insurance card
With most health insurers, you can order a new health insurance card online or by phone. Depending on the insurance company, you will need to inform your health insurer of the theft or loss in order for your card to be blocked.
Medical data is only stored on specific cards and at medical practices. If you don’t want to lose your data, it needs to be saved onto your new card at a practice. This can be done, for example, by your family doctor.
Cards with a payment function should be blocked as quickly as possible in the event of loss or theft. Depending on the provider, you’ll have to pay a replacement fee. A new student ID card from the University of Zurich costs 25 francs, for example.
You usually have to report a loss of employee badges to your employer as soon as possible.
The replacement of customer cards is usually free of charge.
Tip: make a list of any other cards and documents that were also in your wallet.
7. Wallet stolen: insurance doesn’t always pay out
In order for your home contents insurance to pay for any losses, you must have the “simple theft away from home” supplemental cover. However, you must pay the applicable deductible.
Claims due to robbery or burglaries are handled differently: high-value items, wallets and any costs incurred through theft are covered.
What does robbery mean?
Robbery means that the thief uses threats of violence or exercises force. However, costs are usually limited to a certain percentage of the total sum insured by the home contents insurance policy or to a maximum amount.
Will my insurance pay for stolen money?
Monetary value usually isn’t covered in the event of simple theft. Monetary value can include, for example:
Cash
Loyalty cards
Subscriptions
However, the insurance company will cover the cost of the following:
Your wallet
Replacement of documents and cards
Blocking of cards
This article was first published on 03.12.2013
