I lost my card, canceled it and then it was found can I still reactivate it?

[anon]

So here's a story what happened with me last night cause I want to share it...
Yesterday last night while I was doing some last minute Christmas Eve shopping I left a Target and then when I parked at another store I found out I didn't have my card with me! So I drove back to the Target since it was the last place I had it and used it to buy some things, none of the employees couldn't find any card and weren't much help so I left and called a number through my credit union to have my card get canceled.
So after I got it canceled I went on facebook & twitter on my phone to vent and complain how I'm having a bad Xmas over losing my debit card, but before I could do that a stranger who lives around the area sent me a friend request on facebook and I also got a tweet from someone with the same name as the person who sent me a friend request(& I just so happen to provide my twitter publicly on my facebook) and that person tweeted me saying he found a card and wondered if I lost a card and I replied back & messaged him my number to meet at a gas station, so at almost 10pm he arrived at the station and gave me my card, I asked how he found it and he said he found it lying on the ground in the Target parking lot! It must have fell out of my pocket as I suspected what happened to it since I usually have my card in my pockets and the jeans I was wearing has small pockets...

So that's the story, so the card was never used after I lost it! The guy didn't use it and was more than happy to return it to me and it seems the guy didn't had any intent of using it. I think I had it lost for 2-3hours and had it deactivated before I got it back.
So the question is can I still reactivate the card? I reported it lost and now its found OR
Do I have to get a new card and wait a long time to receive it?
If I have to get a new one do I have to pay a fee?
OR Will my Credit Union just reactivate it quickly for me?
I really don't want to go through any hassle of getting a new one since I got my card back in some brief time.
I don't think I can contact any numbers right now until tomorrow morning since today is Christmas but I really want to know about this cause I want to make some purchases soon but can't since I canceled my card.
When I canceled my card I don't think I contacted someone in the credit union, the automated service directed me to a lady (not a automatic voice) and it was like 8-9pm when I was getting the card deactivated and she asked 'what bank or credit union the card is under' I think she was working for VISA since my card is a VISA and I had to report it missing cause I was worried it could have been in wrong hands and someone could've stolen money out of it. I reported it BEFORE I found out someone was contacting my facebook & twitter since my name was on the card.

I'm going to the credit union tomorrow morning if that'll help

I do plan on going to the credit union tommabout activating it instead of calling someone

[G N A]

Ok, one thing at a time here. First ask your credit union if it's possible to keep the same card now that you've found it. But..most of the time, if you report your card lost or stolen it is updated immediately and deactivated. And yes...you will have to wait for the new card to arrive. Your best bet - contact your credit union and speak with a person, do not use the automated service.

[bdancer222]

If you already reported the card lost, the bank terminated that card. You MIGHT be able to reactivate that card, but since this is the holidays, you may end up with more problems than normal. Wait for the new card. You should get it within 2 weeks. Again, since it's the holidays, the mail time will be longer than normal.

By the way, you should have asked your bank most of these questions when you reported the card lost. They would have explained it all to you and likely given you better estimates. There shouldn't be any charge for replacing the lost card, as long as this isn't a regular problem.

[Jo]

No - You can't stop a stop.

And you don't want to. Really you don't

If you reported it lost - they deactivate the account so it can't be used - by someone else. They send you a new card with a new number.

I know it's an inconvenience BUT just because a person returned your card doesn't mean that person didn't write down the account number and the numbers on the back. And returning it could mean he hopes you don't report it lost - and then he goes out on the internet and buys a bunch of stuff.

So you are right to worry that it could have fallen in the wrong hands. And you should still worry about that - because one doesn't need the actual card to buy things on the internet. Just the numbers.

Would be nice to think this guy that found it was a Good Samaritan and a nice guy. But I would go with the better safe than sorry thing. Even if they do re-activate it (which they won't) and it's used by someone else - you will be liable for the charges.

I had the same thing happen several years ago. Christmas shopping - lost the card. Called immediately. Found the card when I got home in the back seat of my car so I knew no one else had touched it. Called again to tell them I found it. They would not re-activate. Like I said, can't stop a stop.

So best to leave it reported as lost, and wait for new card.

Yes, it's inconvenient and yes, you might have to wait 5 to 7 days to get new card in the mail. No, likely there's no fee for it.

It really doesn't matter if you don't want to go through all that. Sometimes one has to go through things they really don't want to. Life isn't all about instant gratification. Sometimes life is doing what's best - whether that happens right now or a week from now.