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What to know before you use Visa and Mastercard emergency cash disbursement

3 things I wish someone told me before I asked for emergency cash assistance from Visa.

Kyle Morgan
Kyle Morgan

Updated

Fact checked

Visa, Mastercard and American Express have a handy feature for travelers: emergency cash advance if you lose your credit card. Lost wallet, stolen bag, silly mistakes — there are a thousand reasons why you may need this service.

Your credit card provider should be able to arrange for a temporary replacement card, but, you can still access the money in your account while you wait. Here are three things I learned about the process.

no-calls

1. Don’t receive any calls.

You may get charged for receiving incoming calls when you’re outside of the country. Before you travel, ask Visa for a reverse charge number to call — or if you can collect call — in case of an emergency.

If you’re on the phone with Visa and a representative asks to call you back, say “no”. Tell the representative that you’ll call the reverse charge number after an agreed period of time. This means you’ll probably make one or two calls more than you have to, but it’s better than being charged to receive calls.

credit-card-match-bank-details

2. The details you tell Visa must exactly match the details your bank has on file.

In order for everything to flow smoothly, you should have a copy of your information in your email or on hand so you can clearly relay the information to Visa. This will ensure that you’ll be able to get cash emergency assistance or a temporary card as soon as possible.

If you’re having trouble dealing directly with Visa, you can ask a customer service representative at your bank to help.

replacement-card

3. Emergency card replacement is the way to go.

It’s easier to request an emergency replacement card from Visa or Mastercard than it is to request emergency cash. The replacement service typically only takes a day or two to be delivered.

If you’re with friends and they can spot you for a day or two, you can save valuable vacation time instead of being on the phone waiting to get approved for emergency cash request.

The Visa and Mastercard Emergency Assistance Services will come in handy should anything happen to your card, so make sure to have the relevant emergency contact details in your phone and report the issue as soon as possible.

  • Tip: In the case of an emergency, always make sure to have more than one travel money option as a backup. If you’re using a prepaid travel card, see if you can get an additional card and be sure to have cash and a credit or debit card for emergencies.

Visa Global Customer Assistance Services phone number

You can place a toll-free call to Visa from anywhere in the world by calling 1-303-967 1096.

Call 1-800-847-2911 if you’re in the US.

These numbers are free and operators will be available any time of the day or week. A Visa representative will be able to help you with either an emergency cash request or issuing a temporary emergency card.

Calls to toll-free numbers from mobile phones may still attract international call charges.

Visa Global Customer Assistance phone numbers by country

You can request emergency service from a Visa representative by calling these toll-free numbers from the country you’re located.

Anguilla1-800-847-2911Kenya866-654-0162
Antigua1-800-847-2911Lebanon01-426-801 or 866-654-0130
Argentina0800-666-0171Latvia8000-02288
Aruba800-1518Liechtenstein0800-89-4732
Australia1-800-125-440Luxembourg0800-2012
Austria0 800-200-288 or 800-892-8134Macedonia0800-94288 or 888-557-4458
Bahamas1-800-847-2911Malaysia1800-80-0159
Bahrain800-006Mauritius01-120 or 866-654-0165
Barbados1-800-847-2911Mexico001-800-847-2911
Belgium0800-1-8397Monaco0800-90-1179
Belize811 or 555 or 800-847-2911Montserrat1-800-847-2911
Bermuda1-800-847-2911Morocco002-11-0011 or 866-654-0163
Bolivia800-10-0188Netherlands0800-022-3110
Bonaire*001-800-847-2911Nevis1-800-847-2911
Brazil0800-891-3680New Zealand0800-44-3019
British Virgin Islands 1-800-847-2911Norway800-12052
Bulgaria00-800-0010 or 888-557-4446Panama001-800-111-0016
Cambodia1-800-881-001 or 888-710-7783Paraguay008-11-800 or 800-599-1137
Canada1-800-847-2911Perú001-800-890-0623
Cayman Islands1-800-847-2911Philippines1-800-1-111-9015
Chile1230-020-2136Poland0-0-800-111-1569
China (South)10-800-110-2911Portugal800-8-11-824
China (North)10-800-711-2911Puerto Rico 1-800-847-2911
Colombia01-800-912-5713Romania0 808-03-4288 or 888-557-4416
Costa Rica0-800-011-0030Russia8 10-800-110-1011 or 866-654-0164
Croatia0-800-220-111 or 866-654-0125Russia (Moscow and St. Petersburg only)363-2400 or 866-654-0164
Curacao*001-800-847-2911Russia (Outside Moscow)8 495-363-2400 or 866-654-0164
Czech Republic800-142-121Russia (Outside St. Petersburg) 8 812-363-2400 or 866-654-0164
Denmark80-010277Saba*1-800-847-2911
Dominica1-800-847-2911Saint Eustatius*1-800-847-2911
Dominican Republic1-800-847-2911Saint Kitts1-800-847-2911
Ecuador1-999-119
or 1-800-225-528 or 800-847-2911		Saint Lucia800-238-5517
Egypt (Cairo only) 2510-0200 or 866-654-0128Saint Maarten*1-800-847-2911
Egypt (outside Cairo)02-2510-0200 or 866-654-0128San Marino800-819-014
El Salvador800-6921Saudi Arabia1-800-10 or 866-654-0129
Estonia800-12001 or 800-406-9982Senegal800-103-072 or 888-557-4451
Finland0800-11-0057Singapore800-110-0344
France0800-90-1179Slovakia0 800-000-101 or 800-406-9970
Germany0800-811-8440South Africa 0800-990-475
Gibraltar8800-877-3745966South Korea00798-11-908-8212
Greece00-800-11-638-0304Spain900-99-1124
Grenada1-800-847-2911Sweden020-795-675
Guam 1-800-847-2911Switzerland0800-89-4732
Guatemala1-800-999-0115Taiwan00801-10-3008
Guyana159 or 1-855-477-1390Thailand001-800-11-535-0660
Honduras800-0123 or 800-847-2911Trinidad and Tobago1-800-847-2911
Hong Kong800-96-7025Turkey00-800-13-535-0900
Hungary06-800-17682Turks and Caicos 0-1-800-847-2911
India000-800-100-1219Ukraine800-502-886 or 888-557-4445
Indonesia001-803-1-933-6294United Arab Emirates8000-021 or 866-654-0112
Ireland, Republic of1-800-55-8002United Kingdom 0800-89-1725
Israel1-80-941-1605United States1-800-847-2911
Italy800-819-014Uruguay00-0411-940-7915
Jamaica0-800-847-2911U.S. Virgin Islands1-800-847-2911
Japan00531-11-1555Venezuela0800-1-002167
Jordan1-880-0000 or 888-557-4442Vietnam1 201-0288 or 888-710-7781
Kazakhstan8 800-121-4321 or 888-557-4447
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Mastercard Global Emergency Services phone number

You can call Mastercard from overseas at 1-636-722-7111 and they can direct your call. You can also reach Mastercard via your bank if you’re calling them first to report your card as lost or stolen.
Call 1-800-627-8372 if you’re in the US.

These numbers are toll free if calling from the country and available to call anytime. The country code needs to be included.

Mastercard Global Service phone numbers by country

American Samoa1800-120-113Japan00531-11-3886
Anguilla1-800-307-7309Korea, Republic of0079-811-887-0823
Antigua and Barbuda1-800-307-7309Liechtenstein0800-89-7092
Argentina0800-555-0507Luxembourg800-2-4533
Australia 1800-120-113 Malaysia1-800-804594
Austria0800-07-06-138Mexico001-800-307-7309
Bahamas 1-800-307-7309Monaco0-800-90-1387
Bahrain8000-0087Montserrat1-800-307-7309
Barbados1-800-307-7309Netherlands0800-022-5821
Belgium0800-1-5096New Zealand0800-44-9140
Bermuda1-800-307-7309Norway800-12697
Bolivia800-10-0172 Panama001-800-307-7309
Bonaire001-800-307-7309Peru0-800-307-7309
Brazil0800-891-3294 Philippines1-800-1-111-0061
Cambodia800-881-001 then 877-288-3891*Poland0-0800-111-1211
Canada1-800-307-7309 Portugal800-8-11-272
Cayman Islands1-800-307-7309Puerto Rico1-800-307-7309
Chile1230-020-2012Russia8-800-555-02-69
China10-800-110-7309**Saba1-800-307-7309
China 2 10-800-711-7309*** St. Eustatius1-800-307-7309
Colombia01-800-912-1303 St. Maarten1-800-307-7309
Costa Rica0-800-011-0184St. Kitts-Nevis 1-800-307-7309
Curacao001-800-307-7309Saipan (N. Marianas)1-800-307-7309
Cyprus080-90569 San Marino800-870-866
Czech Republic800-142-494 Saudi Arabia800-844-9457
Denmark8001-6098 Singapore 800-1100-113
Dominica1-800-307-7309South Africa0800-990418
Dominican Republic1-800-307-7309Spain900-97-1231
Finland08001-156234Sweden020-791-324
France0-800-90-1387Switzerland0800-897-092
Germany0800-819-1040Taiwan00801-10-3400
Greece00-800-11-887-0303Thailand001-800-11-887-0663
Grenada1-800-307-7309 Trinidad and Tobago1-800-307-7309
Guam1-800-307-7309Turkey00-800-13-887-0903
Guatemala1-800 – 999-1480Turks and Caicos01-800-307-7309
Hong Kong800-966677United Arab Emirates800-0444-3895
Hungary06800-12517United Kingdom0800-96-4767
India 000-800-100-1087United States1-800-307-7309
Indonesia001803-1-887-0623Vatican City State800-870-866
Ireland1-800-55-7378Venezuela0800-1-002902
Israel180-941-8873 Vietnam120-11576
Italy800-870-866Virgin Islands 1-800-307-7309
Jamaica0800-307-7309 Virgin Islands, U.S. 1-800-307-7309
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Compare travel credit cards

Data indicated here is updated regularly
Name Product Foreign transaction fee Welcome offer Rewards Filter values
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
None
60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, a value of up to $750 through Chase Ultimate Rewards
5x points on Lyft, 2x points on travel and dining and 1x points on all other purchases
Earn a signup bonus worth $750 with this popular travel card. Combine with other Chase Ultimate Rewards cards for even greater value.
Apply now
View details
American Express® Gold Card
American Express® Gold Card
None
60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
3x points on directly-booked flights; 4x at restaurants; 4x at US supermarkets on up to $25,000 annually (then 1x points)
Earn up to 4x points on select purchases, a bevy of travel perks, and a welcome offer worth up to $600 with this upper-mid tier travel card. Rates & fees
Apply now
View details
Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card
Petal® 2
None
N/A
1% cashback, 1.25% after six on-time payments and 1.5% after 12 on-time payments, plus 2% - 10% back from select merchants
Build your credit with rewards and no fees: Apply if you're new to credit or have a fair to good score of 600 or higher. See if you prequalify with no impact to your score.
Apply now
View details
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
None
N/A
4% at gas stations on up to $7,000 annually (then 1%), 3% at restaurants and on travel, 2% at Costco and 1% on all other purchases
An impressive cashback card that offers up to 4% back on everyday purchases like gas, travel and dining all for the cost of a Costco membership.
Apply now
View details
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
None
50,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
10x points on Lyft rides, 3x points on dining and travel after earning your $300 travel credit and 1x points on all other purchases
Get a generous $300 in annual travel credits, 3x points on travel and dining, and a 50% bonus on point redemptions with Chase's premier card.
Apply now
View details
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