What to do when your phone is stolen, in order

Experts we spoke to were careful to say that conditions vary by region, by income and by season, so treat these as starting points.

Keep your PIN and one-time codes to yourself. Support staff never need them, and nobody legitimate will ask.

Before you decide

Fees are often small enough to ignore, which is exactly why they add up. Check the fee screen before every transfer, not just the first one.

The best advice came from people who had already made the mistakes, and were happy to explain how to avoid them.

1. Set a reminder to review it again in a month.
2. Plan for bad weather and slow connections.
3. Give yourself a day before any big decision.
4. Ask someone you trust for a second opinion.
5. Write down dates, amounts and reference numbers.

Our verdict

A few years ago this would have sounded unusual. Today it is ordinary enough that most people do not think about it at all.

For most families, the practical question is simple: does this save time, money or worry? If it does not, it can wait.

For most families, the practical question is simple: does this save time, money or worry? If it does not, it can wait.