Our credit card number was just hacked for the third time in the last year. While this isn’t a problem for our day-to-day purchases, it’s a huge inconvenience for all of the bills we have set on auto-pay with this card.

The last time this happened, I made a list of all the bills we pay automatically along with their contact numbers (see HERE). I have to say this little action made the process considerably less painful.

While it was still a bother to call and change all the cards (or to change them online), this time I had all of the numbers I needed in one place. Not only did I not have to look up the contact information for each account, I also didn’t have to worry that I accidentally missed an account and we’ll wind up with a bill that doesn’t get paid.

So I want to reiterate this as an important simplification strategy: make a master list of all of your automatic payments. Keep the list somewhere that you won’t lose it, and put all the information you’ll need on it. Credit card number theft (we’ve never had a wallet or card physically stolen) seems to be increasingly common. Simplify your life by making it easier for you to change all of the card numbers when the need arises.

Because I had a master list, the process of changing all of our auto-pay accounts to the new credit card number took me about an hour-and-a-half Instead of the several hours that the process took me last time. In addition, this time I’m not worried that I’ll accidentally miss an account.

So, if you haven’t already, take some time and make a list of all of your auto-pay accounts. It’ll make things easier and less stressful for you in the long run.

Do you keep an updated master list of automatic payments? Why or why not? Have you had your credit card number stolen?