Making important copies

[donaldsgal]

I thought I remembered someone recommending making copies of important things like credit cards in case they are stolen.

Do you copy your passports and birth certificates? Is there value in doing this? My DSis thinks they wouldn't help to do anything (like couldn't get into the US just using a copy), but I wonder if it would be helpful in any way?

Thanks.

 

[mousebrat]

The main reason to copy something like a credit card is so you have the telephone number and account number available to contact your credit card company. We don't bother with it because we are both on every account, so if, for example, my wallet were stolen, we could look at my wife's card for the contact information.

I don't know what might happen if you end up without the documents you mention. Maybe a police report along with a copy would buy some leniency?

 

[pppiglet]

We photo copied them. Better something than nothing if you lose the originals. At least you'd have your passport# to reference if you lost it and had to replace it.

 

[DIS NURSE]

The most impotant part of making copies of things like Passports and/or Birth Certificates is giving copies of such things to your closest relatives! This is another "person" who has a copy of such items in case (knock on wood) the originals get lost or ruined in some way....think about the poor soles who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina!
We also travel with a copy of that BC or PP just in case something happened to the originals....of coarse stored apart from them just in case! Better that then nothing!

 

[clten]

We were in Europe when one of our traveling companions passport was stolen. We had to go to the Embassy to get it replaced. Because she didn't have a copy of her original passport, driver's license, etc, it took a lot longer to get it replaced before we could continue on. Lucky her sister was traveling with her because she had to vouch for her identity to even begin the process. It is just a good idea to have in case they are lost or stolen. It won't solve your problems but it might make it easier to begin fixing.

 

[barkley]

i am in the process of making a folder to take with us on vacation. in addition to the hard copies of hotel/air/cruise/rental car resies. and map quest directions to our destinations, i am photocopying the following to include:

driver lic.
passports
insurance cards (i also made a quick reference sheet with drug allergies, current meds, etc. that could be grabbed in an emergency)
proof of car insurance (our regular insurance covers rental)
credit cards/bank cards (front and back)
hubby's dive certification.

if i were taking travelers checks i would be copying the receipts as well.

i am copying everything that i would need in the event the original was lost or stolen. while a certified legal copy is needed for certain things-in the event of their loss or theft, it is essential to have something on hand to get the ball rolling.

 

[jgalecpa]

i am in the process of making a folder to take with us on vacation. in addition to the hard copies of hotel/air/cruise/rental car resies. and map quest directions to our destinations, i am photocopying the following to include:

driver lic.
passports
insurance cards (i also made a quick reference sheet with drug allergies, current meds, etc. that could be grabbed in an emergency)
proof of car insurance (our regular insurance covers rental)
credit cards/bank cards (front and back)
hubby's dive certification.

if i were taking travelers checks i would be copying the receipts as well.

i am copying everything that i would need in the event the original was lost or stolen. while a certified legal copy is needed for certain things-in the event of their loss or theft, it is essential to have something on hand to get the ball rolling.

Ahhh, Barkely, a person after my own heart.

I do the exact same thing, with one additional.

I make two copies and leave one back home with someone who I could call if need be, and keep another in some obscure place, just in case.

Like CLTEN says, it won't solve your probs but makes fixing them a whole lot easier.

I keep the copy in the file for my next trip, and then just move it along to the trip after that, only updating the changed info.

Jim

 

[barkley]

instead of leaving a copy for someone at home you can always scan the documents into your computer and send them to your friend via email. that way if you needed the copies they could email to you on vacation (hotel email, whereever) and you would not have to wait for them to arrive by snail mail

after 15 years in publice service i remember all of the temporary verifications that can be used in an emergency pending certified copies

 

[jgalecpa]

Good Point, You could also email a copy to yourself, and if necessary dowload it at any computer.

 

[Deb Quen of Colorado]

I am just getting all our papers in order here. On our other trips, not cruises, we did the copies of everything. Put one copy in my suitcase, one copy in my husbands and the originals with one person and that person is responsible for them the entire trip.

I love the idea to email them to yourself though!!!

 

[chip&dale&fun]

i am in the process of making a folder to take with us on vacation. in addition to the hard copies of hotel/air/cruise/rental car resies. and map quest directions to our destinations, i am photocopying the following to include:

driver lic.
passports
insurance cards (i also made a quick reference sheet with drug allergies, current meds, etc. that could be grabbed in an emergency)
proof of car insurance (our regular insurance covers rental)
credit cards/bank cards (front and back)
hubby's dive certification.

if i were taking travelers checks i would be copying the receipts as well.

i am copying everything that i would need in the event the original was lost or stolen. while a certified legal copy is needed for certain things-in the event of their loss or theft, it is essential to have something on hand to get the ball rolling.

Barkley - check to make sure insurance covers out of country rentals...I need to do this myself...How about posting this on our cruise thread as well, good list.

 

[geffric]

great idea to email them ...


I also make copies and include my AP and my Disney Reward Dollars card..
just in case..

 

[DIS NURSE]

OOOOhhhh, yeah.....good lists girls and thanks for the insight to this newby cruiser that I am! You know who I am....it's DIS NURSE!

 

[barkley]

we're not renting out of the country so we'll be o.k. with our car insurance. i did learn something interesting recently though-some car insurance companies will only cover with specific rental car companies-so thats important to check on too!

 

[TheWog]

Ahhh, Barkely, a person after my own heart.

I do the exact same thing, with one additional.

I make two copies and leave one back home with someone who I could call if need be, and keep another in some obscure place, just in case.

Like CLTEN says, it won't solve your probs but makes fixing them a whole lot easier.

I keep the copy in the file for my next trip, and then just move it along to the trip after that, only updating the changed info.

Jim

me too always make copies of the passports, etc. take a copy and leave them at home. If you make a copy and put one in each suitcase not only will you be sure to have a copy it will also id your bag and aid it being returned to you.

 

[chip&dale&fun]

we're not renting out of the country so we'll be o.k. with our car insurance. i did learn something interesting recently though-some car insurance companies will only cover with specific rental car companies-so thats important to check on too!

Good suggestion - we are renting on the islands.....thought you might have been too....