Card Briefs: MasterCard Hot Line Gets Its Millionth Call

MasterCard International says a toll-free emergency line it introduced for customers in 1995 has received its millionth call.

MasterCard Global Service is a round-the-clock hot line that helps cardholders report lost and stolen cards, get emergency card replacements and cash advances, and find nearby cash machines, among other services.

Last year service volume reached a peak, with more than 500,000 requests handled. Cardholders in 196 countries used the service in 46 languages, MasterCard said.

MasterCard said the service shifts some burden away from the call centers of card issuing banks. The service is listed in directory assistance in most places.

"When cardholders travel abroad, it's important that they have a reliable resource for emergency service, anytime, anywhere," said Bonnie J. MacDonald, senior vice president of global services for MasterCard.

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